Trends, like everything else, come and go. Every year, there are new trends to be on the lookout for, and trends in reviews are no different.
Here are some local review trends to keep an eye on in 2021.
Fake reviews are increasing.
Unfortunately, fake reviews will always be here to stay. But fortunately enough, people have become better at spotting fake reviews compared to real, genuine reviews. Google My Business, for example, allows you to ask Google to review comments that you may deem false, inappropriate, or irrelevant to your business.
Most users give one-star or five-star reviews; there is no in between.
There seems to be a pattern of reviews that are either only given one star or all five stars. It’s no surprise that people often leave reviews when they had an excellent experience or a horrible one. If this pattern continues, many companies will have a hard time distinguishing what they need to improve on.
Opinions that aren’t politically correct can impact your reviews and company.
Opinions that might be controversial can have a long-lasting impact on both your reviews and your company as a whole. An example of this is a now permanently closed restaurant called Cup It Up, which was located in Tucson, Arizona. Two of the owners posted contentious opinions on their Facebook pages that led to their business closing. Be careful what you voice on behalf of your company as it may have consequences that won’t only affect your reviews but your overall business.
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically affected reviews.
It’s safe to say that people are spending less money and time out because of the pandemic. This can have a detrimental impact on companies, especially local businesses that are not only experiencing a dip in sales but also rely on reviews to boost their exposure and customer engagement.
There is no doubt that reviews are important to companies. Take these trends into consideration as they can help your company do things differently to better thrive.
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