Forbes.com recently published an article that details some incredible stats on the power that online reviews can have on a business (highlights below). Here at Alycia Yerves Creative, we've published a tipsheet that details 5 easy things businesses can do today to work towards more 5-star online reviews tomorrow.
By sharing my free guide with you, I am confident it will inspire you to take action and address these issues within your business right away!
Here are a few highlights from that Forbes article:
The Effect Of Online Reviews: 90% of consumers read online reviews before visiting a business, and 84% of people trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation.
The Power Of Search Results: 91% of online adults use search engines to find information on the web and 93% of searchers never go past the first page!
The Impact Of Negative Rankings: Companies risk losing 22% of business when potential customers find one negative article on the first page of their search results and nearly half of U.S. adults said they have Googled someone before doing business with them.
As you can see, REVIEWS. MATTER. Whether it's quality, quantity, or frequency -- a lot goes into determining your average online ranking. But the good news is, we can help you get a head start on turning things around.
Let's get started... 5 Tips to 5 Stars!
_____________________ #5 • How do you think you're doing?
Are you aware of the current status of your online reputation? If not, this should be Step #1. Spend some time researching your ratings and scores across sites like Google, Facebook, Yelp, and more. Take note of your average customer rating and sentiment, as well as the number of reviews you have, and how frequently you’re being reviewed. Spend some time researching how your competitors are ranking, too.
#4 • Claim your listings
Did you know that most review sites will let a business owner “claim” a listing, so they can customize and promote it? Make sure you take the time to find your listings and go thru the claiming process. Or, submit a fresh business listing if you are not already showing up there. Claimed businesses appear more legit to potential customers, and allow opportunities for business owners to upload photos, post offers, and more.
#3 • Audit your customer experience
Now that you’ve assessed the current state of your reviews, and have seen how people are ranking your business and what keywords/phrases they keep referencing (i.e., “fast service”, “friendly staff”, “music too loud”, “pricey drinks”), it’s time to ask yourself: “Am I providing a 5-star experience for my guests?” If the answer is yes -- GREAT. Keep going. If the answer is ”not always,” or, “I could be doing better” -- it’s time to address those issues from the inside out before moving on to step #4.
#2 • Be proactive
Now that you’ve claimed your listings and customized your business pages (and triple-checked for accuracy on store hours, contact info, etc), and you’ve ensured that you are consistently providing a 5-star customer experience -- make sure to proactively ask for reviews! Very often some of your best customers just haven’t gotten around to leaving you those great reviews -- make sure to add reminders on your receipts, signage, emails, and other collateral.
#1 • If you're just too busy, hire a professional
You know that online reviews are insanely influential. You CAN begin to improve your online reputation yourself, but it will take dedicated time, effort, and organization to achieve. If you want to quickly improve your online review situation and regularly earn more 5-star reviews (plus the ability to “capture” negative reviews before they become public), we can manage everything! To learn more, get in touch at alycia@alyciayerves.com.
PS: Check out our video below for more details on how our review monitoring service works, and how we can get you MORE 5-star reviews from your clients! One company received over Twenty 5-star reviews in less than one month, and were awarded one of their largest contracts to date. And another business moved from 3.2 to 4.1 Average Star Rating in 1 Month!