Roughly 8 in 10 consumers report using online reviews to judge whether a local business is a good business (BrightLocal), which makes this aspect of digital marketing crucial for today’s small-medium sized business. However, getting customers to post reviews where they’ll be seen by potential customers can be tricky given the many online review sites available. Whether you’re a hotel, lawyer, consultant, or manufacturer, to help you get started we’re sharing the 3 most important places online where your business should be gathering reviews right now!
1. Google Maps! You thought I was going to say, TripAdvisor… Yelp or Open Table… right?
The first thing people see when they Google your business is your Google Reviews, this makes them super powerful. Google is the #1 review site surpassing TripAdvisor and all others.
It’s hard to get Google reviews, so if you need an easy tool and are willing to pay a little for it, PLEPER is worth it… try this tool!
Bonus: Here’s a must-see article for hotels, resorts, and inns on the importance of Google+ Local and online reviews!
2. Industry-Specific Review Sites
OK, here is where we say… TripAdvisor (if you are a hotel, attraction or restaurant)… Personal injury victim may use Avvo.com to find local attorneys. Likewise, people who are searching for hotels, attractions and restaurants in Lake George, NY may browse LakeGeorge.com for reviews.
If your business is B2B, in addition to Google Maps, you want to make sure you have reviews on:
- Glassdoor
- TrustPilot
- Yahoo! Local Listings
- TrustRadius
- G2Crowd.
- Google your business name plus reviews – whatever comes up, you need to pay attention to!
For a more robust online review strategy that “covers all of your bases,” be sure to identify the industry-specific review sites that are relevant to your target audience, and then build a profile where you can direct customers to share their feedback.
3. Your Company’s Website
In an era where buyers are empowered to gather information on their own terms, it’s likely that your website is the primary point of contact for most shoppers before they ever contact your business.
When it comes to sharing guest reviews, what better place is there to feature such feedback than on your own website? You can have an auto review feature or feature testimonials and case studies, this is the strongest way to let your clients “speak” to future clients.
How’s Your Online Review Strategy?
As more shoppers turn to the web to research local businesses, having a plan to capture online reviews is essential to your brand’s image and overall digital marketing strategy. When you’re ready to take your strategy to the next level, contact the team at Mannix Marketing, Inc. for a personalized marketing assessment!