For any business, online reviews can bring in or drive away customers. But for restaurants, it’s the opinions of others that can make or break them. The basic system for online reviews and how that relates to web search results is fairly complex.
The results returned from a web search that either under-rate or over rate could be costing restaurants business. Reviews that are not indexed by a numeric or a star system might be excluded from the search engines correlation of data. This makes it important that any restaurant that promotes a particular reviewing website, makes sure that their review data is accessible and usable by the major search engines to be correlated. It’s not just the number of reviews or the number of positive reviews that are important. The ratings must also be equally weighted across time to avoid the appearance of them being biased. Avoiding any hints of bias or interference by the restaurant in the process is imperative to maintain integrity in the process.
Responding to online reviews with facts and plans of action to address any perceived shortfalls will also boost the credibility of the business. Trying to make the most of the online review system and using the feedback to improve the quality of service will help resultants market themselves more effectively and get and keep customers.
Key Takeaways:
- Online reviews of your business by customers has become as important as making sure your name, address and phone number can be found easily.
- The story of your business is being written through customer reviews.
- Businesses should strive for a steady stream of honest customer reviews rather than a barrage to pump up total numbers.
“Whether they’re stars or circles, the majority of rating icons send a 1–5 point signal to consumers that can be instantly understood.”
Read more: https://moz.com/blog/1-2-punch-local-seo