By So what’s the big deal about business reviews and review websites? Why is everyone looking for the best review sites to list on? Well, more than 93 percent of consumers take online reviews into account when making their purchase decisions. Having business listings on the best review sites can help you make more sales. Businesses are told to get more online reviews on the best review websites to keep attracting new customers. And, as consumers, we are constantly being asked to leave an online review for almost every transaction we complete.
Two big reasons why online reviews on the best review websites are kind of a big deal
Website reviews are no joke (as much as there are endlessly hilarious and entertaining online reviews out there). That means the best review websites are something for businesses to take note of.
Businesses are often afraid to manage online customer reviews on business review websites as they don’t want to end up in one of these situations:
- receiving zero business reviews on any of the best review website
- receiving zero recent online business reviews
- receiving negative online reviews
- or, the business simply has unmanaged online reviews across multiple business review websites
Unfortunately, these businesses are missing out and hurting their business through inaction, as reputation management drives conversion. Being proactive and taking the steps required to get listed on the best review websites and asking customers for website reviews and online reviews is critical to success today.
1) Online reviews and social posts help shape a company's online reputation
In fact, one of the worst things a business can do is ignore their online reviews and social posts. As easy as it is to make a mistake when managing a business’s online reputation, it can also be easy to recover if you monitor the online reviews properly.
While damage will inevitably happen, a business can take steps to mitigate the degree of damage that can occur on business review websites. The biggest mistake a company can make is not participating in helping to shape the conversation about their company online.
2) Online reviews provide valuable feedback for businesses
While it can be easy for a company to take negative online reviews to heart, it is important to recognize that website reviews are constructive feedback. Whether they're on your website or the best review sites, all in all, online reviews are actually valuable feedback! They help a company gauge their performance and see how they can improve. There is always room for improvement and a lot can be learned even from positive business reviews.
Through online reviews, businesses can see which products or services they should be boasting, determine which ones need work, and even discover employees who rock at customer service. If we have not yet sold you on the importance of being listed on the best review sites and getting online reviews, maybe these 50 stats on online reviews will.
Top 10 best review sites to get online reviews from your customers
| Best Review Websites | Online Reviews Best For | Avg. Monthly U.S. Traffic | % U.S. Traffic (of Total) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | any business | 158.03 million | 19.6% |
| Amazon | e-commerce related | 85.44 million | 63.6% |
| any business | 85.57 million | 23.1% | |
| Yelp | any business | 40.47 million | 87.5% |
| Trip Advisor | related to food, restaurant, travel | 28.27 million | 50.4% |
| BBB (Better Business Bureau) | any business | 6.15 million | 72.1% |
| Yellowpages | any business | 10.5 million | 70.0% |
| Manta | any business | 6.48 million | 67.0% |
| Angi | service related business | 5.44 million | 72.4% |
| Foursquare | any business, mostly restaurants | 3.67 million | 19.3% |
Why are these the best online review websites for businesses?
All companies should strive to get online reviews on these best review sites. That's because these best review sites are those that people know about (and go to), and that are relatively frictionless (sites consumers have logins or can go in easily to leave an online review).
Similar to our Top 100+ Online Business Directories list, we wanted to bring you another list backed by numbers.
Traffic talks folks, and the more consumers that visit business review websites, the more they are likely to leave and read other online reviews. Let's face it, no one wants to create another login or account on another site to manage yet another password.
Related Reading: The Top 10 Online Real Estate Directories
Three important tips for business review websites:
1) Add or claim listings on the best review sites online
There are many niche business review websites and directories out there, and we have brought you a mix of the very best review sites in the online world.
In other words, it’s a good idea to add or claim a listing or business profile on these best review sites (unless a business doesn’t fit with the niche), correct the business’s listing information, and start getting more online business reviews! For example, add a business to Waze or claim an Apple Maps listing to get more online reviews from customers on two of the best review sites with maps.
Plus, getting a business's listing information on business review websites corrected only heeds positive citation results, especially when listed on these big guys below.
2) Businesses should keep asking their customers for online reviews
Asking the average customer for an online review can be hard work. Granted, it is often easiest to get online reviews from consumers that are either really happy or really unhappy with the level of service they were provided.
Businesses should always remember to ask as customers are busy creatures and will not remember unless they are asked nicely to leave feedback.
3) Customers are more open to leaving online reviews on the best review sites
With that being said, which business review websites are the best to ask customers to leave online reviews on? Why not just ask for online reviews or testimonials on a business's website? Well, asking consumers to leave a review on a business’s website seems a lot more screened and inauthentic than simply asking consumers to leave their online reviews on a trusted review site.
