4 Reasons Why Reputation Matters
Your online reputation can make or break your business. Sadly, many remodeling business owners are too busy to make asking for reviews part of their company’s standard operating procedure. Taking the time to incorporate reputation management into your business practices is a wise investment. Here are the facts:
1) 85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
Word of mouth is the bread and butter of a lot of contracting, custom home building, and remodeling businesses. Digital word of mouth is just as valuable! Make sure your customers are spreading the word about your 5-star services in the real world and the world wide web. All you have to do is ask!
2) 8 out of 10 internet users in the U.S. say that the negative information read online made them change their mind about a purchasing decision.
A negative review can do a lot of damage – but don’t let that stop you from asking for reviews. It can only do damage if left alone and besides, a lack of reviews can be just as bad if not worse. In the eyes of the public, your response to the negative review is more valuable than the review itself! So always respond to your reviews – positive or negative – and let the public see your superior customer service in action.
3) 15% of consumers don’t trust businesses who don’t have reviews.
A lack of reviews can be worse than poor reviews – especially in the eyes of search engines. Google’s ranking algorithm prioritizes 3 main components when it comes to reviews:
- Engagement – Customers leaving reviews on your Google Business page.
- Recency – If new reviews are coming in often.
- Relevancy – If the reviews relate to the services you provide.
If search engines are not seeing these three things, they will mark your company as low in authority and not worthy of promoting up in the ranks.
4) Reviews are the 2nd most powerful ranking factor for the Google Maps 3-Pack.
Whether you’re a remodeling company, custom home builder, roofing contractor, windows and doors company, or other home service contractor, the goal is the same: Premium placement on Google and Google Maps! With reviews being such a powerful ranking factor, every wise business owner must have a process in place to make sure their team is consistently asking for reviews. But if it is not a standard operating procedure, it will not happen! It all starts with leadership, so show your team how important this is to you, and they will follow.
Online reputation is no longer negotiable when it comes to your success. If you’re looking for a simple and automated way to get reputation management started for your remodeling company, get in touch with us here at Home Remodeler SEO.
As the top online marketing agency for contractors, custom home builders, and remodeling companies, we provide digital marketing and business consulting services that are simple to understand, efficient to manage, and outperform the competition. Schedule a complimentary thirty-minute call, or you can call us directly at (855) 235-9140.
Author: Tabitha Cavell
