You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t have to have a perfect run of five star reviews to be viewed as reputable. Overall anything between 4.0 – 5.0 is generally a rating to be proud of. Businesses aren’t perfect, so don’t expect to maintain a 5.0. People have different perceptions of what a good experience and rating include.
While you might think only five star reviews are good, a customer writing a review may think that a 4-star rating is above average. Normally a 4-star rating means this person still had a good experience. Respond to the review appropriately and move on. Your overall score is no longer a perfect 5.0, but you are a real business run by real people. You aren’t perfect and this rating just made your business appear more realistic.
Why Having More Reviews is Better
Also, consider how many reviews you’ve gathered. If you have ten 5 star reviews and one 3 star review overall you’ll still rate in the high 4’s. If you only have two reviews and one of them is a 3 star your average rating is going to be lower. This is one of the reasons I recommend gaining reviews on a regular basis.
Most businesses tend to get more positive reviews than negative, so if you’re actively asking for them you’re likely to gain reviews you’ll be proud of. If you’re not actively asking for reviews and your business doesn’t naturally gain them without some effort you might have very few reviews and then one with a lower score can have a big negative impact on your review reputation. Be proactive and ask for reviews so that you have a solid base of reviews to work with. Don’t wait until you get one negative review and now your overall rating tanks and it appears to the world like you provide bad service. If you do receive a negative review, take a step back and keep these things in mind when responding. Not sure how to ask for reviews? Check the tips in this article. Asking for reviews doesn’t need to be overwhelming.
Are you struggling to gain reviews, have an overall negative score or simply want to ramp up your online reputation, but don’t know where to start? Reach out and ask for help. We’re here for you. Building your online reputation can be a very satisfying project. Contact us today.
