Reviews are online assessments of products, services and businesses by customers and other individuals. They provide social proof and credibility to help buyers make purchase decisions.
When managed well, review systems create value for both consumers and sellers. But, a well-designed system is only as good as the content it collects.
1. They build trust
Reviews and ratings provide social proof for hesitant buyers, which in turn builds trust for your products and brand. They also make it easier for new, unproven brands to gain a foothold in the market and establish a positive reputation among consumers.
Online reviews are as trustworthy as a personal recommendation, and up to 84% of consumers note that they use review content when making buying decisions (Bizrate Insights, 2021). By including customer feedback on your website and product pages, you can increase the likelihood of conversions and sales.
However, it is important to note that customers are wary of ecommerce businesses that seem overly promotional or only showcase positive reviews. To maintain the integrity of your reviews Visit here, solicit honest feedback from all customers and be transparent in how you display the feedback. Additionally, you should respond to negative feedback in a timely manner to address any issues and demonstrate that you care about your business’ reputation.
2. They drive traffic
When shoppers read positive reviews they are more likely to visit a website, and ultimately consider making a purchase. This makes online customer reviews a critical marketing tool for every business.
In addition, online customer reviews help drive search engine traffic because search engines value fresh, original content and will reward websites that have a steady stream of them. Reviews also enable retailers to capture bottom-of-funnel keywords that shoppers may use in searches, which helps them rank higher in search results.
It is important to encourage customers to leave reviews by ensuring that you are providing a seamless review process. This can be accomplished by emailing all buyers after their purchase and making it as easy as possible for them to share their experience, including a link to review sites. Some brands even go as far as to offer a discount on future purchases in exchange for a review. However, it is important to note that Amazon has a strict review policy and will penalize sellers who incentivize reviews with products or discounts.
3. They increase conversions
Reviews are one of the most powerful conversion boosting tools for your Shopify store. They help to reassure shoppers who are on the fence about your product and provide that gentle nudge they need to push them over the line to becoming a buyer.
Consumers love to read reviews and they trust them almost as much as they would a personal recommendation. That is why they are so crucial in the buying process and have been shown to increase conversions by up to 31%.
There are many creative ways to use reviews on your website and marketing channels to drive more traffic, build brand trust and increase conversions. Okendo’s review management platform makes it easy to collect and display reviews onsite and across your marketing channels. It also helps you to bolster your Google Shopping ads with powerful social proof, increasing CLTV and conversions for your business. You can even use it to create a testimonial page that features the praise of your happy customers.
4. They drive sales
Most consumers look for ratings and reviews before making an in-store purchase. They want to know if the item is true-to-size, if it’s comfortable or if it’s of good quality and how well it functions. A quick glance at positive reviews can give shoppers the confidence they need to buy a product.
Using customer reviews in your marketing campaigns, especially in your welcome emails can help boost your business’s social proof. This can encourage new customers to shop with you and can increase your conversions.
Unlike testimonials, which are written comments from satisfied customers, reviews have a star rating to indicate the overall customer experience. In addition to being a key piece of information for potential customers, reviews are also helpful for businesses looking to boost their search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. The number of positive reviews can make a difference for Google searches and increase a website’s ranking. In fact, a one-star drop in Yelp ratings can mean 22% of lost sales for a restaurant.
