It’s a commonly known fact that customers do not make purchase decisions without checking online reviews. After all, it’s better to be safe – by checking reviews and ascertaining the quality of the product or service before making a buy than to be sorry – after making a purchase and realizing the quality is not what one expected it to be. Now, if you think adding reviews is enough for your business, there’s another thing coming. An increasing number of customers now look for 5-star reviews amidst the sea of reviews available in the online space. This is because a 5-star review says this business has outperformed its competitors in providing products or services of high quality. A 5-star review says this business offers an experience that’s reliable and without parallel. Read on to know more about why your business should be focusing on getting more 5-star reviews.
1: Earn trust easier
According to statistics, consumers check at least 10 reviews on an average, before they decide to click on a local business. Let’s dig deeper. Of the customers who base their choices on reviews, 57% look for businesses with 4 or 5 star ratings and nothing less. What this means is, while positive reviews are good, positive reviews combined with high star ratings tells customers that you’re a dependable business with quality products or services.
2: See more clicks
The true success of your brand can be gauged not from the number of people viewing your ads or product listings but from the number of people who actually go ahead and click on them. The Click Through Rate (CTR) is a ratio that enables you to determine the ratio of clicks to impressions. It’s a fact that businesses with star ratings between 3 and 5 are known to generate 25% more clicks from the Google pack.
3: Get that graph rising
By now, you’re all too familiar with the fact that customers choose their path to companies with star-rated reviews. But did you know that for every increased star, a business stands to gain a 5 – 9% increase in revenues? Think about the impact on your business sales and growth, if you generate ample good reviews that take your ranking to the status of a 5 star or close.
4: Rank higher
Google has a sharp eye when it comes to picking up star rated businesses from a crowd of hundreds or even thousands. More 5-star reviews help add extra SEO points to your business’s web listing which contributes towards increasing your ranking in Google’s algorithm. So, go ahead and ensure more customers leave reviews on your brand which in turn will make your brand more visible and clickable.
5: Land your customer
A landing page is where a customer visit transforms into a customer decision. A star rated review could just be that little push a wavering mind needs to stop pondering and start engaging with your brand. Include positive star rated reviews from satisfied customers on your landing page and witness the rise in conversions.
6: Be seen everywhere
When a customer is happy with a product or service, the news spreads far and wide. Customers who are delighted with your business will not just leave reviews on your site but on other review platforms too. Considering the fact that Google checks your business’s popularity by collecting data on your business from other review sites, you may witness an increase in web traffic that’s as high as 360%.
Ways to increase your 5-star reviews:
Better your product or service
If you offer a product or service experience that compares with the best in the industry or even surpasses it, you will effortlessly get the coveted 5-star from the customers you serve.
Ask for reviews
Reach out to your customers and let them know that their opinions matter. Research indicates nearly 7 out of 10 customers respond affirmatively when asked for reviews. So, do not hesitate or delay in adding this step to your business process.
Respond to reviews
If you request reviews from customers, complete the loop by responding to these reviews. A reply that’s along the lines of a “Thank You” would work well for customers who express their appreciation with your product or service while a “We’ll surely look into this issue” would be perfect for customers whose experience with your business has been less than optimal. Responding to reviews will send a signal that you’re a business that takes its customers seriously, and this in turn will help your business land more positive reviews in the long run.
We hope this blog leaves you with enough reasons to aim for the ‘stars’, when it comes to getting reviews from customers. To reiterate, the more 5-star rated reviews you put up, the easier you’ll make it for customers to trust you and do business with you. If you’re looking for an expert to help your business achieve higher visibility and loyalty from customers, reach out to us at SocioSquares. We’re a digital marketing agency with over 11 years of experience in helping small to medium-sized clients do all the right things to land better leads and customers. Give us a try and we’ll be more than happy to help your business earn the 5 stars it deserves.
