Responding to Customer Reviews: Using Feedback for Business Growth

Have you ever texted a friend to say or share something, days went by, and they didn’t reply? Worst of all, when you go and check, you realize they’ve left you on seen. Yikes!

Not the best feeling ever, right? It probably didn't make you feel very secure about your relationship.

To grow any positive relationship, you’ve got to care. As a business owner, it’s never a good time to forget that every interaction you have with a customer can nurture or damage your relationship. And answering online reviews on Yelp or any other online platform is no different.

Here are some reasons why you should always answer both positive and negative reviews:

1. Build Brand Advocacy

Responding to reviews can become time-consuming and tedious, but it has its rewards. When you get positive reviews, it’s only natural to wonder, is it worth my time responding to it? After all, this is already a happy customer that loves my business.

Well, it turns out it definitely worth it to respond. In actuality, it's an easy opportunity for you to gently nudge this happy customer into becoming an advocate for your brand.

Brand advocacy happens when your customer can't shut up about your business. Consider contacting happy customers in a direct message to offer a discount or enroll them in a loyalty program. This will take their experience with your business to a whole new level. Have you ever felt that way? I know that when it happens to me, it's when not only a business' service/product has exceeded my expectations, but they've made me feel appreciated by them.

When customers leave positive reviews, respond to them. Acknowledge the rave and look for constructive criticism. Good reviews often mention key things you can improve upon. It’s an undisputed fact that responding to positive reviews and encouraging brand advocacy helps your business grow.

2. Win Over New Customers

To stand out on Yelp and win over new customers, it's important to answer reviews. A study found that 97% of consumers who read reviews also read the businesses' responses to those reviews.

As per the study, people not only care what customers are saying. They also care about the way you respond to them. This gives them a glimpse into your customer service and how you handle feedback.

Responding to reviews shows potential customers that you care and lets them get to know your brand better. Use your brand's unique voice in your responses to let customers see your human side and personality.

By answering reviews, you can differentiate your business from competitors and show potential customers why they should choose you. In addition, by engaging with customers and showing that you value their feedback, you can encourage them to come back and leave more reviews in the future. This can help improve your overall rating on Yelp and attract more potential customers to your business.

6. Increase Customer Engagement And Encourage Repeat Business

Engaging with customers on Yelp can help businesses address any issues that customers may have. This gesture demonstrates your business’ commitment to providing excellent customer service. This can help improve the overall customer experience and encourage customers to return to the business in the future.

Responding to reviews can help businesses build relationships with their customers and create a sense of community around their brand. By engaging with customers on Yelp, businesses can create a more personal connection and foster a sense of loyalty among their customers.

By engaging with customers and encouraging them to leave more reviews, businesses can improve their overall rating and attract more potential customers to their profile.

Overall, answering Yelp reviews can help drive customer engagement by showing customers that businesses care about their feedback and are committed to providing a positive customer experience.  

Are You Ready To Respond To Yelp Reviews?

Social media may be a popular way for businesses to connect with consumers, but review sites like Yelp also hold a lot of power. After all, your customer is specifically giving an opinion of YOUR business. These insights can be leveraged to make your brand, reputation, and customer service better.

Remember, to respond to Yelp reviews is to show that you care about feedback and you’re willing to learn from it.

Responding to Yelp reviews is an easy way to connect with your customers, improve your brand, and attract new ones. By demonstrating excellent customer service and being accessible and friendly, you can encourage more Yelpers to leave reviews and improve your rating.

Let Us Do The Heavy Lifting

In conclusion, responding to online reviews on Yelp and other platforms is an important part of maintaining a positive relationship with your customers. That’s how you show customers that you care. By showing that you care about their feedback and are willing to address any concerns they may have, you can improve customer satisfaction and build trust.

This, in turn, can help to attract new customers and retain existing ones. Furthermore, responding to online reviews can help to improve your online reputation and increase your visibility on Yelp and other platforms. Overall, taking the time to respond to online reviews can have a significant impact on the success of your business.

At gardenpatch, we are a growth collective that helps rapidly scaling businesses implement frictionless systems that drive more internal and external customers through a “WOW” worthy buyer and customer journey towards advocacy.

Responding to Yelp reviews is a simple and effective way for businesses to connect with their customers and improve their brand.

Take a few minutes to read and respond to reviews, and watch as your customer engagement increases and your online reputation improves.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to connect with your customers and grow your business. If you need help to start responding to Yelp reviews, don't hesitate to reach out to the experts at gardenpatch for guidance and support.