Reviews aren't the end of the story.......

So.  Let’s talk about reviews and how they demonstrate the importance of having a SMB website.  Hate them or love them they are having a big impact on consumers searching online for products and services.  Notably, restaurants top the list of reviews consumers want to see.

While it is tempting think that the consumer's journey to you is ending there; it is not.  A recent BrightLocal survey shows that once reviews have been seen, the next step is to go to the business' website.  And, this is where you can truly differentiate yourself and compel consumers to take the next step.  

Your website is an important step in the consumer's journey!

Your website can answer specific questions and needs of YOUR customer.  Take an example of a Day Care.  Say a parent searches for a facility near home and/or work and finds several reviews that speak to their needs.  Next, they want to go to your very own website to understand more and get a general feeling about the place.  Is the Day Care presented well on the website?  Do they seem organized?  Kid focused? Are they safe for my child, are they able to be flexible to my schedule?   

These "personality" traits give prospective clients a good picture and will help feed users to next steps that may include a visit, more questions or even enrollment.  Focusing your website to answer the concerns and needs of your customer is a natural extension to the reviews consumers are reading and will serve to boost you in Lead/Client generation because not every concern is covered on a review.  And you are uniquely qualified to answer ALL of potential client needs.

The key to success is to know your customer and all of their needs and concerns.  Keep an eye on all of your reviews and respond to them as necessary.  Never leave a bad review out there without a resolution or explanation.