Why Customers Don’t Trust 5-star Reviews

Why Customers Don’t Trust 5-star Reviews

Last Updated on: 12th December 2022, 03:33 pm

A Reddit post managed to make it to the front page with the simple title “A 4.9 Star Rating Is More Reliable Than A 5.0 Star Rating.” If you’re unfamiliar with Reddit, a post must be voted up by thousands of people in order to appear on the front page. As a result, this concept appears to have resonated with thousands of individuals. Let’s look at why five-star reviews might not always be beneficial. 

Customers understand that not everyone Is going to be satisfied 

Commenters appeared to realize that no real company could ever please everyone. Everyone seems to recognize that no business can ever satisfy everyone and that there is always room for improvement. What they want to see is whether the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. 

Customers want authenticity 

Finally, customers trust reviews because they are a true picture of how the product or service will make them feel. Customers become wary if they think that a company’s reviews are false. Seeing every single client give a 5-star review shows that the clients are simply expressing gratitude for doing the bare minimum or are being paid for phony reviews. 

What can your business take away from this?  

Nobody wants to do business with someone they believe is a cheater for obvious reasons. The fact is that even the finest businesses and goods can’t satisfy everyone. 

While the Harry Potter series has generated a beloved book and film franchise, as well as a theme park, even the first Harry Potter novel couldn’t please everyone. On Amazon, there are more than 200 1-star reviews for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Of course, these are outweighed by the thousands of good reviews that the book has. 

But too many negative reviews can hurt your business as well. Research shows that customers prefer to avoid businesses with less than a 4-star rating.  

Let’s talk about some best practices for business reviews.  

Why you should never buy reviews 

Remember, consumers, appreciate honesty. Customers are tired of being taken advantage of, so if they suspect that your evaluations are phony, they will avoid you. Don’t be fooled into thinking you can get away with it. It’s difficult to fake the genuine excitement of a real customer, so it’s simple to spot a fraudulent review. And most importantly, it is illegal and can get you banned by Google. 

The FTC also fines companies heavily for buying reviews. Urthbox, a firm based in Australia, was fined $260,000 in 2019 for paying consumers to offer positive feedback. So, it’s clear: buying reviews is a huge risk that will just decrease customer confidence in you. So don’t do it. 

We’ll go through how to get real customer feedback without resorting to underhanded methods. But before we get into that, let’s talk about how you can react when someone gives you a terrible review. 

Address all customer reviews 

Make efforts to reply when you get a bad review. Most people are aware that there are two sides to every story, so apologize and try to figure out what the customer’s problem is. If you succeed in resolving the client’s primary issue, they may develop into a devoted customer. 

A genuine apology and a vow to improve things might persuade the reviewer to remove or alter their original review. Even if the client decides to keep the bad review, a good response shows prospective consumers that you are prepared to go above and above for a great customer experience. 

However, another way to deal with negative reviews is to have them outweighed by similar positive feedback. So, here’s how you can get more customer reviews. 

3 ways to get more reviews 

You have a long list of ecstatic consumers. Getting them to leave a review is the issue. Even though customers appreciate reading reviews, many will not provide a review unless they had a really bad experience. After all, it takes effort on the part of the customer to leave one. They must find your company via review profiles, then try to express their feelings as they write a review. Mostly enraged clients would be willing to undertake this task. 

Send review requests via text and email  

Customers are eager to leave a review, as most clients understand that reviews may help businesses improve. The problem is that they do not want to devote time to finding your company on multiple sites to leave a review. 

The goal is to make the procedure simple. Start sending out review requests via text and email if you want more reviews. Remember to include a direct link to the review site in your message so that your customers may leave a review as soon as possible. 

Don’t gate your reviews  

“Review gating” is against Google and other review sites. That’s the practice of sending requests for reviews to only certain clients who you know will give positive comments. Hopefully, you understand why a few bad reviews won’t hurt you. But keep in mind if you do get a negative review that it can be addressed to show other onlookers your commitment to your customers.  

