17 February 2020
The
first thing prospects search for before selecting a dealership is online
customer reviews. Reviews help them to form an opinion about local dealerships
and shortlist a couple of them.
Online
reviews are also helpful to customers who would like to review your dealership!
Customers in the age groups of 18-29 years and 40-49 years are more likely to contribute
reviews.
Things
to remember when creating a reputation management strategy:
- Up to
97% of prospects read online reviews
- Prospects
aged 18-34 treat online reviews like personal recommendations
- Online
reviews play a predominant part in the purchase decisions of more than 93% of prospects
- When your
dealership responds to reviews, up to 89% of your website visitors may read it
- Dealerships
with recent online reviews are likely to increase their sales by 270%, compared
with others.
What is the Impact of Online Customer
Reviews on Your Dealership?
- Initiate Customer Engagement: Online reviews trigger
customer engagement, with customers and prospects sharing thoughts and concerns
with each other.
- Help with Better Search
Ranking: Online
reviews are one of Google’s ranking factors. The more recent reviews you have,
the better your website ranking, authority, and credibility.
- Build Trust: Recent online reviews are as
trustworthy as personal recommendations to up to 90% of prospects. Just 3
recent reviews on your car dealer website can increase your trust factor. The
thing to remember is never to fake it. All 5 star reviews and all positive
reviews often make prospects distrustful.
- Increase Sales: When
online reviews build trust, credibility, and authority it naturally result in
more leads and foot traffic. All these results in increased sales.