Mar 28, 2017 | Reputation Management
Ways to Get More Positive Online Reviews of Your Business
At this point, you probably know all of the statistics about online reviews. More than 80% of all consumers say that they read online reviews before making a purchase or visiting a business.
In fact, as a savvy business owner, you’ve undoubtedly heeded the advice about claiming your listings, optimizing your profiles on review sites, and using negative reviews to your advantage.
That’s good – but is it enough?
Claiming your profiles is only a small part of the game when it comes to using online reviews to grow your business. If you rest on your laurels and don’t take action to attract new and positive reviews, you risk having people view your business as outdated or unpopular. Negative reviews can kill your business faster than anything in 2017.
Here are some statistics we’ve pulled together:
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Between one and three bad online reviews would be enough to deter the majority (67%) of shoppers from purchasing a product or service
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86% of people will hesitate to purchase from a business that has negative online reviews
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Number of reviews posted every minute by Yelp users is 26,380
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If a business resolves its issue quickly and efficiently, 95% of unhappy customers returns back to your business
With that in mind, here are some ways that you can get more positive online reviews of your business to increase your visibility and attract customers.
Use an automated Reputation Management Software Platform
This is hands down, the easiest and best way to manage your entire online reputation. However, it isn’t free like the other methods in this list. The way it works is simple:
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You collect an email address by asking your customer if it would be ok to email them requesting some feedback.
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You watch tons of online reviews come into the system. The positive ones get published to online review sites. The negative ones staying sent directly and privately to the owner or manager.
With an online tool like this, you also get a micro-site published online for the purpose of SEO and reviews, a website widget so you can collect reviews from website visitors while showing off all of your 4 and 5 star ratings, and the option to keep your business listings up-to-date with all of the major online directories and search engines.
Add Review Options to Your Website
When was the last time you made a purchase from Amazon? Every product they list on their site has a review option so you can enter a review. They distinguish between verified purchases and stand-alone reviews. There’s no question that the accessibility of reviews helps Amazon’s customers to make informed buying decisions.
Consider adding review forms to your website. You can encourage customers who have tried your products to rate them using a star system (or whatever symbol you like) and leave a written review as well. It’s an easy and relatively low-key way to accumulate reviews.
If you are using an automated software tool, you can embed a widget on your site as mentioned earlier, to show off your positive reviews and solicit new ones.
Email Customers Who Make a Purchase
Another way to encourage reviews is to send an automated email to customers after they make a purchase from you. The email can include a link to a review form on your website.
If you decide to use this option, make sure not to send the email until after the customer has the product. That means if you’re emailing people who made an online purchase, you’ll need to wait until several days have passed to send the email.
You have two options.
One is to embed the review form in the email itself, and the other is to link back to the review form on your website.
Whichever option you choose, make sure that the review is just as easy to complete on a mobile device as it is on a computer.
Promote Products That You Want to Be Reviewed
Every company has products that get reviewed all the time as well as products that get little attention. As a general rule, more expensive products tend to get the most reviews while basic or inexpensive products get ignored.
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There are some things you can try to encourage more reviews of particular products. For example:
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Use follow-up emails to promote those products and then, when you make a sale, ask for a review as you would with any other product.
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Create special packages that pair a frequently-reviewed product with one that doesn’t get many reviews. Then ask for a review for the package.
Instead of requesting individual reviews, create a survey about a particular product and post it on social media. You can tally the results and post them as part of your review page.
These techniques can help you build up some positive reviews for products that typically don’t get many – while increasing your sales at the same time.
Incentivize Reviews
It’s not a good idea to pay for reviews (or to order reviews from people who have never tried your products), but you can find subtle ways to incentivize customers to write reviews.
One thing that a lot of companies do is offer a points system. You might have a points program that rewards points for purchases made. Then, you can award bonus points each time a customer reviews a product that they bought.
Another option is to offer additional points for customers who review a product and then share their review on social media. This technique provides you with a way to amplify the effectiveness of each review you get by introducing it to new people.
If a points system doesn’t appeal to you, then you could try offering a free download to people who review a product on your site. The freebie could be a template, an image, a short eBook, or even just a list of resources.
For example, a clothing boutique might offer a downloadable infographic that shows ways to tie a scarf, or how to accessorize a plain white blouse.
Whichever option you choose, the goal is to provide some customer appreciation for the people who take the time to leave reviews of your products.
Use Offline Techniques to Get Reviews
How can you get customers to leave reviews if you don’t have an online store? It might not be as easy as emailing them a link, but here are ways you can try to get more positive feedback:
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Include a link to your product review page on your printed receipts.
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Print excerpts from some of your reviews on your menu or display them in your store.
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Ask customers to review you on Yelp or other review sites by printing the request on a menu or on your comment cards.
These ideas won’t work with everybody, but they can help you increase the percentage of customers who take the time to write a review.