The list of the top 10 best review sites
1. Google
Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 158.03 million
Business reviews for: any business
Google Business Profile is a free tool for businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including Search and Maps. Google is the go-to search engine of choice: as more and more consumers conduct multiple searches on it every day, more businesses are vying for top SERP results.
Very important: Businesses must verify their Google Business Profile information to complete the registration process.
Customers can easily find a business online through a Google Business Profile, whether it's from desktop, mobile, or anything in between. Google customer reviews show up in search and are known to bolster SEO, so they are essential to the credibility of all businesses.
Google is the king of web traffic
Did you know that Google’s search engine performs over 3.5 billion searches per day (internetlivestats.com)? Businesses should aim to be on Google’s snack pack in order to be readily found when consumers perform a local search.
Users can leave online reviews for a business easily and simply. The less friction involved in the business review process, the easier it is to get more reviews. Getting online reviews through a business’s Google Business Profile account is a great place to start.
How to get more online customer reviews on Google
- Send out online review requests. Available reputation builder tools such as Customer Voice can help to simplify this process. Gather online reviews from real customers quickly and easily.
- Create a Google reviews link. Providing users with a link to Google reviews makes it an easier and more accessible opportunity to write one.
- Link your Google review page to the business website. Much like attaching social pages to a website through their logos, you can also create this shortcut to the Google reviews page.
- Create a Google review landing page on the business website. This will also be helpful for SEO purposes as the online reviews will have keywords. Having online reviews pulled directly onto the business site should encourage other site visitors to leave online reviews.
- Create a Google review CTA banner or button. This should live on the homepage of the business website where most traffic will land. Make it as convenient as possible.
2. Amazon
Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 85.44 million
Business reviews for: ecommerce-related transactions
Amazon is a powerhouse. Therefore, it is no surprise that it is a popular go-to business review site for e-commerce products. If you don’t use Amazon, you probably know someone that has used Amazon (or uses Amazon faithfully).
In fact, Amazon has been training consumers to use their online review system for a long time now. Therefore, we should probably thank them for helping train a mass of consumers to start leaving them and making it as part of an online consumer etiquette, if you will.
Amazon is much more than book reviews today
For companies that do any amount of e-commerce, Amazon is a key source of information. While Amazon as a business review website is more targeted and fitting for Amazon marketplace partners, it is a worthy site to note, especially for retailers about what customers like about certain products and how the service aspect of transactions was handled.
Did you know that online business reviews have been a part of Amazon’s websites for over 20 years?
Another fun fact: Amazon’s online business review system was improved in 2015 to start weighing customer reviews so they are more up-to-date and helpful.
How to get more customer reviews on Amazon
- Set up automated emails to be sent post purchase. These can either be to thank the customer for their purchase, ask for feedback, or drive traffic to social channels. Make sure a link is included in the email to direct customers toward the review section.
- Use social channels to request Amazon reviews. Consumers following a business on social media have likely purchased from the business before or will have a positive opinion of the business.
- Ask for online reviews from users who reviewed similar products. Similar to an online shopping experience, you can see 'customers who bought this item also bought,' as well as customers who view items. These are visible from the business's product page.
3. Facebook
Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 85.57 million
Business reviews for: any business
Facebook is a social networking platform where users can create profiles, upload photos and videos, send messages and keep in touch with friends, family and follow their favorite businesses and brands. But it's also one of the best review sites. Companies can create business profiles that users can follow and also leave business reviews based on their experience with the company.
Customers now commonly leave online reviews on social media
Consumers increasingly interact with brands through social channels, and there is no social platform more prevalent than Facebook. It follows, then, that the business reviews on Facebook are seen and shared by many potential customers. Businesses should take note of the big wins and online reputation management fails big mistakes that a business can experience when opening themselves up to social media.
But again, please note that consumers are talking about a business whether that company's representatives are aware of it or not (and whether businesses have claimed their business profile or not). With that being said, it is pertinent that businesses are actively monitoring their social media mentions at all times.
Facebook is becoming one of the best review sites today
Due to the sheer size of the user base of Facebook, it is gaining momentum towards being one of the most best review sites. Since most users on the site already have a Facebook account, the process to leave a business review is relatively frictionless.
Consequently, this reduction in friction gives Facebook an advantage over other business review websites where users must create unique logins or log in to the site each time (compared to those consumers that are already living and breathing in Facebook).
