97% of Customers Read Online Reviews
When was the last time you bought something without reading a review? Restaurant or roofer, dentist or car, potential customers are not purchasing without checking reviews first. And why would they? With an array of choices at their fingertips, they’re not just picking the first name in the phone book anymore. Everyone can get personal recommendations in a matter of seconds. If you’re ignoring online reviews, you are risking catastrophic damage to your business. You’ve spent time, money, sweat, and tears growing your brand, don’t drop the ball with online reviews.
Let’s look at the numbers
97% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses, and a staggering 97% of those people read the business’s response to the reviews. Did you get that? 97%! It’s pretty clear that people who care about reviews also care if the business is actively responding to them.
You’ve got them. Don’t lose them.
It’s loads easier to retain a customer than to gain a new one. Think about the time, effort, and money it takes to get someone to hear about your business. To not only know who you are but actually convince them to check you out and spend their hard-earned dollars on you over the thousands of other choices. There’s a reason marketing is a business – it’s hard work! If they had a negative experience and you ignore them, you most likely will not only lose them as a customer, but risk their bad experience spreading to more and more people. When the 82% of consumers who are reading online reviews comes across that ignored bad review, chances are you’ll lose them too. You’ve come this far. Don’t lose them over a review.
You’ve convinced me. Now what?
Be an active participant. Pay attention to and monitor your online reviews on as many sites as you can. Respond to every single review you can find, positive or negative. Thank a loyal customer for their positive review and you’ve locked someone in for life. Respond to a negative review to let the person know you care, and everyone sees you’re an invested business owner. It’s not rocket science. You can do it. If you don’t have the time, we can do it for you.