SMS for Reviews: Why Gathering Online Reviews Matters

Earning positive reviews is critical to bringing in new customers.

Here are three reasons why online reviews play a major role in winning new business, and what you can do about it.

1. Rank First in Search Results

More reviews = higher Google search rankings.

Google wants to show the most relevant and helpful search results, and your online reviews dictate where you show up. Google's looking for:

Count—How many total reviews you have
Recency—How new or old those reviews are (new is better)
Frequency—How often you’re getting new reviews
Star Rating—The rating of your reviews (positive vs. negative)
Authority—The number of platforms you have reviews on

The stronger you are in each of these categories, the higher you'll rank, and the more traffic you'll earn from Google.

That’s why gathering reviews ongoing—not just through a one-time push—is vital. You want your business at the top of search results, not your competitors.

2. Build Trust with Prospects

Reviews are the #1 way potential buyers decide who to work with and what to buy.

Positive reviews tell people they can expect a solid experience with your business, while negative reviews tell them to stay away.

Advertisements and other marketing or sales efforts may grab attention, but it's other people's opinions that build trust and confidence with new buyers. If you don't have good reviews, potential customers will choose to work with your competitors who do.

Consumers also pay attention to how recent reviews are, and it will be a red flag to them if you don't have any recent ones. Consistently staying on top of gaining positive reviews will earn you more trust and business.

3. Improve Internally

Constructive customer feedback is priceless info.

Online reviews are great for sales and marketing, and their also valuable for learning what you're doing well and where you need to improve.

Negative feedback, even in a public online review, is not necessarily bad. For one thing, potential buyers want to see a few neutral and negative reviews. That makes you seem more believable. It also gives you a chance to respond professionally.

Existing customers and potential buyers alike pay attention to how you respond to feedback. Approaching critical situations with a cool head and desire to improve does wonders for the customer experience and for your marketing.