How to get more customer reviews on Facebook
- Manage all online reviews with responses. Negative reviews are as easily managed as positive reviews as long as you stay on top of them. Set up notifications for reviews so that none get missed and potential customers will see that the business cares about the customer experience. This will encourage more people to leave reviews.
- Ask customers to "check in" to the business on Facebook. This will help to boost the business's Facebook presence as the action of checking in automatically shares a post with that customers' followers. The business name and link to its Facebook page will show up in that post. More positive actions on social media lead to greater potential for reviews.
- Add a CTA button to the business website. Create a button specifically for customers to leave online reviews and have it placed on the main page of the business website. Try to uncomplicate the act of leaving online reviews, and the chances of customers leaving reviews will increase.
4. Yelp
Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 40.47 million
Business reviews for: any business
Yelp is a platform (one of the best review sites, actually, as well as an app) where users can publish reviews about local businesses. Also, Yelp trains small businesses how to respond to business reviews, host social events for Yelpers (a.k.a. Yelp reviewers) and provides data about businesses including health inspection scores (Yelp.com).
Reputation management is essential on business review websites
Yelp has become a name synonymous with business review websites, as the site has over 102 million reviews and counting. As the world’s largest outlet for online reviews grows, it might be time for all small businesses to start caring about what consumers are saying online; and more specifically, about their Yelp reviews.
Image Source: Yelp
Consumers aren’t going to give a small business any attention if all they see is negativity surrounding their Yelp customer review page.
Yelp has a distinct reviewer culture of "yelpers"
Consumers who review businesses and leave business reviews on Yelp have become known widely as “yelpers.” Yelpers leave business reviews to help others in the community make purchasing decisions and it’s important for your local business clients to keep an eye on them.
Business review websites such as Yelp point to the growing importance of review monitoring to manage a business’s online reputation. In summation, if we haven’t won you over on Yelp yet, maybe these hilarious Yelp reviews will.
How to get more customer reviews on Yelp
- Buy or craft Yelp reviews. This review generation tactic doesn't have to be as dirty as it sounds. You can buy reviews from actual customers by providing incentives for them to leave a review. This could include discounts, freebies, or whatever the business is willing to trade for customer reviews. This request will have to be done on the website or through social media as Yelp will penalize businesses that ask on their platform.
- Display online reviews on the business website. ReviewTrackers recommends using widgets that can display reviews directly on a website such as Yelp badges. These should update automatically as new reviews are posted on Yelp.
- Encourage customers to check in on Yelp. Similar to Facebook, this tactic shares a business's Yelp page with other users. It also rewards the customer who checked in with a special offer from that business.
5. TripAdvisor
Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 28.27 million
Business reviews for: any business
TripAdvisor is a travel website company where users can leave business reviews of places they’ve visited. Users can also book rooms, find flights, discover to do, and reserve tables at participating restaurants. TripAdvisor operates some of the best review sites internationally in over 25 countries.
King of the niche: travel directories and travel-related reviews
Another fun fact: business review volume occurs the highest in the travel vertical.
Apparently, vacation stories must also travel the gap between online and in person. Well, if a person really wants, at least they can avoid the vacation slide shows online. 😉
How to get more customer reviews on TripAdvisor
- Ask guests to leave online reviews at the end of their trip. This is a no-brainer, but it might not always happen. Ensure employees are on top of this since customers are more likely to leave a review when asked to do so. If not in person then through automated emails like discussed in the Amazon section.
- Personalize your thank-you message. In the post-experience email sent to customers, ensure it's personalized and includes links back to the TripAdvisor page.
- Make it easy to write a review. Include leading questions such as 'what was the most memorable part of your experience,' or templates that can be lightly personalized for customers who are on the go.
6. Better Business Bureau
Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 6.15 million
Business reviews for: any business
The Better Business Bureau aims to help people find and recommend businesses, brands and charities they can trust (bbb.org).
The BBB is built on trust
Based on a business rating review system, BBB educates consumers and assists people in finding trusted businesses. The Better Business Bureau tries to protect consumers from fraudulent business or scammers.
Company profiles on BBB contain a short company bio and a history of complaints made about the business, as well as an A - F rating.
How to get more customer reviews on Better Business Bureau
- Use the Customer Review Generator. BBB has a tool that accredited businesses can use that sends review requests either via text message or email. All that needs to be collected from customers is their contact info and sending a text adds another level of convenience.
- Take advantage of BBB's customer review toolkit. This includes a customizable 'leave a review' button for the business's website to drive traffic to the BBB review site. Sample social media posts, newsletter and blog templates, and email signatures are all included as well.
