Why Online Reviews are Important for Your Business’ SEO

1. March 20, 2017 Why Online Reviews are Important for Your Business’ SEO Image 1: Negative Review Management Should Become Part of Your SEO Strategy As a small business, you probably know how effective word of mouth is in growing your business. Not only is it the cheapest form of marketing, but it can also generate organic leads from prospective customers. In the online realm, word-of-mouth comes in the form of online reviews. Page | 1

2. You may be surprised to know that 90% of customers are influenced by positive online reviews, while 86% of them were put off by particular businesses after seeing a negative review. With such a huge effect on businesses, online reviews should be one of the main thrusts of any sound SEO strategy. Why Reviews Matter The reason why local search results are influenced so heavily by online reviews is because consumers love them. Apart from being highly regarded by consumers, positive online reviews can increase your business’ local search engine rank. The introduction of Google’s “3-pack local listings” can benefit your business enormously, provided you have cultivated enough positive online reviews and claimed your Google business listing. When your business has more positive reviews, you will likely receive more click throughs from local searches. This is because customers who are searching the area for your type of business or service will be more drawn to the highest average review score. By cultivating positive reviews from your previous clients, you can increase your average review score, thereby appearing as the better option over your direct competitors. The Impact of Negative Reviews If your business hasn’t been keeping on top of online search rankings, then you could find you’re being adversely affected by negative reviews. The notion that a customer hasn’t come back to you to give you the chance to remedy any complaints or issues can be a difficult one to accept. A bad review doesn’t mean your company is bad, so try not to take the criticism personally. Any business will have negative reviews, and the bigger you grow, the more of them you’re likely to see. However, there are ways to turn the negatives into positives and restore your reputation, and an SEO company will know which ways work, and which ways don’t. Page | 2

3. The common reaction for many businesses when they see a negative review is to try and have it removed, though this is one of the worst ways to deal with it. What you should realize is that the review isn’t the problem, and instead of ignoring that customer, you should instead engage that customer. Hear, empathize, apologize in order to get the opportunity to resolve the negative review. In many cases, this can help to restore your reputation as a company who cares about its customers. Your online reputation is just as important as the one your customers hear through word of mouth, so don’t ignore it. Instead, you should utilize the services of an SEO company who can help you with reputation management in dealing with negative online reviews. About Complete Online Strategy: To make your business stand out from the crowd, you should ensure that you are visible to your local customers by cultivating positive reviews. This is where Complete Online Strategy can help: we’re experts in all areas of digital marketing and can give you a distinct advantage over your competitors. Sources: How Important are Reviews for SEO? Entrepreneur.com How Online Customer Reviews Help SEO and Drive Sales Growth, Entrepreneur.com Page | 3