Here’s how Google Reviews can make or break your business

What’s the first thing you do when seeking the services of a new business? Chances are you will look them up on Google.

According to an Online Reviews Statistics and Trends report by ReviewTrackers, more than 60% of customers check Google reviews online before they visit a business. Understandably, they want to check out the experience others have had.

This is why Google reviews are important, and why you should put effort into acquiring them. The first thing that appears when you search for a business on Google is that business’ reviews and average rating.

Here are 5 reasons online reviews are crucial to your business growth:

1. 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations

Today, most consumers trust the opinions of strangers on the internet as they would their friends and family. However, an online review coming from an anonymous user, a review that lacks detail, or one that doesn’t seem so genuine won’t fall into this category.

• 68% of consumers trust opinions posted online

“I read it on the internet, so it must be true!” We joke about this statement, but it holds great strength. Platforms such as Facebook and Yelp have millions of people looking for and sharing opinions & recommendations about businesses. On average people are reading up to six reviews, both positive and negative, before making a decision.

• Customers are more likely to share bad experiences than good ones

Think of your last negative customer experience. Did you tell anyone about it? Sharing a bad experience online is an easy way to express frustration, tell people you’ve been wronged and save someone else from having the same bad experience.

It’s important to ask happy customers to leave positive reviews. 1 bad review is the equivalent of 12 good ones!

• Turn a negative review into a positive one

When evaluating a business, customers aren’t only influenced by the reviews that others leave but also how businesses manage their reviews. If you receive a negative review, try to publicly apologise to them and offer a gesture of good will, such as a discounted fee. It also helps to placate any angry customers, which increases the chances of retaining them.

• 72% of consumers say positive reviews help them trust businesses more

If you are like many people, it isn’t likely that you’d want to take chances on a business with negative reviews or no reviews at all. If your business has a substantial amount of negative reviews, a prospective customer can confirm they don’t want the same negative experience and won’t even give your business a second thought.

So, have you had a look at your Google reviews? Are people saying good or bad things about your business? Are they even saying anything?

A successful local business depends on a steady stream of authentic online reviews that will resonate with your prospective customers.