Why reviews are important for Contractors/Subcontractors

Posted by admin October 10, 2020

Do online reviews really matter?

Nowadays, what you do, how you present yourself, and the quality of your work is only half the battle when it comes to maintaining and expanding your business. Your online reputation plays a significant role in how the general public, peers, and potential employers view you. Everything your business does on a job is fair game for online scrutiny which can be good – or bad for your bottom line. Each and every time someone interacts with you as a business owner or employee is an opportunity to leave a negative or positive impression. And, thanks to the Internet, those opinions can be shared with the world with a quick Google search.

Online reviews can be extremely influential, and ultimately the deciding factor when someone is deciding whether or not they want to work with you. So, the short answer is yes – online reviews can impact your business in a huge way.

Reviews Influence Decision Making:

When faced with a decision between two businesses, it makes sense that someone would choose the one with a proven track record. Information from a 2015 infographic from Business2Community (source: Infographic) found that 90% of people searching for a business read online reviews before moving forward, and a whopping 72% said they would take action only after reading a positive review.

88% of people trust online reviews when considering a business
72% say that positive reviews make them trust a local business more

The more positive reviews you get, the better. On average, customers read between 4-6 positive reviews before ultimately deciding to move forward with a business. According to a 2013 study conducted by Dimensional Research, those customers have higher trust in a business which has a proven professional record of satisfaction. (Source: Marketing Land)

Reviews Affect Search Ranking:

The more positive reviews you receive, the higher up on search results pages you will be. This is important because the average web user won’t go past the first five listings on a search engine results page, according to Leverage Marketing.

Marketing Benefits of Reviews:

Marketing your business can feel like a full-time job – but reviews can do a large part of the work for you.

Credibility: You can create the most amazing marketing material in the world, but nothing is more credible than the approval of an objective third party with nothing to gain.
Sharable Marketing Material: Reviews are a quick, easy, reliable way to share positive content across your website or social media.
The Personal Aspect: Reviews can offer what your website alone can’t. An inside look into what it was actually like to work with you – the overall experience, customer service, and outcome.
A Fresh Perspective: Surprisingly, an added benefit of reviews can be as simple as a fresh pair of eyes. Reviewers may comment on parts of the experience that they enjoyed that you wouldn’t even think to include in your own marketing material.

A Note on Negative Reviews:

The benefits of reviews on your business far outweigh the negatives, but inevitably, you may experience a customer who was left dissatisfied. 86% of consumers say they would hesitate to work with a business that has consistent negative reviews. (Source: Business2Community Infographic) When/if you encounter a negative review, responding can make an enormous difference. It highlights your customer service and core values as a business and can restore trust and build relationships for future interactions.

How to deal with negative reviews:

Reach out immediately: Check your directory listing daily. If someone has taken the time to leave a negative review, take the time to reach out and see what you can do to resolve the issue and fix any negative feelings. Don’t wait – taking action sooner rather than later may resolve simple misunderstandings and prompt the reviewer to remove or alter their review.
Thank the reviewer for leaving feedback: Like it or not, all feedback is beneficial. Thank your reviewer for taking the time to address issues they may have hadand apologize when necessary.
Publicly correct inaccuracies in a polite fashion: If a reviewer leaves false information in their review, politely address it in a public comment so others reading the review are aware.
Own up to mistakes: Not every negative review will be unwarranted. If you or your employees have made a mistake, admit to them, and work in private to rectify the problem. Don’t get defensive in your responsesand offer to follow up personally.
Take it offline: A lot can be solved with person-to-person interaction. Reach out to the reviewer personally via phone or email to try to resolve the issue.
Encourage loyal consumers to interact with your page: By now, we’re all well aware that one disgruntled customer interaction isn’t necessarily cause for concern, and you can often neutralize the effects of negative reviews with positive interactions.
Be human – don’t act like an automated system:Don’t use generic, one-size-fits-all responses. Be personal in your interactions so your reviewer knows they are dealing with a business who genuinely cares.

The Takeaway:

Not only do consumers actively seek out reviews, research shows the majority of people looking to work with your business rely on them to make a decision – and they very well could make the difference between someone choosing you and the next name on the list. Setting your business up on directories like FindWhoPays.com is crucial for the growth and success of your business.

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