The Importance of Customer Reviews for SMBs


V12 Marketing Customer Reviews

Small businesses have many unique challenges to overcome that larger companies don’t face. The biggest one? A lack of visibility makes it harder to attract new customers and gain repeat business from existing ones.

Customer reviews are a great way to help mitigate this problem. Here are some great considerations when it comes to customer reviews, and why they are so important to improving your growth and customer service.

1. Buying Decisions Are Based On Customer Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The more positive feedback you have online, the more social trust your business will generate in potential buyers.

Positive word-of-mouth will improve your reputation as a business, which will lead to even more sales down the road. Studies have shown customers are likely to spend 31% more on a business with “excellent” reviews.

2. Understand Your Customers Needs Better 🤝

Customer service is more than just what you say to your customers; it’s also how they perceive their experience with your business.

A strong customer service strategy relies on two factors: understanding what customers’ needs are, and providing that service in a manner that suits them best. Customers tend to be more loyal to businesses that make them feel understood and valued. —and one way to achieve those goals is through great customer reviews. 94% of online shoppers reported that a negative review convinced them to avoid a business’s services.

3. Learn From Good And Bad Experiences 💡

Mistakes happen, and the best thing we can do is learn from them and use them to improve our service going forward.

Customer reviews give your business a forum to engage with your customers in a more personal and meaningful way. Reinforcing positive reviews with a thank you or acknowledgment could be the difference between a one-time customer and a repeating business opportunity. Customer reviews also give you the opportunity to rectify a bad experience with a customer and show them that you care and want to make things right. Reputation management is important in the online domain.

4. Generate More Leads 📈

No matter what size your business is, having a constant flow of new leads is one way to improve service and grow profits.

Luckily, customer reviews are one way to attract new clients through online word-of-mouth advertising. There have been many studies proving online reviews empirically lead to increased revenue. For example, In a 2016 study, Revoo discovered that online customer reviews drove an average of 18% increase in sales, including increased conversion rates.

5. Increase Your Online Presence ✅

Many small businesses don’t realize that online reviews are an important part of their overall marketing plan.

By increasing your online presence, you can boost your SEO and make it easier to attract new customers. This process is a good example of how customer reviews lead to more business without having to spend additional money on advertising.

Looking for help getting more reviews for your business? Contact our team at V12 Marketing to get your free consultation today!