Did you know that 88% of potential local customers consult at least 1 online review site before deciding where to spend their money? If you are not aware of your online reputation you could be missing out on big profit. On most review sites, like Yelp, customers can share a review about your company even if you did not setup a company page. This means there could be reviews online about your company that you are not aware of. If you don’t have an online reputation or you don’t feel like you are in control of your online reputation now is the time to take control! The online reputation team at Crush My Market has put together some basic tips that will help you get a handle on your online reviews.
Outlined below are 3 tips on taking control of your online reputation:
1. Claim or create your business review pages
Google your business name and see if any review listings come up in the search. If so, claim listings on sites that you have yet to sign up for. Review sites like Yelp, Google + and Facebook allow business owners to interact with reviewers. If you have yet to do so, research other sites that are relevant to your industry and create listings on those sites. For example, if you are in the Home Improvement or Construction fields create a listing on Houzz. By claiming a business on a review site customers perceive your business to be more trustworthy and customer service oriented.
2. Encourage your customers to give you feedback via your review sites
Post links to the review sites on your website via badges. By displaying the logos of review sites that you want customers to leave reviews on, you further open the channel for reviews. Share positive reviews via Social Media sites so other happy customers remember to review you. Some sites, like Yelp, allow you to create check in offers or coupons. These offers encourage customers to check in on the review sites and while they are on the site they are more likely to leave a review.
3. Respond to reviews, negative and positive
It is imperative that you respond to your customers reviews on review sites. If you are rewarded with a positive review respond with a gratitude. This creates a positive relationship with you and the customer and encourages them to continue to give you feedback. The most important reviews to respond to are the negative reviews. A negative review is the businesses’ chance to redeem themselves. Respond with an apology and a plan to make the customers experience better in the future. This shows the negative reviewer and other potential customers that you care about your business and your customers. Most likely, the customer will appreciate your response and give you another chance. They may even update their review to be more positive afterwards.
Managing your reputation online can seem like a tedious task, but if done correctly the benefits will be enormous. To keep a grasp on reviews make sure to create profiles on every review site for your industry. Don’t forget to encourage your customers to leave you a good word on the most popular sites. And always respond to reviews.
This may seem like a lot to do so the reputation management team at Crush My Market has created a simple way to manage your reviews. With our Online Review Platform, we will make it simple for you to get the reviews that will create a good online reputation to grow your business. Contact us at (844) 862-7874 to learn more about our Online Review Platform and reputation management services.
