The internet has changed the way businesses operate. With an abundance of sites available for customers to share their experiences, review sites have become an essential source of information before making a purchase. 

The impact of the online review space is highlighted by statistics that show how big this industry has become. There are more than 200 million users on these services, with many check-in apps like Yelp having more active users than dating apps such as Tinder and Bumble. This article looks at online review statistics you should know.

People Trust Online Reviews More Than Ads

With advertisers spending billions on advertising, it’s important to see how effective this investment is. One way of doing this is to compare the impact of advertising alongside the impact of online reviews. The statistics show that people are more likely to trust online reviews than advertising. This is surprising given how prevalent advertising is online. 

Consumers may be more skeptical when it comes to advertisements, but they trust the authenticity of reviews from people who have actually used the product. This is likely to be due to the fact that people are prone to exaggeration when writing reviews. With the number of reviews that exist online, you’re almost guaranteed to find someone with a similar experience to you.

87% Of Consumers Read Online Reviews Before Buying

If there’s one stat that really shows the power of online reviews, it’s this one. Consumers care deeply about what their fellow consumers have to say, and 87% read reviews before buying. This is a huge percentage, showing just how important reviews are in the purchasing decision. 

When it comes to which review sites consumers are reading reviews on, the rule is that they’re not loyal to any specific site. Instead, they will check out multiple reviews from a variety of sites. This shows that consumers are casting their net as widely as possible when it comes to reading reviews. They’re not going to read reviews on just one site but instead will look for reviews on a variety of sites. This highlights how important it is that your business has a presence on review sites.

Consumers Want More Transparency From Brands

The majority of consumers have used review sites, and this real engagement with the sites has left them wanting more from businesses. Consumers want to see more transparency from companies, but they also want to be able to trust the authenticity of reviews. As such, they are putting pressure on brands to authenticate their reviews and make their presence on review sites more prominent. 

Brands are already responding to this increased demand with many now authenticating their reviews on sites such as Facebook. This is done by marking reviews that have come from verified customers with a check mark. When it comes to the demand for brands to be more transparent with their reviews, consumers are more lenient. More than 3 in 4 consumers agree that it’s okay for a company to delete reviews that are negative or untrue.

73% Of Consumers Want Brands To Respond To Reviews

In general, consumers are forgiving when it comes to online reviews. When one bad review is listed for a product or service, it can really harm the reputation of that brand. But, surprisingly, almost 3 in 4 consumers want brands to respond to their reviews. 

This is good news for brands, as it shows that consumers are open to having a discussion about the product or service they have received. This can help to repair the reputation of a brand that has received a bad review, or it can help to prevent new customers from being put off making a purchase. It’s important that brands respond to reviews, but it’s also important that they do so in an appropriate way. More than 7 in 10 consumers have seen an inappropriate response to a review, which can actually make the problem even worse.

6 in 10 Consumers Have Written Online Reviews

A huge number of consumers have written reviews, but this isn’t something that only the most vocal consumers do. The reality is that most people who use review sites also write reviews. This is both a way of giving back to the community and a way of getting something back out of it. 

Consumers who write reviews are more likely to be active on social media, so brands should target this group of people for their marketing campaigns. When it comes to which platforms consumers who write reviews are using, Facebook is at the top of the list. Almost half of those who write reviews have used Facebook, so businesses should be sure to have a presence on this platform.

The Average Review Length is 234 Words

When it comes to the average review, the statistics show that the length is 234 words. This is an interesting statistic, as it’s not clear how this number was calculated. What is clear is that reviews are getting longer, with this number has increased from 2015, when it was around 190 words. 

It’s likely that consumers are including more detail in their reviews now that the industry has been around for a little longer. This will be a good thing for consumers, as it means they’re getting more information about the products they’re considering buying. It’s important that brands respond to reviews, but it’s important that they respond in an appropriate way.

79% of Consumers Trust Online Reviews as Authentic Customer Feedback

When it comes to the authenticity of reviews, many consumers are still suspicious. They don’t know how genuine some of the reviews they see are, and they’re not sure if the reviews are real or not. 

Some customers are suspicious of all online reviews, while others trust positive reviews, but don’t trust negative reviews. When it comes to how consumers view reviews, the majority trust them. This is good news for brands as it means that consumers are taking what they read seriously. It’s important that brands respond to reviews so that they can engage with consumers.

57% Of Consumers Will Abandon A Site After Finding Out That It Doesn’t Have User Reviews

A study found that 57% of consumers will abandon a site after finding out that it doesn’t have user reviews. This is a massive number that highlights the importance of making sure your business is on review sites. 

In fact, many review sites will actively encourage you to sign up for their service, with Yelp even offering a free sign-up. If you’re not on these platforms, you’re missing out on a huge part of the business.

96% Of Consumers Expect Businesses To Have A Review Site

A 2018 study looked at how consumers interact with review sites. It found that 96% of consumers expect businesses to have a review site. This means that any business not actively seeking reviews is going against what consumers want. This can actually be detrimental for a business, as consumers are likely to assume the reason for no reviews is due to a lack of customers. This can damage a business’ reputation.

There Are More Than 250 Million Users On Review Sites

The online review space is huge. In fact, there are more than 250 million users on review sites, which makes them one of the most-used platforms on the internet. This number is growing every day, and with new review sites coming up all the time, it’s likely to increase in the future. This means that it’s important for businesses to be on as many review sites as possible. Even if you only get a few reviews on each site, they’ll be visible to millions of consumers.

Final Thoughts

The online review space is huge, and it only continues to expand. This means that it’s important for businesses to be on as many review sites as possible, as this is the best way to get in front of millions of potential customers. It’s also important to make sure you’re responding to reviews to keep your reputation strong. By staying on top of reviews, you can make sure your business is benefiting from the huge popularity of the online review space.

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