Online Reviews: Ratings Impact Revenue

With the rise of smart phones, tourists looking for places to visit are not limited to the big name options. This can be a great advantage for the small business owner IF he or she is paying attention to online reviews.

Online Reviews Impact Revenue

While the focus is often on the impact of negative reviews, recent studies have shown that positive reviews have a huge impact on revenue. An increase in Yelp star ratings of just one star can increase revenue by 5%!

While driving through unfamiliar areas, consumers are apt to pull out their smart phones and look up exactly what they are looking for. If they can choose between a chain restaurant and a locally owned restaurant, they are likely to go where the star ratings are higher.

Your goal then is to gather the feedback of your customers and respond to their needs and concerns so that they will be inclined to leave you higher star-ratings.

Generating New Reviews

But how do you get your clients to write reviews for you?

• ASK! When you know you have a happy customer, ask him or her to leave feedback for you directly on one of the review websites. 
• Make it easy. Put links to your review websites on your business website, on promotional materials, and even on your receipts if you would like to cast a wider net of feedback from your clients.
• Respond to reviews. Whether the reviews are positive or negative, if you take the time to reply to what is being said, you will encourage your clients to interact with you and others reading along will feel welcomed to leave you feedback as well.

Your reviews and ratings are online and make up your web reputation whether or not you have done anything to establish it there - why not make online reviews work for you? 

www.impressionsrm.com