Who Reads Online Customer Reviews and Why

The first thing prospects search for before selecting a dealership is online customer reviews. Reviews help them to form an opinion about local dealerships and shortlist a couple of them. 

Online reviews are also helpful to customers who would like to review your dealership! Customers in the age groups of 18-29 years and 40-49 years are more likely to contribute reviews.

Things to remember when creating a reputation management strategy:

• Up to 97% of prospects read online reviews
• Prospects aged 18-34 treat online reviews like personal recommendations
• Online reviews play a predominant part in the purchase decisions of more than 93% of prospects
• When your dealership responds to reviews, up to 89% of your website visitors may read it
• Dealerships with recent online reviews are likely to increase their sales by 270%, compared with others.

What is the Impact of Online Customer Reviews on Your Dealership?

• Initiate Customer Engagement: Online reviews trigger customer engagement, with customers and prospects sharing thoughts and concerns with each other. 
• Help with Better Search Ranking: Online reviews are one of Google’s ranking factors. The more recent reviews you have, the better your website ranking, authority, and credibility.
• Build Trust: Recent online reviews are as trustworthy as personal recommendations to up to 90% of prospects. Just 3 recent reviews on your car dealer website can increase your trust factor. The thing to remember is never to fake it. All 5 star reviews and all positive reviews often make prospects distrustful. 
• Increase Sales:  When online reviews build trust, credibility, and authority it naturally result in more leads and foot traffic. All these results in increased sales.