If You Read One Article About the Importance of Online Reviews, Read This One

Online reviews are an unavoidable part of the way consumers make decisions today. According to a Harvard study, 72% of local consumers consider online reviews to be as trustworthy as personal recommendations. Online reviews are the new word-of-mouth.

By following these five simple steps, you can start turning reviewers into allies, and reviews into new business today:

1. Enable Reviews on Facebook

Since your potential clients are consulting online reviews, it's in your interest to make reviews easy to find and fill out. Enabling the reviews on your Facebook business page is one of the best ways to do this. (If you don't have a Facebook business page, create one NOW!) Facebook's reviews are prominently displayed and offer visitors to your page the added convenience of not having to go searching for review websites.

2. Ask For Reviews

Since 90% of consumers are influenced by positive online reviews, you can not allow your business go unreviewed. If you have no reviews, the solution is simple: ask for them. Some of your customers may not be used to posting reviews online so a brief message letting them know that they can review your services online will help matters along. Remember not to be too aggressive in your pursuit of these reviews. Reviewers are less likely to help you if they feel harassed.

3. Respond to Reviews

Make a point of responding to every review you receive. If a client has taken the time to write a positive review, thank them for their time and feedback. This shows people reading your reviews that you are an attentive real estate professional who listens to feedback. It also encourages further reviews by showing that potential reviewers that their opinions will not be ignored. Also, as Search Engine Land's Andrew Shotland points out, it's in your interest to build good relationships with your reviewers:

A customer willing to spend the time to review you is a brand ambassador. Instead of just asking them for reviews, you should be thinking about how you can harness your relationship with these valuable people to help spread the word, both online and off.

4. Turn Negative Reviews Into Positives

Negative reviews are a source of stress for many business owners. This is understandable: you want to be seen in the best possible light. The good news is that, if handled properly, negative reviews can be turned into positive. As with positive reviews, you should reply to bad ones. Ideally, your response will change the reviewer's opinion and review. But even if that doesn't happen, responding to negative reviews still shows the world that you take the time to address your clients' concerns. Research shows that consumers are suspicious of businesses that receive unanimously positive reviews. So long as your reviews are generally positive, you don't need to fear the occasional negative reviewer.

5. Amplify Good Reviews

If you are not telling the world about your positive reviews, they are going to waste. You want potential customers to see all the good things being said about you. Satisfied clients can more credibly speak to your 'reputation traits' – things like reliability, expertise, and professionalism – than you can. When writing promotional material, you should therefore make a point of citing the reviews you've received. Driving traffic to your Facebook business Page is another great way of ensuring that your reviews are being seen. By sharing useful and relevant content, you can attract more potential customers to your site, prove that you are an informed real estate professional, and ensure that your reviews are being noticed.

Wrapping It All Up

Reviews are a great way to promote your business and turn satisfied customers into brand ambassadors. You should therefore set up Facebook reviews, let your customers know that they can leave reviews, and respond to any reviews that you have received.

If you need help setting up your Facebook Page or want to attract more potential customers using social media, why not get in touch with one of CityBlast's social media experts? Our specialist team will make sure that your Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn profiles are up-to-date and updated with content that generates leads. Click here to get started on a FREE 14-day trial NOW!

To view the original article, visit the CityBlast blog.