Leverage Your Reviews
The final thing you can do is to take your existing reviews and leverage them into more of them. When a customer completes a review on your site, send them a thank you email. In the email, you may want to:
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Upsell them on additional products (which you can then ask them to review); or
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Ask them to review other purchases they have made
Customers want to feel that you appreciate them. Even the act of sending a thank you email can be enough to incentivize them to review additional products.
Conclusion
It’s not difficult to get customers to review your products. You just can’t expect them to do it without a bit of encouragement from you. The techniques outlined here can help you get positive reviews for your website or review pages – and attract new customers as a result.
Mar 15, 2017 | Apps, Apps We've Built, General, Uncategorized
Is A Small Business App For You?
Mobile Apps Should be Part of Your Marketing Mix
Apps? Really? Like Clash of Clans?
Perhaps not like Clash of Clans, but yes. With over two billion smartphones in the world today and each iPhone launch causing people to line up for days to get one, no one can deny the pervasive effect smartphones have garnered over the last few years.
And it isn’t going to change soon. With online habits moving increasingly from desktop to tablets and smartphones, more and more people look for and act on local information on their mobile device- whether it is reservations at their favorite restaurant, a ticket to their favorite team, or just what tomorrow’s weather will be. And mobile apps are increasingly how they do this.
Now through May 15th, our app prices have been slashed to as low as $397 for the development and only $97/month! This is a first-year saving of over $500! Click below to get all of the details.
So if you don’t have an app already, do you need one?
Probably, if not definitely. To date, there have been over 50 billion app downloads from the Apple App Store driving over $60 billion in revenue by 2018.
With increasing smartphone use, consumers increasingly are demanding constant access to information and data which can quickly only be delivered by apps. Using a smaller footprint and requiring fewer resources to run, apps quickly and effectively can answer this need. Apps give your customers the service they need!
Why Not Just a Mobile Website?
Though mobile websites are also a key element in a successful marketing plan, an app provides much more:
- Increased flexibility gives small and local businesses a competitive advantage over larger and more entrenched competitors.
- Connect with your customers anytime from anywhere, even if your brick and mortar location is closed.
- Apps improve internal effectiveness by letting them communicate, check inventory and other key functions.
- Apps are quicker than mobile websites in entering data, taking orders, and other simple tasks. The simpler placing an order is, the higher your sales will go!
- Apps are convenient. With consumers pressed for time, increasingly the fastest and easiest option wins out and becomes a brand standard.
- Apps are increasingly becoming accepted as a requirement for businesses of all sizes. Organizations without them may run the risk of being perceived as less responsive to consumer needs.
But Mobile Apps are Expensive, Aren’t They?
Yes, they can be- especially for the novice. At JVI Mobile we give you two options to create your own App. We empower you to create, edit, and manage your own apps for a variety of platforms including iPhone and Android through our own system.
But if you’d like a completely turnkey solution we have a special offer for Spring 2017. After consulting with you for your specific needs, we will build your App for you for $397 with monthly maintenance or only $97 (some restrictions apply). This deal won’t last long so contact us today!
At JVI Mobile, we are passionate about creating and growing awesome social relationships. Tell us how we can help grow or create your mobile app and grow your business!
Mar 4, 2017 | General, Uncategorized
How to Write Amazing Blog Content
(That Keeps People Coming Back)
By now, you’ve probably heard the phrase that “Content is King” right? Throughout all of the algorithm updates Google has released over the last six years – one thing has never changed. Google loves to index fresh content.
Content Marketing is an amazing strategy to find and engage with loyal customers – and it’s only increasing in popularity because 90% of customers prefer to learn about a brand through content vs ads.
But simply knowing that you need excellent content is one thing – actually creating it is a whole other thing altogether.
Just recently, Google made an appeal to website owners regarding their use of SEO techniques. What the search engine giant essentially said was that these techniques are not the most important considerations for ranking highly in the search results.
The most important factor is that website owners offer relevant and quality info to their readers. If you do that, Google will reward you with better rankings in their search engine.
This has given rise to the term content marketing, which is simply a new name for a very old concept. By publishing interesting and engaging content for your website visitors, which converts a percentage of them into regular visitors while at the same time, attracting new ones too.
The ultimate purpose of content marketing is to get your visitors to do something that you want them to do. Such as to sign up for your newsletter or visit your brick and mortar location, and buy your products & services.
But that begs the question: what is “interesting” content?
A lot of people get it all wrong when it comes to blog content. Too much self-promotion is the fastest way to get a reader to click the back button so what should you feature instead?
Choose Topics That Interest Your Readers
What you post all depends on your business industry. Ask yourself what your website is about. And then put yourself in your reader’s shoes. What content would they find useful?
Here are some suggestions for your topics:
- “How to” articles. If you sell products, you can write articles on how to use these products, or how to take care of them.
If you offer services of some kind, you could write about how to get the most out of the service you provide or preventative maintenance to avoid it from happening again
Another idea is to create a buying guide. These are practical tips that many consumers and customers will find useful. And they also establish your authority in your industry.
