The web experts since 1999
The web experts since 1999
Product reviews and testimonials can be one of your most effective sales tools. Still, more often than not, businesses fail to utilise this user-generated content (UGC) to its full potential. Don't just take our word for it; let's take a look at some statistics on the importance of social proof.
So we've convinced you, reviews and social proof matter and it's time to put them to use for your business. Here are 10 ways you should be using customer reviews to gain more business.
With 91% of consumers more likely to use a business after reading positive reviews, it makes good sense to feature your company reviews on your homepage! Please don't make you users search for reviews, it will never happen, put your reviews directly in front of your users, and you will see positive results.
Some users never see the homepage of your website. If a consumer is looking for a particular product, they will often land directly on your product page. For this reason alone, it's essential to house product reviews on your product page. With the average user reading 10 reviews before feeling they can trust a business, the more reviews you can showcase the better.
Leverage all of your user-generated content by compiling a review or testimonials page. The benefits are numerous and include additional content for Google, increased confidence with your customers and as a way to encourage others to write or record a review.
With everyone spending an average of 3 hours per day on social media, it's the ideal location for getting your reviews seen and noticed. The whole process can also be automated, so you're not spending time away from running your business.
If you genuinely want to stand out, you should consider working with a Google-licensed review partner. Worldwide there are only a small number of companies who have this status, but using them to collect your reviews has enormous benefits such as being eligible for Google Seller Ratings and review stars alongside your paid ads. It's even possible to pay less money for your clicks.
If you're in a service-based industry, you may find yourself sending emails back and forth to potential clients. Including the number of reviews and your star rating in your email signature can instantly increase confidence and encourage clicks.
Get stars next to your link in Google's organic search results by embedding rich snippet review information on your product pages. Visual enhancements such as these increase your visibility and the number of clicks to your site as users are drawn more to visual cues.
Don't just limit the use of reviews and testimonials to only your digital channels, use them in print and marketing materials as well. From billboards to leaflets and everything in between, social proof is valuable across all mediums.
If you're sending regular email newsletters to your customer base, then capitalise on the power of your reviews by including relevant quotes in your newsletters. By placing relevant and useful information in front of your audience, you should see an increase in conversion.
Think of the big players in e-commerce such as Amazon, and you'll notice that reviews are baked-in to the very fabric of their site. Nowhere is this more so than in filtered navigation which allows a user to filter their results by a chosen star rating and increasing their confidence in the products returned.
Running an online business isn't easy; in today's crowded online marketplace, you have to use every opportunity to differentiate your business from that of your competitors. Gone are the days of quietly waiting for orders to arrive in your inbox, be proactive, do everything in your power to entice consumers to you through the collective power of social proof. Don't have the time? Then choose a reliable reviews partner like UK Promotion to help drive sales and increase consumer trust in your business.
We'll take your project from idea to reality... and do it with style!