It’s well known that online reviews are one of the most powerful tools a small business can use to attract new customers. Over 90% of consumers read online reviews before buying a product or service. Positive feedback can boost your reputation and help potential clients feel confident when choosing your services. But, how you present these reviews on your website can significantly affect their impact. What best practices can you follow to get the most value from your online reviews?

Create a Page On Your Website To Display Reviews

Place your reviews on a dedicated page on your website to ensure they stand out. A well-organized, easy-to-find reviews page benefits potential customers and search engines. For customers, having a centralized page for testimonials gives them easy access to proof of your quality service. They won’t have to search multiple pages or scroll endlessly to find reviews—they can head straight to one place and get all the information they need. For search engines, having a Reviews page can improve your SEO (Search Engine Optimization). When search engines crawl your site, your testimonials will be easily identifiable, making it likely that the keywords within the reviews related to your products and services will be picked up. Additionally, you can utilize a Reviews Schema to help your reviews be used in rich text snippets.

Use a Widget to Display Reviews

Research shows that consumers often trust reviews from external sources more than those displayed directly by the business itself. Third-party reviews are generally seen as more authentic and less curated by the company. Boost the trustworthiness of your reviews page by incorporating a widget that pulls in reviews from multiple platforms like Google, Yelp, or Facebook. Using externally collected reviews can add transparency and credibility to your page. Your potential customers can feel confident that what they see represents a genuine view of your business. As an added benefit, using a widget keeps your reviews up-to-date without requiring manual updates; the widget automatically pulls in the latest reviews.

Include a Call to Action for Customers to Leave Reviews

While displaying reviews on your website is crucial, it’s also important to continue collecting new ones. Three ways to help encourage new reviews are:

• Placing a call to action on your website, asking your customers to leave reviews on sites like Google, Facebook, or Yelp.
• Including a link to leave a review in your email signature.
• Sending a text with a link after a completed transaction or service to encourage your happy customers to share their experiences.

Remember to provide direct links to the review platform when asking for reviews. Making the process as easy as possible can increase the number of customers who follow through.

Make Your Reviews Work for You

Reviews are more than just helpful feedback; they are a critical part of a successful marketing strategy. By following the above, you’ll be on your way to building a positive online reputation and increasing your visibility. Do you need help taking control of your reviews? Our Review Management solutions are designed to make collecting, displaying, and managing your reviews easier than ever. Contact ZipLocal today, and let’s build your business’s reputation together!