How to Use Online Reviews to Improve Your Products and Services
You can increase your conversion rates by as much as 85% when using online reviews. Specifically, you can encourage happy customers to leave a review on the site. Customer service agents can ask satisfied customers to leave a review for you. Positive reviews can boost your conversion rate by as much as 85%. Below are some tips for improving your products and services using online reviews, whether from impartial review sites like brianlett.com or your customers. Read on to learn more.
Positive online reviews increase conversions by up to 85%
A recent study found that product reviews have a more significant impact on purchase decisions than the product’s price. The more positive the review, the higher the likelihood that a consumer will purchase the product. Positive reviews increase conversions by up to 85% on products with more consideration, while negative reviews reduce sales by 70 percent. According to the Ever-Growing Power of Reviews, more than 60% of online shoppers read product reviews before purchasing.
In addition to the positive impact of product reviews, negative reviews can have a positive effect. Many people want to know if something is faulty or if the customer is unhappy with the experience. If the study cites negative feedback, the visitor may decide that the negatives are unimportant to the occasion and move on to the next page. This is a surefire way to increase conversions by up to 85%, whether your company sells executive chairs or linen towels.
Incentivize customers to leave a review
The benefits of incentivizing reviews are apparent, but there are also hidden pitfalls. Incentives change the relationship between reviewer and reviewee, dilute the content of the reviews, and create an unrealistic expectation for your customers. The most effective way to encourage reviews is to offer tangible rewards. For example, provide monthly giveaways, where each person who writes a review is guaranteed to win one of the prizes.
Some businesses choose to reward their customers by offering discounts, gift cards, or other incentives. Incentives should be fair and genuine – the goal is to increase the likelihood of honest and helpful reviews. Other options include random drawing contests and giveaways. Aside from incentives, businesses can also create fun contests and giveaways to encourage reviews and testimonials. These can also be used to promote sales.
One common technique to incentivize customer reviews is offering a product discount. This method is popular among businesses that want to increase their visibility. But while providing a free product or a prize can motivate passive customers to leave a review, negative reviews are also common. However, you may not be able to change the mind of these customers once they’ve written a negative review.
Another effective method to increase the number of reviews is holding a draw. Offering incentives to customers to write reviews can encourage them to leave reviews more frequently and positively than they otherwise would. Stimuli should be paired with deadlines, so customers can see that they have a specific deadline to meet to win the prize. Moreover, you should disclose incentives according to FTC rules. It would help to avoid this red flag for potential customer predators altogether.
Another way to motivate customers to leave reviews is to offer incentives. Offer incentives for reviews from employees who interact with customers daily. Customers who mention your employees in their reviews may be likelier to leave one. This will help motivate them and start a friendly competition among your team. But don’t offer bribes or cash rewards for good reviews. You may get some bad reviews, but gaining a good review from your customers is worth it.
Avoid negative online reviews
It is important to acknowledge negative reviews and respond to them accordingly. In many cases, customers may use negative reviews to share their frustrations with the business and give it a chance to improve. It is important to remember that many consumers are motivated by the need to be heard and want to know that businesses care about their customers. Therefore, while it is always tempting to disregard negative reviews, it is crucial to consider the feedback your customers provide to improve your products and services.
Many review sites have reporting mechanisms that allow businesses to flag fake reviews or those that violate the terms of service. However, beware of any reputation management or SEO company that may claim to boost customer reviews. These companies may not explicitly state that they write fake reviews, but they can still use these mechanisms to prevent your listings from getting banned. In these cases, the review platform will suspend your account or remove your listing if you don’t respond to the complaints.
The best way to respond to a negative review is to write a thoughtful public comment that addresses the issue. However, you should take the conversation offline if you cannot resolve the problem within the review site. Doing this shows your willingness to resolve the issue and move on. Even negative reviews can prove helpful in the long run. Therefore, it is essential to use these experiences as learning opportunities. If you notice a pattern of negative reviews, investigate the problems and fix them.
If you do encounter a negative review, respond publicly. Not only will this let your customers know that you care about their concerns, but it also shows that you care about them. Whether the review is negative or positive, a timely response will make it more likely for your business to improve. It may involve taking the issue offline or contacting the customer directly. If you cannot resolve the issue immediately, consider providing alternative contact information.
