Whether it’s a glowing recommendation or constructive feedback, online reviews greatly influence public perception of your brand. A positive review can attract new customers, while a negative one can turn them away.
So, if you aren’t already, keep a wary eye on where your customers post reviews online. This guide breaks down the most popular platforms for online reviews and how you can use them to your advantage. The list includes:
I. Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business)
II. Social Media Platforms
• Facebook Ratings and Reviews
• Instagram
• X (Formerly Twitter)
III. Industry-Specific Customer Review Sites
• Yelp
• TripAdvisor
• Better Business Bureau (BBB)
• Glassdoor
• Foursquare
IV. eCommerce Platforms
• Amazon
• Etsy
• eBay
V. Emerging Review Platforms
• Angi
• G2.com
• Trustpilot
Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business)
Google is not just a search engine; it’s also a platform for consumers to leave reviews about businesses they’ve interacted with. These reviews are displayed prominently in Google search results and can impact your ranking on local search results.
Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business), in particular, allows businesses to manage their online presence by providing information such as NAP (name, address, phone number) details, services offered, photos and other essential information leads need when deciding whether to buy from you.
Here, customers can rate your business, share their feedback and even attach photos and videos for their review. To ensure your business is accurately represented on Google Business Profile, claim and verify your business listing.
Anyone can edit unclaimed listings, which could be a recipe for misrepresentation and potentially damage your reputation. Claiming your listing also allows you to respond to reviews, address negative customer feedback and interact with potential customers.
Social Media Platforms
A Deloitte study shows that social media influences 56% of consumers purchasing baby products, significantly higher than those buying home furnishings (40%), health and wellness products (33%) and automotive products (32%).
Whether or not you fall under these industries, monitoring social media reviews should be a priority. Here’s why.
Facebook Reviews and Ratings
With over 3 billion monthly active users, Facebook is a key platform for cultivating a positive online reputation. In addition to being a hub for social interaction, Facebook allows users to leave ratings and reviews on your business page.
Users can rate your businesses on a scale of 1 to 5 and leave feedback. Facebook reviews are public and can be seen by anyone visiting the business’s page. Much like on GBP, you can also respond to Facebook reviews, a great opportunity to engage with your customers and address any concerns.
Instagram is a social media reviews platform primarily used for sharing photos and videos. While it doesn’t have a traditional review system, businesses can leverage user-generated (UGC) content for reviews.
UGC is any content users create about your brand and share on social media. Customers often use UGC to share their experiences with a business’s products or services by posting photos or videos and tagging the business.
You can repost this user-generated content on your page to showcase your customers’ positive experiences with your brand. This not only serves as social proof for potential customers, but it also helps to build a community around your brand.
X (Formerly Twitter)
X, formerly known as Twitter, may not have a dedicated review feature, but it’s still an important platform for monitoring social media reviews and customer feedback. With over 550 million monthly active users, X is where many customers voice their opinions about businesses, especially when dissatisfied.
So, while you can’t control what people say about your brand on X, keeping an eye on mentions and hashtags related to your business allows you to quickly clear up misconceptions and address negative feedback before it escalates.
Industry-Specific Customer Review Sites
Customers often visit industry-specific review sites for a specific product or service type. Here are the go-to customer review sites for some popular industries:
Yelp
Yelp is a popular review platform known for providing crowd-sourced reviews about local businesses, mainly those in the food, hospitality and service industries.
Users can leave ratings and reviews, upload photos and even message businesses directly through the app. Yelp also offers tools for companies to manage their presence on the platform, such as claiming their business page and responding to reviews.
Utilizing Yelp can also improve your local SEO efforts, as the platform is frequently used for local search queries.
TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor is a must-know review platform for travel, tourism and hospitality businesses, with over 730 million reviews covering more than 8 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions.
As with other review platforms, customers can leave ratings and reviews on businesses listed on TripAdvisor. Businesses can also respond to reviews and provide additional information or clarify misunderstandings.
