Even though customer reviews are a big deal, many businesses are still laid back about them. 80% of businesses are not concerned when there are no customer reviews about their product or service on social media or on any review platform.
Now, this is the big question: How would you know your customers are satisfied or dissatisfied with your products/services if they don’t talk about it? If there’s no way for you to know your customers’ opinion about your brand, how would you tell how well you are running your brand?
As a business, you may consistently talk about your business, which is very good. However, you would miss out on very important insight if you don’t have customers talking about your business. The reviews your customers write are a pointer to what you are doing well or what you should do better.
Take note that these customer reviews are not just for you, or your current customers for that matter. Among the audience who would read those reviews are your potential customers. Having someone, who is not directly linked to your business, spread the gospel of your business increases your brand’s reach and credibility. The reviews of your current customers can influence the purchasing decisions of your potential customers.
In this article, you would discover Seven (7) key reasons your business needs reviews, as well as very practical tips for getting them.
The Value of Reviews for Businesses
As a business, you should know that customer reviews are very important. They can affect your business’ reputation positively or negatively. If you have been wondering whether or not your business needs reviews, especially if you’re just starting out, you need to know that reviews are the lifeblood of every business. Reviews help you establish credibility. By actively seeking and managing reviews, you can boost your online visibility, attract new customers, and eventually increase sales. Here are seven (7) crucial reasons your business needs reviews:
1. Reviews Show the Credibility of Your Business
It is a good thing when you write and post about your business regularly as a business owner. In fact, you always should because no one would talk about your business as much as you would. However, it cannot be compared with when your customers write about your business. Your current customers are the people who have used your products or services and so, they would write honest reviews and say things without any trace of bias.Reviews are the social proof your business needs. When potential customers read what someone else, who is not you, thinks about your business, it makes them more confident about choosing your brand.
So, the next time you get a satisfied customer, encourage them to leave a review for you on a reviews platform. One of such platforms is Parrot, a two-sided customer reviews and social commerce platform that builds trust between businesses and customers. You can even send reminders to your customers. You need the reviews and you should be able to go all the way to get them.
Description: A business owner reading and responding to customer reviews.
Source : pexels.com
2. Reviews Enhance the Visibility of Your Business
When your customers leave reviews for you on review platforms like Parrot , your business is placed before other people who might be interested in the products/services that you offer.
It also affords you the chance to rank high on search engines like Google. When your customers leave reviews that carry keywords peculiar to your business/industry, there’s a high chance that potential customers who search for the same keyword would discover your business. Don’t doubt this: your business can appear higher in search results because of just one review.
For instance, as a food vendor in Akure, Nigeria, you could have ‘Jollof Rice Food Vendor in Oba-Ile, Akure’ in your Profile/Bio/Description. If a recent customer leaves a review about how delicious and affordable your jollof rice is, your business would be one of those that tops the result list the next time someone is searching for a jollof rice vendor in Akure.
To enhance the visibility of your business, register your business on review Platforms and apps like Parrot, TrustPilot etc. After registering, you can optimise your business profile with keywords, accurate details of your product/services, and high-quality photos. That way, you improve your chance of ranking high on search engines.
3. Reviews Provide Valuable Customer Insights
Customers have the tendency to be unbiased and as a business, you can use these unbiased reviews to your advantage. What did they like about your services? Did they like the way you spoke to them? Or your product packaging? Or the seamless delivery service? Those are the things you know you have to keep doing, and even improve on.
Likewise, what did they complain about? There’s no need to get discouraged about negative reviews. No matter how big you are; you are still a growing business. What you should do is think up ways to improve on those things they complained about.
The next time they want to leave reviews, they would also be the ones to mention that they no longer have the same complaint. That way, you use reviews to improve your customers’ experience and identify areas for growth.
To get reviews that provide valuable customer insights, don’t hold back from requesting them and encouraging them to write reviews for your business. Do this especially with returning customers or those who have expressed their appreciation directly. You can also take note of areas of weakness and work on them.
4. Reviews Increase Conversion Rates
Purchasing anything at all is risky and potential customers want to do all they can to cushion those risks. If they are not sure about a business, chances are that they would not be willing to buy.
However, seeing positive reviews or an honest response to negative reviews boosts the credibility of your business. It assures them that the risk of making purchases from you is worth taking. People are more likely to buy when they see customer reviews.
For reviews to increase your conversion rate, you can leverage Parrot as a mini website for free, integrate your social media links to your Parrot profile and easily post customer reviews on your highlights or stories. You can also offer your customers incentives or discounts when they leave reviews for you. That’s how to encourage them.
5. Reviews Boost Customer Loyalty
Having your customers on a platform where their opinions can be aired and heard makes them feel like they are truly a part of your business growth. It makes them feel valued and appreciated. And in truth, they should be appreciated. Why? They part with their money to patronise you!
When they share their opinion, it shows they trust you, and that they are nursing thoughts of returning. And when you engage their reviews, you develop your relationship with them and then, establish or strengthen their loyalty.
Review platforms like Parrot allow you to reply to the reviews about your business. You also get to address their concerns. This makes you show yourself as approachable, and you boost their loyalty to your brand.
If you want reviews to boost your customer’s loyalty, you can actively engage with your reviewers by thanking them for leaving a review, or by addressing their concerns. You can also encourage your returning customers to share their ongoing experiences.
6. Reviews Build your Brand’s Reputation
Positive reviews can create awareness for your brand and boost your reputation. A steady influx of reviews shows that you have a strong brand presence. It shows that your brand is a consistent and reliable one.
Even the negative ones can be turned around for your good. You can address them professionally, and provide solutions to address that complaint. This would improve the perception about your brand, as you would be seen as a business that is committed to your customers’ satisfaction.
These customer reviews can also give potential customers a peep into your business and make them consider making a purchase.
To build your brand’s reputation with customer reviews, you can send personalised requests to your customers after their purchase, and then you repost the reviews they wrote. You can consider using automated systems for requesting reviews shortly after each transaction.
You can also sign up your business on Parrot. On Parrot, every user can see the reviews your customers write. That means you put your business before many other potential customers, who are scouting for reliable businesses.
7. Reviews Gives Your Business a Competitive Advantage
If you run a business in a competitive industry, then you need to know that your reviews can stand you out from your competitors. Your customers have many choices and they would always go for credible businesses with sufficient social proof–customer reviews!.
High ratings on reviews platforms, as well as positive reviews, would give you an edge over your competitors. This would tilt your customers’ purchasing decisions in your favour.
How do you get reviews to give your business a competitive advantage? You can ask your customers to put up reviews for you on platforms where your competitors are active. Those platforms have your potential customers. Ensure you engage their reviews and make sure your unique selling point is able to get people interested and talking about your brand.
Description: Strategy session on how to improve customer service
Source : pexels.com
Conclusion: Now that you know the reasons you need reviews for your business, do not shy away from asking for them, especially from your satisfied customers.Reviews are a form of marketing. They help in brand building and are an essential customer service tool. They are very crucial to business growth, so encourage your customers to leave reviews for you. Remind them when they forget. If they are satisfied with your customer service, it shouldn’t take them so long to agree to leave a review for you.
Likewise, take the initiative to sign up on review platforms. As a business owner, you should sign up on Parrot.
How to Leverage Parrot to easily collect reviews
Parrot is a two-sided customer reviews and social commerce platform that builds trust between businesses and customers. It enables businesses to gain visibility, understand customer needs, and drive growth. On the Parrot platform, you can register your business, update your bio to include your products and services, and include clear images about your business or products.
In less than one minute, you can sign up for free and get your business account running.
Click this link to get started for FREE.
