How valuable are business reviews and review sites? It is good to note that more than 93 percent of online buyers consider online reviews before they make a buying decision. Businesses are usually advised to receive more reviews on different review websites to attract new customers. Consumers are also encouraged to leave reviews for all the transactions completed. Most businesses do not feel comfortable managing customer reviews on the various sites as they do not like finding themselves having zero reviews, negative reviews, or getting zero recent reviews. However, this can lead to a bad reputation, leading to low or zero conversions.
One of the top benefits businesses get by monitoring online reviews, and social posts are an improved reputation. By taking part in these conversations, you improve and mend any reputation that may have gone down due to other reasons.
Reviews offer valuable feedback for businesses
Business reviews usually provide information that can help in constructing your business. They provide helpful feedback as they are useful in gauging performance and look at ways to improve. You can understand the areas you need to improve by reading both negative and positive reviews. The reviews help know the services or products to improve and understand employees who help your business more.
For any business to succeed there is a need to put effort to get business reviews on reviews sites people understand. To get the best from the reviews, here are customer review website tips to follow.
Claim or add listings on the top review sites
There are various niche business reviews and directory websites. You can take advantage by adding or claiming a listing or even a business profile on these sites. You can always correct this business listings information and begin the business reviews. Getting business listing information corrected on a directory leads to positive citation results, especially when done in the top review sites.
Always ask customers for reviews
It is advisable to ask the average customer to give reviews; however hard it may seem. It is usually the simplest way to get reviews from your customers who are satisfied or unsatisfied with the products or services provided. It is good to ask the customers because they are usually busy and may forget to leave the reviews. Customers are more willing to leave reviews on the review sites.
Top 10 business review sites
US traffic (Alexa): 158.03 million
Google my business is a review site for any business. It is a free tool businesses can have to manage their Google presence such as maps and search. One thing to note is that you have to verify your business information to complete Google My Business registration. The site provides business information on maps, search, and Google+. Therefore, customers have an opportunity to find a location on different devices, including mobile, desktop, and others. The reviews show in search, thus boosting your SEO.
2. Amazon.com
Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 85.44 million
Amazon is a top product review website for associated e-commerce transactions. It is popular among many businesses dealing with e-commerce products. Amazon trains consumers to use their system, which is great business etiquette. It is a more targeted website and suits Amazon marketplace partners. Amazon helps businesses understand what consumers like about specific products and the way transactions are done.
3. Facebook.com
Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 85.57 million
Facebook is a great social media where you can create profiles, upload videos, and photos, send messages and interact with friends. It offers an opportunity for businesses to follow their brands. You can create your business profiles for users to follow and leave reviews depending on the experience with your business. Facebook is the most popular social media platform meaning that business reviews are shared extensively. The most important thing is to monitor when your business is mentioned so that you can interact more with those mentioning it. You do not have to have logins like most other review sites making it friendlier.
4. Yelp.com
Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 40.47 million
Yelp is a review website where reviews about local businesses are published. Besides, yelp helps small businesses understand how to respond to the reviews, host social events, and provide information regarding businesses. It has more than a hundred million reviews and continues to grow. Yelp is a perfect choice for all types of businesses regardless of their size. The consumers who leave their reviews here are known as Yelpers and help others decide whether to buy from your business or not.
Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 28.27 million
This is a travel website where consumers can leave reviews of the different places they have visited. Users also have an opportunity to find flights, book rooms, and reserve tables in various restaurants.
Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 6.15 million
The review site helps people get and recommend brands, businesses, and charities they can develop trust. It educates customers and helps people in finding trusted companies or other businesses. It aims at protecting customers from scammers and fraudulent businesses.
7. Yellow Pages
Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 10.5 million
Yellowpages is an online directory aiming to help local businesses and their communities to develop. The good thing is that the directory has large traffic and great capabilities. You can manage your business reviews on the site after you claim a free business listing on your page.
8. Manta.com
Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 6.48 million
Manta is an online directory, search engine, and review site for small businesses. It offers small businesses the information they need to network. It assists the businesses to grow and connect through their community where its users can purchase from partners and connect to the businesses.
9. Angie’s List
Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 5.44 million
This is a service listing and review site that provides user-based reviews and rankings of service professionals in their local areas. Since it is a paid review site, it does not contain a lot of rambling reviews from customers or other spammy information. Members of this site usually grade businesses with a report card from A to F on quality, price, punctuality, professionalism, and responsiveness. It is usually divided into categories such as pets, house, auto, health, and other services.
10. Foursquare.com
Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 3.67 million
This is a discovery service mobile app and a local search. It assists users to know new businesses/places through the other Foursquare reviews. It allows friends to understand where they are and know where their friends are. Foursquare allows users to collect prize badges, points, and coupons for checking in at different places. It acts as a strong force to evaluate customer feedback and loyalty.
How to grow more business reviews
You can increase your business reviews by asking customers to leave the reviews using review sites and codes, emailing customers manually, or use of review generation software to make the business review process automated.
Business reviews appear in search results
Business ratings and reviews are now included in search results. What this means is that when users search on Google, Google finds and displays review summaries from the business reviews and ratings.
Conclusion
As a business owner, business reviews are a great part of your success. You need to get these reviews and manage them to improve your online business reputation and enjoy higher rankings. The most critical thing is to respond to the reviews, whether they are positive or negative. This is an indication your business cares about your customers.