Keep timing in mind  

Consider going to an excellent Italian restaurant. You eat wonderful meals and receive fantastic service there. You return home satisfied. Then, three months later, you get a review request from the restaurant through a text message. When you think about it now, you don’t recall the event particularly well. After all, it’s been three months since you had your meal there. You might not even remember the name of your waiter. As a result, you may not be able to write an accurate review. The point is this: send out review requests at a suitable time. A few hours or days after the customer has received your product or service is usually best. 

What can we learn about reviews? 

  • Customers appreciate in-depth reviews.  
  • People enjoy reading reviews that are lower than 5 stars. A 4-star review is likely to reveal both advantages and disadvantages of working with you.  
  • Reviews help clients in deciding whether your company is a good fit for their needs. 

How Simply Be Found helps you get more reviews  

By following Simply Be Found’s step-by-step plan, you can generate and respond to more reviews and get found by more consumers who are looking for your products and services. And as a member of Simply Be Found, you will have a well-executed local SEO strategy, to ensure that your potential clients see your business first when they are searching for your industry type in your local area. 

About the author:

Dean Koehler

Dean Koehler

Dean Koehler stands as a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit, co-founding Simply Be Found and with over 30 years of entrepreneurial business experience. His journey is marked by both successes and failures, each contributing to his profound understanding of the business world. What truly sets Dean apart is his light-hearted and compassionate approach towards everyone he interacts with.His Roots: Dean’s lineage is rich with educators, embedding in him a deep appreciation for the power of storytelling and analogy in teaching. This background has honed his ability to simplify complex concepts, making them relatable and easy to grasp.Love for Reading and Audio Books: An avid reader and now an audio book junkie, Dean immerses himself in a variety of genres. This extensive reading not only fuels his expansive vocabulary but also enriches his perspectives, allowing him to connect with a diverse audience.Unique Communication Style: Dean’s conversations are often peppered with witty one-liners from classics like ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and ‘Monty Python.’ These references are not just humorous but also serve as effective tools in making his points more memorable. Creating passion for storytelling; his love for books and movies is an integral part of how he communicates. He skillfully weaves narratives into his teachings, making complex ideas more accessible and engaging, which he skillfully drove his now adult children to exasperation with his comments.Engineering Mindset: With a background in engineering, growing up with a science teacher, and his wife still teaching science, Dean naturally gravitates towards a methodical and analytical approach. He often draws parallels between science experiments and business strategies, demonstrating his knack for innovative problem-solving. If fact he and his wife spend several hours talking about real life situations for science experiments to parallel which creates story for her students.Passion for Storytelling: Dean’s love for books and movies is an integral part of how he communicates. He skillfully weaves narratives into his teachings, making complex ideas more accessible and engaging, which he skillfully drove his now adult children to exasperation with his comments.Dean’s unique blend of experiences and skills makes him an invaluable leader at Simply Be Found. His approachable demeanor and insightful perspectives have been key in guiding the company through the ever-changing landscape of online marketing and business growth.Although he does talk much about it, his academic and professional journey is a complex blend of hands-on experience and formal education, embodying the spirit of dedication and perseverance. His path reflects his commitment to continuous learning and adaptability in the face of evolving industry landscapes.Dean’s career began with a machinist apprenticeship program, a rare and valuable starting point in today’s world. This experience laid the groundwork for his practical understanding of the industry.He furthered his education with an associate degree as an electronics technician, a testament to his technical acumen. Dean didn’t stop there; he pursued a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology from Colorado State University, sharpening his skills in corporate leadership, process, and plant engineering roles.Next, earning a Master of Science Degree in Industrial Management from Northern Illinois University marked a significant milestone in his career. Notably, Dean accomplished this while juggling a full-time job and starting a family, showcasing his exceptional time management and dedication.Lastly and what he considers the most important is the School of Hard Knocks: Dean takes immense pride in his experiences outside the classroom. The ‘school of hard knocks’ has been instrumental in teaching him invaluable life skills. These experiences have given him a unique understanding of the challenges faced by small business entrepreneurs, aligning perfectly with his role at Simply Be Found.Dean’s journey, marked by a combination of formal education and real-world experiences, has equipped him with a diverse skill set and an empathetic understanding of the entrepreneurial journey. This makes him not just a leader but a relatable figure for those navigating the complex terrain of small business ownership and online marketing.

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