Local Online Advertising Study: Reviews Can Tell the Future

Using Reviews for Local Online Advertising

Online reviews. You either love them or hate them, but there is no denying that they impact decisions on what products and services people purchase. Think about how many times you have looked at the star rating for a product or a business and chosen one over another because of the ratings and reviews others have written. I know I avoid hotels with low star ratings and I pick local restaurants based on what others have to say about the quality of service and food.

Research = Telling the Future

The University of Maryland's business researchers went further with using online reviews and have developed an algorithm that allowed them to use linguistic data from restaurant reviews to successfully predict which would go out of business. The Maryland study emphasizes what we already know - that businesses need to be paying attention to what their customers are saying.

Another study done by American Express, found that half of consumers who posted about a negative customer service experience, gave the business one week to respond before they gave up and went to a competitor instead.

Gaining New Reviews and Overcoming Negative Reviews

Websites that specialize in displaying online reviews like Google+, Yelp, Foursquare, Insiderpages, Angie's List, and many others, serve as a vast network of opinions and experiences that help consumers find the best fit for their service and product needs. Many of these websites allow the business owner to interact with client posts allowing businesses to solidify loyalty and to show their personality to prospective clients.

Paying attention to online reviews and responding to customer feedback is becoming more and more important to a business' local online advertising plan.

Remember, Impressions Review Managing is here to support you with technology to alert you of new reviews and experience to help you respond to your clients' needs to not only keep their business, but to attract other customers as well. Read our other blog articles or contact our friendly team today!