What is a “Custom Review” Website?
Google Places, Yelp, Yahoo Local, Bing Maps and Citysearch are all examples of websites that collect and post customer reviews about local businesses. Combined, these websites have BILLIONS of visits a month, that are often coming from potential customers searching for the products and services that they need.
Why are they important?
Review websites are the new way that consumers search to feel comfortable before they buy. Consumers feel that they can trust other past customers more than just a business’ website or advertisements. Even if your only advertising offline, the new statistics show that consumers will still go to the internet and search a review site before deciding to purchase and or call you.
How can you utilize a “Custom Review” Website?
Actively claiming and maintaining your listing is a key component to effectively using a review site. By keeping a close monitor to what comments are being made about you or your business and to be able to knowledgably respond is essential. Many businesses make key mistakes when responding to negative reviews that only bring more attention to them and often businesses are not making the best use out of the positive reviews that are out there. Sometimes they don’t even know that people have posted something that is truly harming their image.
Facebook is the most visited website on the web. It has over 600 million users. If it were a country, it would be the third largest on Earth.
Facebook is the reigning online KING of websites. It’s bigger than Google, Yahoo & Bing and people spend more time on Facebook than on any other website. Because of the opportunity to give an instant “digital handshake” to your potential and existing customers. This is why people who find you on Facebook are very likely to come back.
Twitter is a real-time online information network where people from anywhere in the world can share what they are doing or interested. It represents what’s happening online NOW. For businesses, this means the opportunity to with the right customers in a meaningful, relationship-building way.
Why is it important?
Thousands of local businesses are using Twitter in creative ways to attract and retain customers. Because Twitter users are two times more likely to visit a company’s website and post an online review!