This post is sponsored by ReviewInc. The views expressed in this article are those of the sponsors themselves.
Every day, in the United States and around the world, people turn to search engines to find answers to their most pressing needs.
Where can kids get their hair cut?
Which plumber is our best choice to fix that broken pipe?
Are there financial services advisors that I can trust to serve the region?
Being found online is essential for local service providers. But just being seen does not put money in the bank.
What drives local consumers to choose one local service provider over another?
The keys to connecting with consumers are emotion, reputation and visibility.
Let’s take a look at the top reasons local consumers choose one service provider over another when evaluating options in local search results.
1. You have a good reputation
Online reviews are critical because people are now spending more time reading reviews than ever before.
In the past, service providers relied on word of mouth and referrals from friends to generate referrals and more business.
Now, online reviews reign supreme.
review company surveyed U.S. consumers over the past 10 years, and Per yearcustomers continue to choose online reviews from sites like Google, Facebook, Yelp, and industry-specific sites as the most important factor in their decision-making process.
In fact, in 2022, our survey shows that 43% of consumers will choose reviews over online ads, yellow pages, company websites and other sources.
Results of ReviewInc Google Survey, January 2022
Still, consumers view a company’s online reviews, right or wrong, as a testament to a good reputation, as they generally reflect the quality of customer service.
2. You provide great customer service
Regardless of industry, consumers crave great customer service.
A service provider that is responsive, friendly, accessible, and knowledgeable naturally builds a good reputation.
Businesses with knowledgeable and helpful employees are key to acquiring new customers.
Companies that prioritize these values will find that customers come back year after year and bring their family, friends and colleagues with them.
In today’s online-dominated world, excellent customer service has evolved to provide real-time support via live chat, social media, text, and phone calls as an instant way to provide assistance.
Consumer expectations have skyrocketed, and even the slightest unpleasant experience or lack of response can lead to bad reviews.
This means that poor customer service equals bad business, and can seriously impact your business success and prevent consumers from coming back for referrals.
Excellent customer service will be reflected in your business reviews and is the real reason why consumers choose local service providers.
3. They can find you online
Network presence is a given. Essentially, if your business doesn’t rank on the first page of search engine results pages (SERPs), it doesn’t exist online.
Companies must be committed to their SEO or paid to be visible on the SERPs through paid search.
Because mobile devices are so commonly used in search, it’s imperative to have your top keywords appear in Google’s 3-Pack. If you’re not there, you won’t win clicks and leads.
Not surprisingly, the number one reason for being in the 3-Pack is the number of reviews and the quality of ratings.
Investing time and money in SEO is critical for any business that wants more consumers to find them online.
Keyword analysis, research, content creation, social media, backlinks, PPC advertising, email marketing, online reviews, ratings, and more are all factors that affect your business reputation.
All of these activities help increase your local visibility.
According to Kyruus’ patient visit journey report, 91% of patients conduct online research even after receiving a referral from a healthcare provider.
That means you need SEO to close the deal, even if word of mouth is already giving you referrals.
4. Your price is right
Price isn’t the only factor in choosing a business, but it’s undeniably crucial.
While not always the case, most consumers are price sensitive.
Even if you don’t have a minimum price, consumers want to know they’ve got a deal.
Pricing psychology is a completely separate topic. We know that consumers generally pay more when they perceive better value or prestige.
Competitive prices are better than lower prices because competitors can always negotiate lower prices.
Therefore, your pricing must match the consumer’s perceived value of the service being offered.
Make sure consumers know a breakdown of the price they receive.
It’s also good to keep pricing at an agreed-upon amount based on the services offered if the consumer chooses to stay.
Businesses that raise prices can justify doing so with a more attractive online presence, including their reputation, testimonials, video walkthroughs, and of course, positive reviews.
People generally pay more for better customer service, which is evident in the reviews they leave for local service providers.
5. Your business provides quality service and consumers’ values align with your brand
People value quality, especially when choosing a company.
For most smart business owners, quality and great customer service mean building lasting long-term relationships.
Lifetime value is about taking a long-term view when developing a business.
Offering great customer service and great value deals will motivate your customers to spend more over time and refer their friends.
If your business has core values that appeal to consumers, they will choose you over your competitors.
In your website marketing strategy or promotional materials, be sure to focus on your core values around quality.
For example, healthcare providers can emphasize the importance of improving patient health through quality care, longevity, health, and overall patient satisfaction.
Your quality of service and core values should be emotional themes in your company reviews, thereby attracting more new consumers.
key takeaways
Managing your online reputation and reviews is critical.
Reputation Management Software Can help simplify the feedback process and help enhance the company’s reputation.
Always provide the best customer service.
Take advantage of automations like live chat, social, text, phone calls, or you can quickly reach your customers as needed.
Network visibility is imperative.
Investing in digital marketing services such as SEO, PPC, social media, reviews and ratings is critical to ensuring consumers find your business through search engines.
Make sure you have a clear pricing strategy in place that aligns with the perceived value of the services you offer.
Always provide great service and keep consumers coming back and referring their friends. Use your core values to tell a story that attracts like-minded customers.
Image Source
Featured Image: Perfect Labs/Shutterstock
Post image: Image provided by ReviewInc. Used with permission.
