Online Reviews: Creating & Sustaining A Strong Client Base

In today’s tech-driven world, potential customers are more likely to come across your business online, either through a search engine or Internet advertisements, before ever stepping foot in your location. There are obvious advantages of this as businesses are able to reach a broader range of customers than ever before.

 

However, just about every search engine has incorporated reviews and ratings of businesses, which could deter potential customers if the reviews are negative or nonexistent. A recent study found that a business with a similar listing, but with more reviews, received 50% more clicks than a rival business. And of course, if only negative reviews or one star ratings flood the page, even previous clients might take their business elsewhere. It’s not enough to wait and hope that happy customers will leave reviews though. Businesses need a comprehensive review and rating strategy to beat competitors and maintain a positive online presence.

 

There are several approaches a business can take to achieve a strong online review presence to both curate new clientele and sustain the customer base they already have:

 

1. First-Party Reviews: Reviews from your website can be displayed in search engine results, but they have to be first-party – reviews that are organically generated on your site and not pulled from another website, like Yelp. In order to get these reviews, you have to ask. You’ll find your customer is more than willing to give feedback – 7 out of 10 people will leave a review for a business when asked. Making it easy and convenient for your customers to leave reviews is key, and then ask regularly. With the reviews in hand, post the good and the bad to your site.
2. Third-Party Reviews: Google gives preference to third-party site reviews – feedback on sites other than your own, like Facebook and Yelp. Fresh content that keeps your customer engaged is the best way to maximize on this opportunity. Promote new content through blog posts, events, pictures, etc. to sustain a presence. Ask for feedback on these sites, and engage with customers when they do give feedback.

 

Reviews are vital for curating new clients, but also for your tried and true customers. They are the difference between a flourishing business and one struggling to get by. Adenvision can help drive that traffic and put precedent on review driven campaigns and strategy. Utilizing Email campaigns, search engine marketing, blog posts, and social media management are just some of the things we do best to improve search engine visibility and create a loyal customer base. Focus on what you do best: offering stellar, review-worthy service to your customers, and leave the rest to us.