Online reviews create visibility in searches. Especially for the small business owner, getting online reviews is one of the most effective and cheapest SEO strategies you can apply. In short, it can mean a turnaround in your online visibility. That one extra review on Google can literally put your company on the map. Google wants to see a sign of life. And an honest review from an authoritative, independent review site is one of the most powerful signals you can send to Google. The more reviews you have, the more visible your business is on the web.
Searching by your own name or company name often gives a distorted picture. Google remembers what you search for online and thus influences your search results. If you regularly search for your product or brand name, it will appear higher in the search results.
Who reads and writes online reviews?
Your (future) customer, guest or visitor now has access to a wide range of information and advice from independent parties. The possibilities to share your opinion are endless with the greats like TripAdvisor, TheFork, Facebook and Google.
81% of consumers use these data sources to discover, evaluate and compare before making a purchase or visit. Whether they are looking for a restaurant to grab a bite to eat out of doors, a new beautician or the best dentist, an average of 7 sources of information are checked before a decision is made. Rather than relying on the product or service, they prefer to believe what "people like you and me" are saying.
