What's the Big Deal With Customer Reviews and Testimonials?

First we asked, what's the big deal with customer reviews and testimonials?

The #1 reason is that over 90% of today's Gen Y & Z  digital era consumers incorporate online reviews into their buying decisions. For that reason alone; to keep your business attracting new customers, you need to collect more and more reviews and testimonials.   

In today's  digital era, most consumers have become increasingly blind to advertising and marketing strategies. Also, most consumers are very slow to trust most businesses, large or small! 

So, what should a specialty cleaning service business like yours do?
The answer is to build your credibility. And building credibility starts with positive customer reviews and testimonials.
Creating convenient locations for customers to review your business as well as leave their testimonials should be your very first step in creating a solid customer review strategy.   

Why?

The answer is because each professional cleaning service business is different, with different types of customers who have different interests, habits and needs. This means, choosing where to collect reviews and testimonials is key to connecting with your target audience and motivating them to review you.

While it's best to have more than one social media site for collecting reviews, not all of them will be appropriate or even necessary for your company. Focus on your target audience and the nature of your business when choosing which of the following popular review sites is best for your business.

Four Different Social Media Locations to Consider For Reviews and Testimonials

Google Business Profile is a free tool that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including Maps and Search. In my opinion, Google is the best place to ask for reviews and testimonials because more and more consumers, including businesses,  conduct multiple searches on Google daily. As a result, many businesses are vying for top “SERP” (Search Engine Results Page).

To complete your Google Business Profile registration, you must verify your information.

Google Business Profile puts business information on Google + Maps and Search. This makes it easier for consumers to find your business location on their smartphone or desktop. Plus, Google reviews appear in search results, which bolsters SEO. Google reviews are essential if you want to build your business credibility!

It's much easier for customers to review a business on Google. Because of this, it's easier to get more reviews. Plus, Google Business Profile is a great place to collect reviews and testimonials as it also gives your product or service credibility.  

2.  Facebook – (reviews)

Facebook is a social networking site where users create profiles, upload images and videos, send messages, and connect with their friends, family and their favorite businesses.

Businesses can create business profiles on Facebook to allow their customers to follow them and leave business reviews based on their experience with the brand. Today, it's common for customers to leave reviews on social media.

Today's consumers interact more with businesses through social media too, and Facebook is the most prevalent social network. That means business reviews on Facebook are seen and shared by many potential customers.

Remember, consumers are always talking about a business, whether that business knows or not, and regardless of whether that business has claimed its business profile. It's therefore important to monitor your social mentions at all times.

Facebook is becoming an increasingly popular review site, especially because of the sheer size of its user base. And because many consumers already have a Facebook account, reviewing any business is relatively easy.

In other words, it's essential to collect reviews on Facebook, because your business's Facebook page is likely to show up in search results when customers do their search.

3.  Yelp – (reviews)

Yelp is a 'directory site' where users publish reviews about local businesses. Also, Yelp helps small businesses respond to business reviews, hosts events for Yelp reviewers, and provides data about businesses such as health inspection scores.

Yelp is popular as a business review site with well over 100 million reviews and counting. Keep in mind that it's important to pay attention to what consumers are saying about your business online, and especially on their Yelp reviews.

Most consumers won't give a small business any attention if all they see are negative reviews on their Yelp customer review page.

With the growing popularity of review sites such as Yelp, it's especially important for businesses to monitor their reviews regularly in order to manage their online reputation.

4.  On Your Site – (a special testimonial & review page)

If you aren't displaying reviews and testimonials on your site, now is the time to start. After collecting your business reviews, place them on one easy-to-access page. You can showcase your reviews and testimonials on your testimonial page that you set up on your website.

According to research, 90+% of Generation Y & Z''s trust online reviews as much as they trust recommendations from their friends and family. So it's essential to make your business reviews easy to find.

The goal of creating a testimonial page is to make it easy for visitors to see your most glowing reviews at once, instead of having to search across the internet to see what people are saying about your brand.

To do this, credit the original review site. If the review came from Yelp, Facebook, or Google, it's an excellent idea to link back to the original source.

Start by seeking permission before posting third-party reviews on your site. And once you get that permission, waste no time. You've worked hard to create something others are excited about. So, don't be afraid to promote your review page.

SUMMARY:
 First, the question was;  why the big deal over customer reviews and testimonials?

We found the  #1 reason is that over 90% of today's digital era consumers incorporate reviews into their buying decisions!
For that reason alone; to keep your business attracting new customers, you definitely need to collect more and more positive reviews.

So, what should a specialty cleaning services business like yours do?
The answer is to build credibility. And building credibility starts with positive customer reviews and testimonials.
Creating convenient locations for customers to review your business as well as give their testimonials should be one of your very first steps in creating a solid customer review strategy.

For more information, contact Jim Pemberton

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