In this short video, Matt and his lockdown assistant Izzy (also known as his daughter!) explain how you can give your favourite local businesses a boost by leaving them a review on Google or social media.
These are tough times for businesses of all sizes in a lot of different industry sectors. There are quite a few things all of us can do to show our support, encouragement and maybe help them to find new customers.
A very simple action we can all do that will not cost you any money but will be beneficial is to find these businesses online and leave a review for them.
Why Are Reviews So Important?
Before I attempt to answer this question, have a think about your own online habits. How often have you read a product or company review before deciding to purchase it or contact them?
I nearly always do and as it turns out, so do approximately 90% of other consumers. 88% trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation.
An online review enables the viewer to gain impartial information with some consumers saying that they are likely to spend 31% more on a business with ‘excellent’ reviews.
Leaving reviews will also help improve the prominence of the business listing when people do their own searches.
Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google My Business, Trust Pilot, Trip Advisor, Yell – Where Should You Post Your review?
There isn’t a straightforward answer. Personally, I would recommend that if you are leaving a review for a local business, I would choose to use Google My Business. I’m suggesting this because GMB can directly impact where the company appears on the Search Engine Results Page (SERPS) when they are searched for either directly or by someone else looking for a product or service they supply in the local area.
For hotels, restaurants, I would certainly consider using Trip Advisor and for the trades i.e. electricians, gas fitters, builders etc then Trust Pilot is an option to consider.
A Simple Exercise for You
1. Make a list of five local businesses you have used in the recent past. Have a think about electricians, builders, florists, butchers etc
2. Search for them on the web. (if you search for them by name and they have a GMB listing, this should appear on the right hand side of your screen if you are on a laptop / desktop and as the first result on a mobile.
3. Leave your review. Try to include as much information as possible telling others about the customer service, quality of the product, delivery, after sales care, value for money etc. The more relevant the review the better for all involved.
4. Repeat this for the other businesses you have listed in action point one.
The majority of the businesses you leave a review for will be sent an email / message to let them know they have a new review but just in case, why not send an email to the company as well to let them know you have left a review and to advise you are looking forward to visiting again when lockdown is over.
Simple, easy to do actions like this can mean so much, especially at this moment in time.
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