How important are review sites?

We could sum up this blog post in one word: very. But let’s get into the many reasons why and how to amp up your presence on review sites.

By now, we have established that creating an online presence for your brand is increasingly important. Social media has made customers very savvy and the truth of the matter is that most will check out your online presence before making a single purchase.

Think of it in these terms: would you buy from an Ebay seller with very few transactions under his/her belt? You may, but you would feel more inclined to make a purchase from someone who has a trusted rating and strong selling experience.

Here are a few things you’ll want to do to get yourself established on review sites.

First, spend some time listing your business on major online directories, like Facebook, Google+ Local, Yelp, Angie’s List, Yahoo Local, etc. Check out industry-specific sites like Urbanspoon and Open Table if you own a restaurant or catering business.

Advertise your listings on your website with a link that says “see what our customers say about us on Yelp!” This shows that you’re not afraid of letting people learn more about your business.

This takes us to a very important point: dealing with negative reviews. As is customary in any service industry, you are bound to run across a few less-than-favorable comments.  Here is some valuable advice we’ve learned over the years that we hope may help you—apologize and make it right. If someone has something to say about your Boston Clam Chowder soup, invite them in for another on the house.

Want to more about review site Yelp? Check out our video here!

Comments

[Sola]

Very nice topic. Ecommerce developer must know this.