NCP Blog: It’s All In the Stars

One star, two stars, three stars, oh my! Now that you can find reviews for almost everything online, how much do you rely on them?

 

I have to admit, I read reviews a lot, especially if I’m struggling to decide whether to purchase a particular item or not. I rely mostly on reviews when making a big purchase such as a refrigerator, washing machine, dishwasher, etc., and even when planning a vacation. They also come in handy when searching for a new restaurant to try.

 

So, what exactly is an online review? Basically, it’s an evaluation shared by a customer based on their experience with a product, service, or their overall customer experience.

 

As we know, reviews expand from products to all types of services. From hotels to restaurants, and painters to plumbers, you can always find peoples’ opinions and experiences about all kinds of products and services.

 

Reviews can be as influential as a recommendation from a family member or friend (sometimes even more influential). Think about the last time you made a big purchase or chose a new service provider. Chances are you read the reviews about that product or company.

 

 

Online review stats

 

Check out these interesting stats about online reviews from LinkedIn.

 

95% of consumers read online reviews before buying a product
89% of consumers make an effort to read reviews before buying products online
94% say bad reviews have made them avoid a business
97% read reviews for local businesses
81% of consumers say they are likely to check Google reviews first
74% of consumers say that reviews increase their trust in a company

 

Reviews are a vital indicator of a company’s online credibility, and directly influence purchasing decisions in a major way.

 

 

Be wary of fake reviews

 

Reviews are important as consumers depend on reviews to make, what they hope to be, the right decisions.

 

With lots of scams going on these days, we also have to be aware of fake/scam reviews.

 

According to the BBB, there are ways to recognize if a review could be fake:

 

• Look out for generic reviewer profiles. If a reviewer has a very common or generic name, such as John Smith or Jane Doe, that is a red flag.

 

 

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NCP panel members represent consumers all across the country by sharing their shopping experiences and opinions. If you’re not a panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog!