Online reviews and testimonials can help your company grow. According to Marketing Land, “90% of customers say buying decisions are influenced by online reviews.”
Social media reviews and testimonials have significant clout when it comes to influencing consumer buying decisions. And they can do more than that – they can also impact your online marketing success in many other significant ways. Check out these 7 ways that online reviews can help your business be successful.
Social Media Reviews Have Higher Creditability
Consumers have more confidence and trust in social media reviews and testimonials because they are independent from the website that your company has control over.
Search Engine Land reports, “88% of consumers say they trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations”, and “72% of consumers say that positive reviews make them trust a local business more.”
It’s the Simplest Way to Engage in Social Media
According to Eloqua, “43% of companies admit they have no strategy in place for incorporating social media into demand generation.” Demand generation = targeted marketing to generate interest in your product or service.
With so many options available, the world of social media can be an overwhelming and confusing place. With reviews and testimonials the social media strategy is pretty simple. Determine the best social media channels for your business and target them.
Increases Engagement
When a consumer researches a product or service, they appreciate the opinion of others who have purchased your product or service. Consumers read multiple reviews and testimonials to assist them in their buying decision. Search Engine Land found that “85% of consumers say they read up to 10 reviews.”
Combining marketing materials and independent opinions helps keep consumers engaged in your brand and drives them towards buying your product or service.
Increases Awareness and Traffic
The more social media outlets your company engages with increases the likelihood that consumers will find you online. When consumers review your company on social media, with sites like Google My Business, Facebook, LinkedIn, Yelp and others, it provides more opportunities for people to find out about your business. And more importantly, it reaches people who are connected with those reviewing your business which increases the trust factor in the reviews and testimonials.
Social media reviews have the powerful and persuasive because they are written by people who are often like those who are reading them. The review is from their perspective and speaks their language.
Increases Search Engine Optimization
Google and other search engines are focused on quality results. When you search Google for something, you expect to find what you are looking for. And if you don’t, you go elsewhere. Google knows this and is always trying to provide relevant results for every search. There are many factors that Google uses for ranking search results. One of those factors is online reviews and testimonials.
When your company receives a review and testimonial on social media, it signals to Google that people are interested in talking about you.
More social media reviews and testimonials = more positive Google signals = increased Google rankings
It’s the Lowest Cost and Effort Required for Return
If you are offering a great product or service, getting great reviews doesn’t take a whole lot of effort. For every three customers you ask, one of them will give you a review. You need to ask for a review or testimonial. Ask immediately after the transaction and make the process as simple and straightforward as possible.
Increases Conversion Rates
Social media reviews about your company’s product or service help consumers reach a decision to purchase faster. Prestige Marketing reports, “Conversion rates are 105% higher for consumers who interact with ratings & reviews.”
Get More Reviews, Get More Business
Getting reviews on social media can be one of the best ways to help drive more traffic to your website, increase engagement and help grow your bottom line.
Make sure that you take the reviews you’ve received in social media and integrate them into your own website design.
The Story Web Design & Marketing is focused on helping companies to succeed in online marketing and website design. Please contact us for a free consultation at 647-723-7046 or trevor@thestorywebsites.com.
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