- List-type articles. Most people love lists. Publishing articles like “the top 3 most energy efficient double pane windows” or “most popular hair styles of the season for women in their 20’s” etc. You can also publish the top ten worst lists, just to give you some ideas.
Check out many of the list-type articles online, and you’ll notice that they also generate a lot of comments. Some comments may offer suggestions as to which items were left out from the list,(which gives you valuable insight) while others agree with your choices. What’s undeniable is that these lists can attract a lot of active interest – which is a good thing.
- Head-to-head comparisons. A lot of car magazines pit one car against another car in its comparison reviews, and you can do the same thing with your own products or services. This offers a tangible demonstration of how your business is better than your competitors.
The trick here is to pick a suitable match for your comparison, and then emphasize the ways in which your business is better.
- Answer Common FAQs – Do you find that customers ask the same question over and over? Then it makes sense to create a blog that answers it.
Instead of repeatedly having to explain it, you can post a link to your blog post on your social networks and direct customers there for other great information too.
- Video Posts, also referred to as “vlogs”– Do you own a smartphone or video camera? Consider starting your own “how to” series on topics in your industry. Post your videos to a dedicated YouTube channel, add them to your written blog posts, and promote them through your social media channels.
Know Your Audience
The best way to engage your audience to know who your audience is and what type of profile they have. By knowing their profile and having an idea of who your visitors are in your head, you can create content that they would find interesting even if the topic isn’t directly linked to your products or services.
The tone of your blog content matters too. It’s not just what you say… It’s how you say it. For some businesses, like a landscaping service for example – a casual “write as you speak” tone might work best. Giving tips on how to get a greener lawn should probably be written in a more “neighborly advice” tone.
But for other industries like legal services a more professional tone will likely be more appropriate – but again it all depends on your audience.
There’s an exception to this rule, however. For many smaller businesses, where you are the “face” of your own business it’s also important that your readers get a sense of who you are.
In this circumstance, you’re aiming for a more “intimate” relationship with your blog so people can identify with you easier – which will help to build your personal brand.
Final Notes
Blog articles are not purely words. Graphics and images will help illustrate your message better. Also, consistency is critical. Updating your blog regularly has a multitude of benefits – including better SEO rankings.
Don’t be afraid to delegate – you don’t have to write ALL of your content yourself. Guest bloggers or even your employees can contribute articles. A blog that is not updated often will eventually lose its readership.
There are many ingredients to creating amazing content for your blog. Hopefully, by implementing some of these suggestions you can create a content recipe for a successful blog that has your visitors coming back for more!
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Mar 2, 2017 | General, Reputation Management, Uncategorized
South Boston Reputation Management Small Business Marketing Services Launched
From:
https://www.snjtoday.com/story/34146127/south-boston-reputation-management-small-business-marketing-services-launched
JVI Mobile, an online marketing company based in South Boston, Virginia, launched a wide spectrum of SEO and other internet marketing services for small companies throughout Virginia. The company provides SEO, web design and local social media campaigns for restaurants, clubs and other local businesses.
South Boston, United States – December 29, 2016 /PressCable/ —
JVI Mobile, a digital marketing company based in South Boston, Virginia, launched a wide range of SEO and other internet marketing services for small companies throughout Virginia.
More information is available at https://jvimobile.com
Online marketing has grown tremendously over the past years, as more and more people turn to the internet in search for the most reliable online and offline services. Recent surveys show that up to 90% of all clients have used online reviews or Google searches to find local service providers, thereby making online visibility a key focus of overall business investment.
The stakes are extremely high for small businesses without an online presence, with a possible doubling of clients in case the digital marketing campaign is successful. In other words, online marketing can play a huge role in overall business success.
One of the most important factors for online visibility is Google ranking. Most potential clients use Google to find businesses, so ranking high for target keywords is essential. Traffic studies show that roughly two-thirds of all keyword-specific traffic go to the top three search results, thereby creating intense competition for high ranking.
JVI Mobile launched a wide range of digital marketing services aimed at helping small local Virginia businesses increase their online presence and reach more clients. The company strives to help local restaurants, bowling centers, and other small businesses create responsive, user-friendly websites and leverage the potential of search engines and social media to increase their brand credibility and improve their reputation.
The company provides thorough local SEO services in an effort to optimize the client’s website to match the targeted keywords. If the business does not have a website at all, or if the website needs cross-platform optimization, JVI Mobile provides full web design and mobile optimization services.
The Virginia SEO company also provides video production and social media marketing services, as well as e-mail marketing and pay-per-click campaigns.
Interested parties can find more information by visiting the above-mentioned website.
For more information, please visit https://www.jvimobile.com
Contact Info:
Name: Jay Vics
Organization: JVI Mobile Marketing
Address: 1809 Chamberlain St, South Boston United States