Happy Friday - hope your week has been great so
far!
It's an annual survey of a representative sample of the US population, and has been conducted every year since 2010.
The results this year confirm what I've been telling you since 2017 - online reviews are now the fastest growing ranking factor for local businesses.
The latest results are even more sobering:
- 86% of consumers read reviews for local businesses (95% if under age 34)
- A business needs an average of 40 reviews before the star rating is believed
- Consumers read an average of 10 reviews before trusting a business
- 57% of consumers will only use a business if it has 4 or more stars
- 40% will only take into account reviews from the last 2 weeks
- 89% of consumers read business replies to reviews
And even though the UK market may lag the USA, the trend is clearly following.
If we're not quite at these levels yet - we will be within a year.
That's why its so important to proactively build your online reputation.
You need to CONSISTENTLY request reviews from clients.
It doesn't matter if you see 2 or 20 per week - ask them all.
And make sure you ask for reviews on multiple platforms (esp Google and Facebook).
Over time, you'll build up such a weight of clients singing your praises that you naturally attract more and more clients.
Your reviews will be like a magnet that pulls people towards you.
People you can help.
Yes, asking for reviews (and chasing people up) is a hassle.
Yes, it can be painful to hear any criticism (though hopefully, if you do good work, there will be very little of it).
Yes, it's easier to not bother being proactive and just let things happen naturally
But that doesn't serve the people who would dearly like help.
People who currently don't know or trust that you can do what you say because your online reputation is sketchy at best, non-existent at worst.
So whether you go it alone or use our RatingScoop (formerly Trusted Practitioner) service to automate everything, the takeaway is this.
Make client feedback collection your absolute priority.
Have a great weekend.
Rob
The 25% discount is valid until Friday July 12th, if you're interested.