Consumerism has been completely changed by the introduction of our newest marketplace: the Internet. And while people have access to products and information that before were only word of mouth, they also have access to opinions and anything negative that your business may have produced, all at the touch of a button. And as a business, it’s important to monitor these opinions and use the tools available to you to grow your online presence. This is Reputation Management, and it’s one of the most important things you can work on to improve your business.
Here’s a fun fact: 88% of people check some form of review before making an online purchase. Reputation management is a very important part of maintaining success as an online business.
This is why star rating and other reputation information play such a critical role in online traffic. There’s no doubt that the higher star rating you have, the more clicks and interactions you have. And this is where one of the best reputation management tools available comes in: Google My Business.
Reviews Influence Consumer Behavior
Google My Business listings are one of the ways that businesses manage their reputation. Google’s Knowledge Box/Graph has been including recommendations and reviews stars for the past few years. And this space is one of the first things that potential clients see when they look into your business. Assuming you are a high-quality business, this can be really great for your business! They can see average star ratings, case-by-case recommendations. And when people see positive reviews, they make more purchases and are more likely to leave positive recommendations. Google My Business also lets you monitor and comment on negative reviews to offer apologies or explanations, which is a great way to manage an online reputation. Plus, with the more GMB recommendations, the more people are willing to take the next step and call, click, or contact your business.
Responding to Reviews Increases Retention
The ability to respond to GMB recommendations is huge for business. When people are able to see responses, they think that businesses are more responsible and therefore more reliable. According to study done by Vendasta Management, businesses that respond to at least one review increase their retention by 126%, and those who respond to more than half of their reviews bump that number up another 66%. This is the value of being able to actively manage your reputation and retain clients in the process.
Volume of Reviews Directly Correlates to Revenue!
As you can see in the chart above, more reviews (and positive reviews) drive more business! We have the experts and tools available to make your business’ reputation management top of the line. We can help you retain clients and use every pixel of your business’ exposure to your complete advantage. Connect with us and try it!
