How to Use Customer Reviews to Drive Sales (3 Ways)

• Updated on: 2020-05-14
• Read original article here

When a new visitor comes to your website, they’re looking for reasons to stick around. They want proof that your brand is worth their time and, eventually, their money. Before they can move through the sales funnel and make a purchase, they need to know that your business is trustworthy.

That’s where customer reviews come in. Reviews are a form of social proof that increase brand credibility and strengthen customer relationships based on trust. Did you know that 55 percent of people will search online for reviews and recommendations before making a purchase? If your website fails to show reviews, then it may set off warning bells for your visitors.

Reviews can do wonders for your business growth and performance. It’s proof that other customers are buying your products and feel passionate enough to say something about them.

But if it’s challenging to create a plan for your reviews, then they likely won’t do your business any good. You can’t throw them on any random webpage or social platform and expect to see results.

So, if you want to learn how to leverage customer reviews to boost your marketing campaigns, here are three ways to get started.

When you need to sell a specific product or service, landing pages come in handy. They zero their focus on one thing so it’s easy for visitors to follow along and move through the conversion funnel. It’s also a great place to implement reviews.

On average, consumers read about 10 customer reviews before making a final purchase decision, which means your focus should be on cultivating trust. Build trust with your visitors by adding reviews to your landing pages to convince new customers you’re worth their time and money. Showing them reviews that speak to a specific product or service increases their trust and provides them with reasons to purchase.

In this example, Khan Academy uses customer reviews to push their marketing efforts and convince educators to choose their services:

The goal with any landing page is to keep visitors focused on your message and cultivate trust between them and your brand. If they don’t see any signs of social proof, they’re likelier to bounce from the page.

When adding reviews to your landing pages, make sure to space them out far enough so they don’t look cluttered on the page. They should come from a reliable, recent, relevant source so it’s more credible to your audience.

With more than three billion social media users around the world, you can bet your target market is active on these platforms. Social media has gone from a communication tool to a marketing tool for booming businesses worldwide. Nowadays, anyone can use it to speak their mind, interact with brands, and make sales.

When consumers buy, many are quick to flock to social media to share their experiences, whether positive or negative. A whopping 74 percent of consumers rely on social platforms to finalize their purchasing decisions. If your social media fails to incorporate social proof, specifically customer reviews, then you’re hurting your sales and growth.

Many times, consumers will flock to social media to spy on what your other customers are saying before they decide to purchase. Showcasing reviews on in your social posts and engaging with customers who leave reviews increases brand credibility and convinces new users to take action.

Alongside social media and key pages, some business owners also like to create a webpage specifically for client testimonials. That way, users have one place to look at what your audience says about your brand and can gauge what their own experience may be like.

For those on the fence about your products and services, a testimonials page can go a long way to push them in the right direction.

When adding testimonials to your website, make sure to:

Freelance writer Elna Cain dedicates an entire webpage to client testimonials, which has helped keep her business booming:

Over time, your business will accumulate both positive and negative customer feedback. What matters is how you use that feedback to drive sales, help customers, and grow your business. Landing pages, social media, and testimonials pages are ideal places to showcase your reviews and move new consumers through the sales funnel. How will you leverage reviews to boost your marketing efforts?