In an era where information is just a click away, consumers have the ability to make informed choices. Gone are the days when they solely relied on outrageous advertising claims or vague marketing messages. Instead, a much more compelling factor now influences consumer decisions: online reviews.
About 60% of consumers feel that the number of reviews a business has influenced their decision to engage with its services. In short, the more online reviews you gather, the higher the chances of instilling trust in consumers and influencing their purchase decisions.
If you want to know how to get more reviews and leverage them to get more sales, you’ve come to the right place.
In this guide, we take a look at:
- The Impact of Reviews on Consumer Purchase Decisions
- How To Generate Reviews on Google
- Other Creative Ways To Get More Online Reviews
- How an Online Review Management Tool Can Shape Purchase Decisions
The Impact of Reviews on Consumer Purchase Decisions
In today’s digital landscape, consumers often begin their decision-making process by seeking out reviews.
A survey shows that 91% of respondents read at least one review before making a purchase decision on a product, business or service (Bizrate Insights). Another study found that 76% of consumers “regularly” read online reviews when discovering local businesses (BrightLocal).
Regardless of your industry, customer feedback can offer you numerous advantages:
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They Help Drive Sales
Nowadays, online reviews are the biggest source of social proof. They demonstrate that others have found value in your product or service, influencing potential customers to do the same. In fact, 46% of consumers consider reviews as trustworthy as personal recommendations from friends or family members.
In a nutshell, online reviews help establish trust and motivate potential customers to buy, thereby enhancing your revenue.
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They Increase Your Online Visibility
In 2022, 87% of people used Google to research local businesses (BrightLocal). Having a steady stream of online reviews not only puts you in front of users actively searching for what you offer, but it also helps you rank higher and outperform your competitors.
Search engines like Google and Bing favor pages with unique and up-to-date content when determining search result rankings. Reviews contribute to this content stream, boosting your visibility to a wider audience.
Moreover, ranking higher can help boost authority and encourage ready-to-buy prospects to choose your brand.
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They Make You Look Trustworthy
When potential customers see authentic feedback from others who have already experienced your products or services, they are more likely to view your brand as credible and trustworthy.
Research shows that 81% of digital shoppers do not trust a business that does not have any reviews at all (Insider Intelligence).
However, it’s not enough to have solely positive reviews.
A study found that a consumer is more inclined to purchase a product when it has some negative reviews. Interestingly, purchase probability peaks when a product’s average star rating falls within the range of 4.2 and 4.5. If the average star rating exceeds 4.5, the likelihood of purchase declines.
This means to build trust and get more sales; your business needs to have a mix of positive and negative reviews.
How To Generate Reviews on Google
According to a study, 88% of all online reviews come from four major websites (ReviewTrackers). These are:
- Google (73%)
- Yelp (6%)
- Facebook (3%)
- Tripadvisor (3%)
Google, which boasts the highest quantity of reviews, frequently updates its algorithm to enhance user experience. This means you need to adopt a proactive approach if you want to get more Google reviews, boost your credibility and attract more potential customers.
Here are some tips to get reviews on Google:
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Familiarize Yourself With Google’s Policies
Google has specific guidelines when it comes to soliciting and posting reviews. Discouraging negative reviews or selectively seeking positive reviews from customers is against Google’s policies. Likewise, reviews that contain spammy, offensive and misleading information may be taken down. Reviews are moderated by a third-party provider to identify and remove inappropriate content.
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Verify Your Business Profile
Remember, Google reviews show up next to your Business Profile. Verifying your Business Profile ensures your information appears on Search, Maps and other Google services, making you more visible to ready-to-buy leads. Additionally, only verified businesses can respond to reviews.
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Create a Review Shortcut Link
A review shortcut link offers a faster, more convenient way to get reviews on Google. Follow these simple steps to generate your link:
- Head to your Google My Business account.
- Click the Home tab.
- Look for the “Get your first review” (or “Get more reviews”) card.
- Click “Share review form” and copy the link to your clipboard.
This link can be shared on your website or via email and social media, making it more convenient for users to share their thoughts.
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Create a Google Reviews Page on Your Website
Another straightforward way to get reviews on Google is to dedicate a separate page on your website for customer reviews. Ensure the page is accessible from your main navigation menu to make it more visible.
This page should display existing testimonials and a clear call to action urging customers to leave reviews. Displaying other reviews can help motivate other users to share their experiences.
Other Creative Ways To Get More Online Reviews
Here are other ways to encourage customers to leave reviews:
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Make It Easy for Customers To Leave a Review
If the process of leaving a review is too complicated, it might discourage customers from sharing their experiences.
Consider setting up a review station (or tablet) in-store to get more Google reviews while the experience is still fresh in your customers’ minds. You can also utilize your client database to send SMS campaigns.
These messages can feature a link that redirects the recipient to your Google Business Profile or other review sites.
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Use Automated Emails
Wondering how to get more Google reviews without dedicating too much time? Consider sending automated, personalized emails triggered by specific actions or behaviors.
For instance, you can send a review request about a week after a customer made a purchase. You can also schedule follow-up review requests or exclusive offers and promos based on their buying journey. These are great ways to increase sales and improve customer experience.
Segment your email list based on factors like demographics, purchase history or interests. It’s also best to address the recipient by name. This small touch can make your message more genuine.
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Respond to Both Positive and Negative Reviews
To get more reviews, you need to address existing feedback, both positive and negative.
Responding to positive feedback can make customers feel valued and reinforce positive behavior. Showing that you listen to their input helps build rapport and drives continuous engagement.
Likewise, acknowledging negative feedback helps improve customer experience. It demonstrates your willingness to resolve issues and learn from your mistakes. Responding to unhappy customers and offering prompt solutions are great ways to restore confidence in your brand.
How an Online Review Management Tool Can Shape Purchase Decisions
From fostering trust to influencing consumer purchase decisions, the impact of reviews cannot be understated. Using an online review management tool helps you increase reviews, connect with your target audience and showcase what you offer.
- SMS and email review requests
- Star ratings
- New review notifications
- Review tracking on Google, Amazon, Target Plus and other marketplaces
- Review generation and response
- Review widgets
- Online reputation repair
- Survey campaign management
Learning how to get more Google reviews through an online review management tool can do wonders for your business. More importantly, it can help you save time and explore new ways to increase sales.
Shape Purchase Decisions and Maximize Conversions With Rize Reviews
If you want to get more online reviews and surpass your competitors, adopting an online review management strategy is a must.
Rize Reviews is your trusted partner in online review monitoring and generation. Our online review management services benefitted businesses across industries, from eCommerce brands to brick-and-mortar stores.
In April 2021, we were approached by Family First ER with a clear goal in mind: to enhance its brand image and drive more patients to its healthcare facility. Prior to teaming up with Rize, the client only had five reviews, making it tough to connect with their audience.
Our specialists stepped in and developed a tailored online review monitoring and generation strategy that led to 238 new positive reviews with an average 4.8-star rating.
We initiated strategic, fully automated email and SMS campaigns aimed at requesting reviews from ER patients within just one business day of their appointments. This helped the client get more Google reviews, foster trust and develop a strong online reputation.
In addition, we created a review response strategy that helped Family First ER to continue conversations and foster stronger relationships with patients. Using the Rize Reviews dashboard, the Family First ER team was able to optimize the review monitoring and response process across platforms.
If you’re seeking ways to increase sales and improve customer experience, leveraging online review management is a proven path to growth.
Contact Rize now for online review management services designed to help you achieve remarkable success.
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