How Are Your Reviews?

People are talking about you.

You probably don’t know half the things they are saying.

Unless you are diligently monitoring online social media, review sites and chat rooms, you don’t know unless someone tells you what they saw.

How important are these reviews?

According to a consumer survey made public by MarketingCharts.com, 19 out of 20 people read reviews.

But, it’s not just reviews that consumers read — close to three-quarters also read the businesses’ responses to these reviews.

Nearly 80% of consumers trust online reviews, it’s the new Word-Of-Mouth that can make or break a business.  The study also says over 90% of the readers of the reviews use them to make a buying decision. A review often determines the likelihood of a consumer using a local business. This can be seen with 94% of consumers agreeing that positive reviews make them more likely to use a business. Even more telling, 92% also said that negative reviews make them less likely to use a business.

What can you do as a business owner with this information?

Be proactive.

Ask your customers to review you on Google, Yelp and the other online review sites including Facebook which is still the king of social media.

Respond appropriately to the reviews online.

You can even use these online reviews in your advertising.  I have a client that has been doing this for years, it’s the heart of their radio campaign on WOWO Radio.

Contact me for more ideas by dropping me a line to Scott@WOWO.com