When was the last time you decided to buy something (other than that candybar in the checkout line because it looked so good) without looking at reviews? Maybe 2016? Checking out products, and businesses, online is just part of the regular buying process today. In fact, 93% of consumers look for reviews before making a choice. Let’s add to that: 84% value an online review as much as a personal recommendation, and 74% say positive online reviews make them trust a business more. Yes – they are that important.

While some businesses don’t pursue customer reviews, there are lots of reasons you should. They provide really valuable data you can leverage for your business in several ways:

1. Reviews help you understand what your customers want. This helps you decide on new product/service lines, delivery channels and ways to better serve their needs. Customer reviews encourage innovation in your business.
2. Reviews are a gauge of your customers’ satisfaction with your business. They give you insight into where you can improve the customer experience and get better at what you do. This data can be incorporated into training for your team.
3. You learn something from every review. Each time a customer shares their feedback, it provides information you can use to improve our processes, service, delivery and products. And while negative reviews certainly aren’t fun to see, they sometimes give the most valuable, actionable information.

There are lots of review platforms out there, but the most widely used one is Google. In fact, approximately two-thirds of all customer reviews can be found on Google. Fun fact: increasing your Google reviews improves your search results too. But that’s a different conversation for another day.

From reviews, you may learn that your website needs to be improved. Or that you need some marketing help to reach more people. Maybe you’ll decide you need a corporate fulfillment program to deliver products to your customers. Tpc can help you with all of that.

So, how do you get started? It’s easy:

1. Set up a Google Business account and verify it with Google.
2. Ask your customers for reviews. (Email, point-of-sale cards, social media are all great vehicles to use!)
3. Respond to reviews. Personal responses show engagement and ownership, and build credibility for your business.

Encouraging customer reviews can pay big benefits to your business. If we can help you promote that feedback, let us know.