The Top 10 Industries Most Impacted by Online Reviews Today
The almighty online review: The medium where an average Joe suddenly has the power to transform into the Roger Ebert of HVAC services, taking the time to elegantly craft every term and phrase of slander regarding your company.
While it’s easy to get anxious over the perception of power that online reviews can have over your company’s online presence and reputation, the fact is that online reviews aren’t going away anytime soon. In that case, you might as well embrace them and adapt to professional online review management strategies.
If you want to know just how powerful online reviews can be regarding your business, take a look at these statistics:
- 95% of customers read online reviews before buying a product
- 94% say online reviews have made them avoid a business
- 81% of consumers say they are likely to check Google reviews first before doing business with a company
- 74% of consumers say that online reviews increase trust in a company
- 68% don’t trust a 5-star rating unless there are a significant amount of online reviews contributing to the rating
As you can see, the vast majority of consumers don’t just utilize online reviews when evaluating the services or products of a company – they practically require a sound reputation before even thinking of doing business with one. While some industries aren’t as impacted by online reviews as others, more and more industries are utilizing online review management strategies to enhance their virtual presence.
Let’s look at the top 10 industries most impacted by online reviews today – and a few ways these industries can address, manage, and take advantage of all the potential benefits of online reviews.
1. Home Services Industry
Location is one thing the above industries have in common – they’re all performed somewhere other than a customer’s residence. The same cannot be said for the home services industry, which generally has the pleasure of providing high-level customer service and satisfaction while working on the customer’s home turf.
From HVAC contractors to roofing repair companies to landscapers, workers in the home services industry are tasked with more than enhancing the homes of the clients they serve. Homeowners and property managers also expect your business to do so in a timely, cost-friendly, and accommodating manner. Or else? You might be exposed to the wrath of negative online reviews! And when you’re a small, locally owned and operated home services business that needs all the online reputation help it can get, you can’t afford to sit back and watch as negative reviews accumulate or go unaccounted for.
This is an industry that truly benefits from professional online review management services to establish credibility amongst competitors, weed out negative reviews, and expand brand awareness on a regional level.
2. Automotive Industry
It’s no secret that consumers tend to be on the skeptical side when it comes to trusting any automotive business with their vehicle. Whether trusting a company to replace your windshield or looking for a reputable auto dealer in town, online reviews play a significant role in the automotive industry. Potential car buyers heavily rely on reviews to assess the reputation, reliability, and customer satisfaction of dealerships and specific vehicle models. Positive reviews can instill confidence, attract more customers, and differentiate one auto body shop or car dealership from another.
Managing online reviews is crucial for automotive businesses to build trust, respond to customer feedback, and maintain a positive online presence.
3. Financial Services
What other industry requires more trust and loyalty than someone managing or overseeing your finances? In the financial services industry, trust and credibility are paramount.
Online reviews allow individuals to evaluate the expertise, professionalism, and customer service of financial institutions, investment advisors, and banks. Reeling in more positive reviews can attract new clients and establish a reputation for delivering reliable financial advice and services, especially for smaller, local financial institutions. Managing online reviews in this industry is crucial to addressing concerns, demonstrating transparency, and building long-term relationships with clients based on trust and confidence.
4. Manufacturers
Online reviews are vital for manufacturers, impacting both B2C and B2B relationships. When it comes to B2B interactions, positive reviews can influence procurement decisions and establish a manufacturer as a reliable and trustworthy partner. Enhancing an online reputation will ultimately build more trust among prospective clients, resulting in increased sales in the long run.
Proper online review management allows manufacturers to address customer concerns, gather feedback for product improvements, and highlight positive experiences, fostering more robust customer relationships and industry credibility.
5. Health & Wellness
Quick question: If you had to choose, would you go to a chiropractor with a 4.1 online review rating or a 3.9? Every review matters, particularly regarding health and wellness businesses, as it’s easy to see how just one or two decimals of a point can influence popular opinion. In the health and wellness industry, online reviews significantly influence consumer decisions, as trusting a company to maintain or enhance its appearance and well-being is a top priority.
Patients seek reviews to evaluate the quality of healthcare providers, wellness centers, and fitness facilities. More positive reviews highlighting excellent patient care, successful treatments, and knowledgeable practitioners can attract new patients and build a strong reputation within your community. Managing online reviews demonstrates a commitment to patient satisfaction, which is especially crucial in an industry that thrives on trust and credibility.
6. Small Businesses
Online reviews are especially important for small businesses, which often have to compete with the larger, more established competition with more years and higher budgets to maintain their reputation. Generating more positive reviews can help small businesses gain visibility, compete with larger establishments, and attract new customers. Having a healthy amount of online reviews also acts as social proof in the eyes of consumers actively searching for your products or services, validating the quality of your products or services offered.
Managing online reviews allows small businesses to address customer feedback, engage with their audience, and work their way within their local communities by making a name for themselves. If you’re a small business just starting out, implementing a review management strategy will only work toward spreading the word around town and validating your business amongst consumers who have yet to become familiar with your brand.
7. General Contractors
Online reviews have a significant influence on the construction and general contracting industry. As customers look for dependable and skilled contractors for their home improvement projects, they turn to online reviews to gauge a business's reliability and the quality of their work.
To excel in this digital landscape, general contractors must proactively encourage satisfied clients to leave positive reviews and be attentive to customer concerns, addressing them promptly and professionally. Contractors can bolster their online reputation by showcasing completed projects and sharing testimonials on their websites and social media platforms.
8. Dentists
Dentists are in a particularly delicate position when it comes to online reviews. Patients seek to choose a dentist they can trust to provide excellent care. Dentists should actively engage with their patients online, promptly responding to inquiries and addressing concerns. Encouraging patients to leave reviews and testimonials can showcase a practice's dedication to providing quality dental care.
Dentists can strengthen their reputation and build trust with potential clients by maintaining an open, professional, and patient-centric online presence.
9. Fitness Instructors
Online reviews significantly impact the fitness and personal training industry, influencing clients' decisions when choosing the right fitness instructor. To maintain a positive online reputation, fitness instructors must offer excellent service, provide transparent information about their programs, and actively engage with online and offline clients. Encouraging clients to share their positive experiences on digital platforms can significantly impact the online presence of fitness instructors.
Demonstrating expertise and transformative results are crucial to persuading prospective clients to join your fitness center.
10. Vet Clinics
Pet owners place a high value on the well-being of their furry family members. As a result, online reviews can significantly influence their choice of a vet clinic. Vet clinics should provide professional, compassionate, and effective animal care and excellent customer service. Maintaining an active online presence is also essential. Responding to pet owners' inquiries, promptly addressing concerns, and encouraging them to leave reviews are vital to building a solid online reputation. Sharing heartwarming stories of successful pet treatments and patient testimonials can help boost the trustworthiness of vet clinics.
Contact Us for Professional Online Review Management
Every industry needs to make managing online reviews a priority. It’s just as serious as your pursuit to satisfy your clients completely! Whether you’re looking to generate more positive reviews or respond to negative reviews more timely (or prevent them altogether), every business can benefit from effective online review management to ensure your reputation and sales stay intact.
If your company is interested in learning more about all the advantages professional online review management can provide, Triton Commerce has you covered! We specialize in expert review management services that generate more positive reviews, limit negative reviews, and increase your web traffic and Google My Business rankings. Contact us today to learn how our review management services can benefit your business!