When it comes to ratings, you'll quickly discover that positive reviews can help your business and negative reviews will hurt your business. With the plethora of review sites out there, writing a review (for better or for worse) is easier than ever. Here's what to do:
* Remember, for the most part, people who take the time to write a review are going to sit at the far side of either end of the spectrum. Either they'll rave about your business or they'll rip you apart. Most people who read review sites and utilize them to make decisions will take this into consideration, but if they are overwhelmed with negative reviews it could drastically influence their decision about your business.
* Monitoring these sites for mention of your business is the first way in which you can ensure that you are maintaining a positive reputation online. A quick way to do this is to set up a Google alert for your business' name. This means that anytime your name is mentioned online, Google will notify you with a link to that reference.
* As a business owner, many of these sites will let you monitor, mediate and respond to customers on their site. If done properly, this can be a helpful thing to do, but you must tread lightly. You don't want to stir up any anger amongst customers and bring more negative attention to your business if it is something that will just get buried amongst glowing reviews.
* Many small business owners have discovered that negative complaints often arise from poor customer service. This can be from your receptionist, employees, or even online interactions. To avoid such negative reviews, ensure that the people who work one-on-one with your customers have the same values and goals of positive customer service as you do. If you're not able to have someone in your office at all times, consider hiring a virtual receptionist that allows your customers to get assistance at all times.
* Strive to make your customers' experience a positive one and then encourage them to leave reviews. Many popular review sites have stickers that you can place in your windows that encourage people to go look up your business on their site. You can also offer an incentive for leaving positive reviews, such as 10% off your purchase if you bring in proof that you left a review. Doing this is a great way to ensure that your company page maintains a positive image on popular review sites.
Business Resource: Having a virtual receptionist promptly and politely answer your phone creates a professional corporate image and says you care and are ready for business.
By Rich Ahlgren
* Remember, for the most part, people who take the time to write a review are going to sit at the far side of either end of the spectrum. Either they'll rave about your business or they'll rip you apart. Most people who read review sites and utilize them to make decisions will take this into consideration, but if they are overwhelmed with negative reviews it could drastically influence their decision about your business.
* Monitoring these sites for mention of your business is the first way in which you can ensure that you are maintaining a positive reputation online. A quick way to do this is to set up a Google alert for your business' name. This means that anytime your name is mentioned online, Google will notify you with a link to that reference.
* As a business owner, many of these sites will let you monitor, mediate and respond to customers on their site. If done properly, this can be a helpful thing to do, but you must tread lightly. You don't want to stir up any anger amongst customers and bring more negative attention to your business if it is something that will just get buried amongst glowing reviews.
* Many small business owners have discovered that negative complaints often arise from poor customer service. This can be from your receptionist, employees, or even online interactions. To avoid such negative reviews, ensure that the people who work one-on-one with your customers have the same values and goals of positive customer service as you do. If you're not able to have someone in your office at all times, consider hiring a virtual receptionist that allows your customers to get assistance at all times.
* Strive to make your customers' experience a positive one and then encourage them to leave reviews. Many popular review sites have stickers that you can place in your windows that encourage people to go look up your business on their site. You can also offer an incentive for leaving positive reviews, such as 10% off your purchase if you bring in proof that you left a review. Doing this is a great way to ensure that your company page maintains a positive image on popular review sites.
Business Resource: Having a virtual receptionist promptly and politely answer your phone creates a professional corporate image and says you care and are ready for business.
By Rich Ahlgren
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