In today's digital age, online reviews have become a crucial factor in the success of businesses, both small and large. With the proliferation of social media and online marketplaces, consumers now have access to a wealth of information at their fingertips, allowing them to make more informed decisions about where to spend their hard-earned dollars. As a result, businesses must pay close attention to their online reputation and strive to maintain a positive presence in the digital sphere.
One of the key reasons why online reviews are so important is that they help to build trust with potential customers. When a business has a high number of positive reviews, it signals to prospective buyers that the company is trustworthy and provides a high-quality product or service. This is especially true in industries where there is a high degree of competition, as consumers are more likely to choose a business with a strong reputation over one that has few or negative reviews.
Furthermore, online reviews can impact a business's search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines consider a business's overall online presence when determining their ranking in search results. Positive reviews signal to search engines that the business is reputable and authoritative, increasing their likelihood of ranking higher in search results. Reviews have also been shown to be a factor in ranking for Local Services Ads on Google.
According to a recent article, 98% of people read online reviews for businesses. As potential customers decide on who to do business with, they will read the reviews. That statistic alone should entice you to reach out to your past customers for reviews.
But how should you go about reaching out for these reviews? Two of the most commonly used channels for requesting reviews are email and SMS. In recent years, SMS has become increasingly popular for review requests due to its higher open and response rates compared to email. In this article, we'll explore why requesting reviews via SMS is better than email.
SMS messages have a higher open rate.
One of the main advantages of SMS over email is the open rate. Since SMS messages have an open rate of 98%, while email open rates hover around 20-30%. This means that SMS messages are more likely to be seen by your customers, and therefore, more likely to be acted upon.
SMS messages are more likely to be read quickly.
Most people always carry their phones with them, and SMS messages are delivered instantly. This means that SMS messages are more likely to be read immediately after being received. In contrast, email messages may be buried in a cluttered inbox or missed altogether.n.
SMS messages have a higher response rate.
The response rate for SMS messages is also significantly higher than for email. According to a study by Mobile Squared, SMS messages have a response rate of 45%, compared to just 6% for email. This means that customers are more likely to act and leave a review when they receive a request via SMS.
SMS messages are more personalized.
SMS messages are shorter and more direct than email messages, which allows for more personalization. Personalization is key to building a relationship with customers, and SMS messages provide an opportunity to make the review request feel more personal and genuine.
SMS messages are more convenient.
Finally, SMS messages are more convenient for customers. They don't require an internet connection or a computer, and they can be responded to quickly and easily. This convenience means that customers are more likely to leave a review when they receive a request via SMS.
In the end, SMS messages are a better channel for requesting reviews than email. They have a higher open rate, are more likely to be read quickly, have a higher response rate, are more personalized, and are more convenient for customers. As businesses continue to evolve and adapt to the digital age, it's important to consider the most effective channels for collecting feedback. By using SMS messages for review requests, businesses can improve their review collection rates and build stronger relationships with their customers.