Your Reputation Means Everything

• 93% of customers read online reviews before buying a product or service.

• 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal referrals.

• 50% of consumers need to see at least five 5-star reviews and a 4+ star rating before they choose a product or service. 

Reviews, ratings and testimonials are all forms of "social proof". It's a well-known psychological phenomenon that happens when people, unsure about what choice to make, mirror other people's decisions and actions.

 
It's a way for people to minimize risk. They're essentially saying, "Well, if all those other people chose so-and-so to do business with, then it's probably safe and I should have a positive experience too." In our socially wired world, this is powerful indeed.
 
We've all seen customer reviews and "star" ratings for products and services everywhere. You're also seeing them appear in even non-digital channels like TV commercials, print and outdoor advertising.

You may have even written a review or two yourself, or chosen a movie or restaurant based on other people's reviews. There's no getting around it - customer reviews and ratings matter more than ever to your business, so don't ignore them. Embrace them, take control of them, and leverage them for your benefit.

Your online reputation is your company's most powerful marketing asset.

 
Prospects are searching online every day for your products and services, and along the way they expect to see positive reviews and high ratings about you. A great reputation (4 stars and above) is one of your company's most valuable assets, so don't just hope everything works out. 

Take the time to actively build it and market it, and your business will benefit from it. Especially today, because having a great online reputation is the new business imperative. Today, your reputation means everything.