- Share positive online reviews. Spread the word of positivity with the business's social media followers and post them on the business's website. There's no reason to keep a great review in one place only.
7. Yellowpages
Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 10.5 million
Business reviews for: any business
YellowPages is an online internet yellow pages directory owned by YP. YP is a local marketing solutions provider that focuses on helping local businesses (and the communities within) grow.
YP: a IYP directory with large traffic volume and review capabilities
Yellowpages has business review capabilities. Companies can manage their customer reviews on the review site after claiming a free business listing on their page.
How to get more customer reviews on Yellowpages
- Follow-up with customers. However the business is able to whether that's email, social media, or text message, reach out and ask for those reviews.
- Promote where customers can leave online reviews through the business on social media. Inform potential or current customers of which review websites the business uses, and make sure to include a link to the website homepage. This should be where all of the CTA buttons exist to direct people to each review site.
8. Manta
Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 6.48 million
Business reviews for: any business
Manta is an online small business service directory, search engine, and review site that provides small businesses with the information to network.
Manta: a directory with solid traffic volume and review capabilities
The site helps small businesses connect and grow through their community where users can buy from, partner with, and connect to companies.
How to get more customer reviews on Manta
- Run an email campaign. Keep it simple, HubSpot found with a/b testing that a short and sweet ask performed best. Another option is to offer a chance to win something for the business such as discounts.
- Ask satisfied customers to review the business at the end of a short survey. Send out a survey to check in with customers and include a section at the end that asks for a positive review.
9. Angi
Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 5.44 million
Business reviews for: service-related businesses
Angi (formerly known as Angie's List) is a service listing and review website that offers user-based rankings and reviews of service professionals in local areas.
Angi reviews are from members
Because Angie is one of the best review sites for paying businesses, it is known to be less filled with rambling reviews from customers and spam. Members grade companies using a report card scale from A-F on price, quality, responsiveness, punctuality, and professionalism.
Angie is divided into categories such as house, auto, health, pets, and services.
How to get more customer reviews on Angie
- Pay for 'verified neighbor' reviews. Angie (formerly Angie's List) only allows members to post reviews on this site through the system mentioned above. Businesses can sign up to the platform for free and access their reviews from the business profile page.
- Show customers how leaving a review can benefit them. Businesses use information from reviews to better their products and services. The more reviews left, the more consumer information that businesses will have to build from.
10. Foursquare
Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 3.67 million
Business reviews for: any business, mostly restaurants
Foursquare is a local search and discovery service mobile app. The app helps users discover new places/businesses through other Foursquare business reviews.
Foursquare is a powerful social media review tool
Users can let friends know where they are and find out where their friends are. Users can also collect points, prize badges, and coupons for checking in at places. In any case, with 55 million monthly active users, Foursquare is a powerful force to monitor customer loyalty and feedback.
How to get more customer reviews on Foursquare
- Use Foursquare's sister app Swarm. Swarm focuses on check-ins like Facebook, and sharing with friends in that network.
- Sign up for an account. The business may already exist on Foursquare because anyone can create a listing. This means there may be reviews and ratings that the business hasn't even seen.
Why companies should want customer reviews on the best business review websites
The importance of responding to customers online could not be more important, as online reviews are often the first point of contact a potential customer has with a business. Aside from the fact that business reviews from customers help other customers decide whether they should visit a business or not, business reviews are now more prevalent on search results pages.
How can businesses get more online reviews?
There are a variety of methods a business can employ to ask for more business reviews, including emailing consumers manually, asking consumers to leave reviews with codes and review sites on their receipts, or utilizing review generation software to automate the business review process. But first, companies need to be listed on the best review sites listed above.
Business reviews can now appear in search results
In Google’s markup—the annotated content that appears in search—of a company or product, business reviews and ratings can now be included in search results. In other words, when a user performs a search on Google, Google will find and possibly display review summaries from online business reviews and consumer ratings. Below is an example of how business reviews now showing up in search results.
Business reviews are here to stay
In conclusion, there’s no getting away from online business reviews. Sorry folks. The good news is that there are methods to get more positive reviews for company clients as well as effectively managing reviews from customers.
Also, you don't need to fear negative online reviews, there are ways to negate the effect of negative reviews (see what we did there?)!
The moral of the story: get on the best review sites and always respond to online business reviews, whether they are good or bad
Indeed, the important takeaway here is that it is important to respond to reviews, good or bad. By and large, it shows that a company cares about their consumers.
