Six instant benefits of collecting reviews

One of the best things about using online reviews is the fact that your business can benefit almost instantly. Instead of having to juggle multiple marketing strategies (which involves money and time that could be better spent elsewhere), you’re able to elevate your entire offering, all thanks to user-generated content (UGC).

1. Maximise the power of (digital) word-of-mouth

Marketing your business in the 21st century is all about the digital word-of-mouth. Thanks to the nature of social media, glowing consumer reviews spread far and wide the moment someone hits send. 

Remember, the first thing a potential consumer does is research your business online. But if they can’t find any mention of you, they’ll shift their search to a competitor who already has a strong online presence. 

Even if you have a website, consumers want to hear from other shoppers – which means a collection of reviews isn’t merely a ‘nice to have’, but a necessity in the age of the internet.

2. Boost your SEO

Search Engine Optimisation, or SEO for short, is the practice of optimising your online assets for search. The better your SEO, the higher your business will rank on search engine pages, like Google. If you’re unfamiliar with the basics of SEO, read this article for the low down. 

Online reviews are one of the most effective ways to boost your SEO – they give search engines more content to work with, which signals to Google and the like that your business is relevant. 

They also give search engines content which is helpful, because Google prioritises content by quality – and will rank businesses with multiple, insightful reviews far higher than businesses who don’t. 

The result? Your business stands out to more potential customers.

3. Continually improve your offering thanks to customer insights

All businesses have areas that they can improve in. But knowing where your weak spots are can be tricky without consumer feedback. Online reviews provide you with invaluable insight about all of the customer-facing areas of your business, from your branding and pricing, to your in-store experience and after-sales service. 

Being able to collect feedback from the very people you’re trying to please gives you a leg up over competitors – instead of waiting for a problem to fester into a dire situation, you can nip issues in the bud – before they impact your sales.

4. Increase consumer trust and business credibility

Trust and credibility are arguably the most sought-after qualities in a business today. But establishing your business as credible in the eyes of your consumer is easier said than done. If you’re not using online reviews, of course. 

Reviews provide potential shoppers with honest, accurate accounts about multiple facets of your business – information that people are actively searching for. Today’s consumers don’t want to hear about how great a business is from the business itself; they want to hear about your company from fellow shoppers. 

Online reviews do the crucial task of assisting people in making an informed, educated decision about a business based on the experience of their peers. Just as importantly, reviews act as social proof – if other people are endorsing your business, potential consumers immediately view you in a more favourable light.

5. Reduce your return rate

If you run an e-commerce business, chances are, dealing with returns is part and parcel of your operation. A plethora of online shopping options, coupled with the ease and convenience shopping online affords shoppers, means the return rate for e-retailers is drastically higher than for traditional brick and mortar stores. 

While there will always be consumers who want to return a product, tapping into the power of online reviews enables you to substantially reduce the number of returns you have to process. 

By providing accurate information in the form of feedback from other shoppers, online reviews help you to set the right consumer expectations from the get-go. When shoppers know what to expect, they’re far less likely to be disappointed once their order arrives.

6. Continually create content about your brand

Google’s constant craving for content means that the brands who regularly create original content come out tops in search results. Every online review makes search engines that little bit happier. Higher rankings on search engines makes it easier for consumers to find you.

Online reviews are here to stay. Wouldn’t you want to be able to benefit from them?

Reviews on Hellopeter have helped over one million consumers make better choices. Had an experience you’d like to tell us about? Leave us a review here.