Online reviews have been around for quite some time and yet their value continues to increase as consumers place more and more importance on them. 77% of consumers say they regularly read online reviews when browsing for local businesses. In addition to being a common source of buying research, they are also highly trusted with 79% of people saying they trust reviews as much as a personal recommendation from a family member.

 There are plenty of dedicated review sites such as Yelp, Angie’s List, Foursquare, and more. Other platforms like Google Business Profiles and Facebook are also widely looked to as reputable review sources. Google, especially, has come to dominate the review space since reviews appear in search engine results and can impact a business’ local rankings.   

As a business, it is important to understand the influence that customer reviews have on potential customers and how to use them to your advantage.

If you are looking for ways to increase positive customer reviews, check out our video for five methods you can try.

In addition to generating positive reviews, you also want to make sure that you’re distributing your reviews where they can be seen and have the most impact. Reposting reviews and testimonials on your social media profiles and websites is a good way to get them in front of potential customers who may be researching your products or services. You can also consider converting your reviews into video testimonials that could be used as commercials, digital ads, or fresh website content.

Testimonials and reviews can be valuable sales tools for your business. Make sure your business is generating them, monitoring them, and effectively leveraging them for the most benefit!