Supporting local businesses is a growing trend. One may be on the hunt for a tasty new breakfast spot, or perhaps in search of a well-trusted contractor to help finish the extra bathroom. Working directly with a local company often comes with more trust and compassion, as opposed to working with a big box store.
But, how do we know who values time and who is worth investing the money?
Many people turn to online reviews, such as Yelp, where contributors have submitted over 171 million reviews of almost every type of local business. This means managing your business’ online reputation should be a top priority. So, are online reviews more efficient for your company than word of mouth?
Online Reviews VS Word of Mouth
Before the advance in technology, personal recommendations were typically the only way individuals heard about a business. With the rise of technology and the internet, you now have the world at our fingertips. Reviews, recommendations, and local business can easily be found through a simple Google search. Opposed to the early 2000’s, 9 out of 10 customers now believe reading an online review is just as important as word of mouth.
Are Online Reviews Important?
Not only do 90% of consumers read online reviews, but 88% trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation. These statistics prove online reviews to be extremely important when managing a small or local business. Encourage customers to share their experience by leaving a review while monitoring and responding to all reviews.
Encouraging your customers to leave online reviews about your business will help you:
- Build Credibility: In era of tablets and smartphones, individuals have the resources needed to gain an understanding of your company’s values and reputation. Maintaining positive reviews for future consumers to see will build trust and credibility within your company.
- Help SEO: Search engine optimization helps your business page rank higher in Google. Online reviews can greatly influence SEO based on ratings and overall reviews.
- Connect with Customers: When a customer leaves a review, negative or positive, this is the time to respond and connect with them. Responding also builds credibility.
Professional Assistance with Online Reviews & Reputation Management
Many businesses find the task of monitoring and engaging online reviews and reputation platforms to be too time-consuming and tedious to manage. That’s why our team offers this as a professional service here in Columbus and across the US. A digital marketing team can monitor your platforms daily to catch new reviews or comments to provide a timely, professional response. Trusting your online review management to a professional team offers peace of mind and a consistent presence in the marketplace. Speak with one of our agents for more information on professional online reputation management for your business.
Signal Interactive boasts a team of talented Digital Marketing Specialists that understand the ins and outs of building a trusted brand reputation. Let us help you dominate the top spots in your industry!
Call us today at 614.360.3938.
