Boost your business with customer reviews

Customer reviews are pivotal not only in building trust and credibility, but they also have a significant impact on profitability. Real feedback from customers can be incredibly valuable for any business. Data reveals that companies with a higher volume of reviews see a 54% increase in revenue. Simple advertising taglines alone are insufficient to build the necessary trust to attract new clients, particularly in competitive fields where every player offers similar products and services. To differentiate your business and cultivate trust with potential customers, it's essential to leverage the power of customer feedback. After all, product evaluations and endorsements directly reflect the level of customer satisfaction.

Aggregating your reviews and ratings from different platforms and displaying them on your Google search listing (Google star rating) is an effective way to quickly communicate your customer satisfaction levels and generate trust.

Google values unique, user-generated content, including customer reviews, recognizing them with higher search rankings. This elevated visibility means more potential customers and, ultimately, increased sales.

Despite the clear benefits, many companies still shy away from actively soliciting customer reviews due to fears of negative feedback. However, the truth is that consumer opinions are being formed and shared whether you engage or not. Platforms like yelp.com automatically gather information about businesses from directories and create pages where customers can leave ratings and reviews of their own accord. These ratings then end up on Google and can either speak well of a company or suggest that consumers steer clear — all of this without the company having to lift a finger. The problem in letting reviews and ratings handle themselves is that the company's public image is then defined by a mere handful of reviews. Taking control of this process helps you mitigate the effects of negative reviews and enhances your public image.

Implementing a straightforward and accessible method for customers to leave feedback, like simple star ratings, significantly increases the volume of positive reviews, which in turn drives more business. According to a study, 95% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase. Besides, 53% of consumers view product ratings and reviews as the most important factor in the online shopping experience.

Implementing a straightforward and accessible method for customers to leave feedback, like simple star ratings, significantly increases the volume of positive reviews, which in turn drives more business. A list of simple ways to collect customer feedback is available in the ProvenExpert blog.

While a negative review might seem detrimental, it can be an unexpected asset. Nearly two-thirds of consumers trust businesses more when they see a mix of good and bad scores, as an unblemished record can appear suspicious. Studies point out that the absence of negative feedback leads 30% of consumers to doubt the authenticity of the reviews.

Given that an estimated 40% of reviews on Amazon are fabricated, it's understandable why shoppers might question the legitimacy of a flawless review score. This skepticism underlines the unexpected value of negative reviews in reinforcing trust and perception of honesty. They serve as evidence that a business is transparent and doesn't manipulate or silence public feedback. A balanced overall rating is, therefore, more trustworthy than purely uncritical praise.

Moreover, when a business takes the time to address every review, positive or negative, it signals a commitment to valuing and acknowledging customer opinions. This approach not only enhances the trustworthiness of reviews but also strengthens the overall credibility of the business. If a company is alerted to an issue and can resolve it quickly, an unhappy customer is much more likely to return to the business.

The question, then, is "how should you deal with negative feedback?" First of all, under no circumstance should you ignore it — failure to publicly respond to a negative review makes a bad impression on potential customers. Posting a response shows that you're open to criticism and that your company is truly interested in making its products or services better. According to a study, 44.6% are more likely to visit a local business if the owner responds to negative reviews. You can find a helpful series of instructions for dealing with negative feedback here.