In today’s digital world, online reviews are very essential for doing business. In the sales landscape, online reviews are now some of the most valuable tools. Before buying anything online, customers are constantly looking for insights into which brands they can trust.
Whether you own a small business, a tech company, or a restaurant chain, having an online reputation is a must for your brand. This means online reviews are influencing the purchasing decisions and spending habits of consumers.
For today’s leading brands, positive reviews can generate new business chances whereas new reviews can also send the consumers running in the opposite direction. The important thing is what percentage of buyers writes reviews?
How do brands respond to reviews? How much do they affect the sales? Why customer reviews widget importantfor business? You’re going to find out. Read this whole blog to understand some of the most crucial online review statistics.
Why Online Customer Reviews are So Effective
Before patronizing, Google customer reviews, Yelp reviews, Airbnb reviews, TripAdvisor, etc. are boon for buyers because they give them a platform to learn more about the businesses. You’re bound to get one bad review no matter how hard you try that could overpower all your shining reviews.
However, you can’t avoid online reviews because they are an integral part of the business. Reviews are empowering for millennial, to help them in making thought-out purchase decisions. Here are some online review statistics that will help you in changing mind if you still disagreed with this.
1. Reviews Influence Buyers
Over 99% of customers read reviews when they tend to buy something online as per reports. However, 95% of buyers look for negative reviews; this stat was 85% in 2018. People took an interest in knowing the brand’s weaknesses when they look for negative reviews. If the weaknesses are smaller, it makes the researcher assured. However, if customer reviews are too positive or near perfect rating, then it is viewed as less credible which eventually leads to buyers’ distrust.
2. More Reviews Means Better Brand Reputation
When reviewing and deciding whether to use its products or services, 60% of buyers feel that the number of reviews it gets is very important according to BrightLocal’s survey. Since 2020, this stat witness a drop but it still holds its value among consumers.
3. Trusting Reviews as They Recommended by Their Loved Ones
Around 49% percent of customers trust reviews as they are recommended by their friends or family, a survey report by BrightLocal. According to researchers, customers found some situations that may cause them to suspect a review. Here are some situations mentioned that may prove a review fake in customers’ eyes.
- Around 40% of consumers found a review fake when its content is similar to other reviews.
- Around 38% of customers found a review fake when it is posted with an anonymous account.
- The review which contains only a star rating and nothing written text.
- Amongst many negative reviews, there is only a single praising the product or service.
4. Most Customers Don’t Trust Advertising by Brands
Traditional advertising is declining among customers while online reviews are getting the consumer’s trust. 84% of Millennials don’t trust conventional advertising methods, report published by Performance Marketing World. People are tired of seeing ads that are filled with lies about the quality of products and services they get from brands.
5. Younger Generation (18-34 years) Have Utmost Trust in Online Reviews
According to reports, around 91% younger generation aged between 18 to 34 years has their full trust in online reviews just like their personal recommendations. Before buying anything online, the Millenials and GenZ took decisions based on reviews as they are being guided by their loved ones.
6. Products with More Than 100 Reviews Proving Brands are Credible
More than 43% of buyers want to see more than 100 reviews for a product according to a report. The impact of high-volume positive reviews is big on the purchase decision of consumers. An item with more than 1,000 reviews has a 64% chance of buying by customers as compared to an item with 100 reviews. So, items with more reviews prove brands are credible and have a high chance of buying.
7. Consumers Use Google Reviews to Learn More About Brands
To track down reviews about a brand, 64% of consumers use Google search engines. Facebook is used by 54% of users whereas 32% use Yelp. On average, Google has around 39 reviews as per data of BrightLocal’s. For business owners or brands, to gain more trust among customers need to embed Google business reviews on websites.
8. Customers Use Review Filters
When looking for brands, 7 out of 10 customers use review filters. Among all the different rating options, one of the most common is to narrow down a search based on the rating. For example, to show restaurants with only 4 star ratings or above. This is helpful for customers in finding the desired results that they want to see without wasting much time.
9. Minimum Rating Accepted by Customers
It has been shown that 3.5 stars out of 5 stars are the lowest rating customers are likely to consider when deciding whether to engage or not with a business. Your product or service may be overlooked if you have a below rating than this and you will lose customers to your competition.
10. Way of Responding to a Review Effect Customer’s Behavior
How a brand responds to a review will tell a lot more about the company. This helps in changing the perspective of a consumer towards a brand. If you try to understand a customer by responding empathetically to their review, they will feel like you really do care about them and the service they receive from you. You can convert them into a loyal customer of your brand.
Bottom Line
Online customer reviews are essential for business success and they will stay, this is revealed by these statistics. Online reviews are linked to customers’ reliability and social proof of a particular brand.
To get a direct line to your customers, you should focus on them rather than avoiding and your business will reap success.