A few weeks ago… I went to the barbershop to get my haircut with my regular barber.
About 20 minutes in, the clipper made that loud annoying noise it makes sometimes… almost like the screws are about to fall off.
I didn’t need to say anything extra… he knew what to do and he got another clipper to finish the job.
Yesterday, I went to trim my hair a bit and while we had the requisite small talk, I asked about the “noisy” clipper.
Guess what?
He’d already taken it for servicing and repairs. Needless to say… I don’t see myself getting a different barber anytime soon.
All because he observed (and acted on) my feedback!
And this is applicable to every type of business. As a business owner, online reviews can make or break your business. And in a post-pandemic world, the stakes are even higher. With so many businesses struggling to stay afloat, it’s more important than ever to make sure that your business is positioned in the best light possible.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at why business reviews matter more than ever in a post-pandemic world and give you some tips on how to use feedback and reviews to your advantage.
First off, let’s talk about why business reviews matter more than ever in today’s world. With many people (about 4 billion by my estimates) owning internet-enabled smartphones, most consumers today can just jump on the internet and search for reviews about the product or service they want to spend their money on.
They want to ensure that they’re supporting trustworthy and reliable businesses. And one of the best ways to do that is by looking at online reviews.
In fact, a survey by BrightLocal found that 85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation. That means that if you have a lot of positive reviews, you’re more likely to attract new customers and keep the ones you already have. On the other hand, if you have a lot of negative reviews, you may struggle.
But it’s not just about having thousands of reviews, it’s also about how you respond to them.
When customers see that a business is intentional about maintaining communication, they’re more likely to trust them. It shows that the business cares about its customers and is willing to listen to and implement their feedback.
So, how can you use this information to your advantage? Here are a few tips:
- Encourage customers to leave reviews by making it easy for them. Include links to your review profiles on your website and in your email signature.
- Respond to as many reviews as you can, whether they’re positive, negative, or neutral.
- Address the customer’s concerns in a professional and empathetic way.
- Acknowledge customers who leave positive reviews. It will encourage them to do it again and also help to maintain a positive image of your business.
- Use reviews as a way to improve your business, products, and/or services. Study the negative reviews and identify any recurring patterns in negative reviews, then use the feedback to make changes that will improve your customers’ experiences.
By following these tips, you can use online reviews to build consumer trust and even attract more customers.
Not sure where to start?
Then set up a Workstedi account. You create invoices, receive payments, set up a digital bank account, and receive all-important reviews and feedback from customers on Workstedi .
And in a time where every business has an online profile, it is crucial to position your business in the best way.
And if you can’t read minds (like my barber), then don’t be afraid to ask your customers for their feedback and use our tips to turn the feedback into a business advantage.