Better Business Bureau (BBB)
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a non-profit organization that offers free business reviews on over 4 million businesses to more than 123 million consumers who requested them in 2013. This has made the BBB one of the top 300 most visited websites in the U.S.
The BBB ratings are based on various factors, including complaint histories, licensing and government data and customer reviews. Some businesses display their BBB rating on their website and other marketing materials to showcase their credibility and commitment to customer satisfaction.
Glassdoor
If your job involves recruiting or hiring employees, Glassdoor is a platform you should be familiar with. It allows employees and former employees to review companies and their management anonymously.
Glassdoor collects comments and ratings from employees about the work environment, management’s treatment of them and their job satisfaction. These reviews can give candidates an insight into what it’s like to work for your business, which can impact their decision to apply or accept a job offer.
Poaching negative reviews can also help you identify areas of improvement and make necessary changes to create a positive work environment for your employees. This, in turn, can lead to better reviews and attract top talent.
Foursquare
Foursquare is a mobile app that helps users search and discover local businesses based on location. It uses a user’s browsing and check-in history to provide personalized recommendations for nearby places. Additionally, users can rate and review businesses, which can help attract new customers through positive word-of-mouth marketing. This platform is particularly useful for food, hospitality and entertainment companies.
Businesses can claim their Foursquare page and add photos, menus and information to give potential customers a gist of what to expect. Responding to reviews on Foursquare can also help build customer relationships and manage expectations.
eCommerce Platforms
Shoppers only have reviews and product descriptions to rely on when purchasing online, so it’s essential to have a strong presence on eCommerce review platforms. Here are some of the most popular ones:
Amazon
Amazon is the largest online retailer in the world, with over 2 billion monthly visitors. It offers millions of products from various sellers, including third-party merchants and individual sellers. Gaining positive reviews on Amazon can significantly impact a seller’s success on the platform.
Customers can leave ratings and detailed reviews for products they purchase on Amazon. As a seller, you can also respond to reviews publicly, allowing you to address any customer issues or concerns.
A high rating and positive reviews on Amazon can also improve your product’s search ranking, making it more visible to potential customers.
Etsy
Etsy is an online marketplace for handmade, vintage and unique factory-manufactured items. As of 2023, it has over 97.3 million active buyers worldwide.
Customer reviews on Etsy are important as they provide social proof for potential customers and help build trust in your business. Sellers can respond to reviews and use them to improve their products and customer experience.
Additionally, Etsy has a feature called “Etsy Local,” which allows sellers to connect with customers in their local area through events like craft fairs and markets. This provides an opportunity to engage with customers face-to-face and promote their business.
eBay
Before Etsy or Amazon, there was eBay – one of the first online marketplaces. It allows individuals and businesses to buy and sell various goods and services worldwide.
eBay’s feedback system relies heavily on customer reviews, as sellers’ ratings impact their success on the platform. Buyers can also leave detailed ratings and reviews for sellers, which are displayed publicly on their profiles. Sellers can respond to reviews and use them to improve their customer service and overall selling experience.
Emerging Review Platforms
New review platforms continue to emerge, giving businesses more opportunities to gain customer feedback and build their online reputation. This includes:
Angi
Are you searching for a reliable plumber or contractor for your home improvement project? Angi can help you find the best local service providers.
Previously known as Angie’s List, Angi is a home services platform connecting homeowners with home improvement professionals for various projects. You can browse the ratings and reviews left by other users to find the best professional for your needs.
Angi also offers a ‘Happiness Guarantee,’ which covers your projects up to the full purchase price, plus limited damage protection.
G2.com
G2.com, formerly G2 Crowd, is a peer-to-peer review site that focuses on aggregating user reviews for business software. You can compare business software and services based on user ratings and social data.
G2 also offers a “Grid ” feature, categorizing products based on customer satisfaction and market presence. This can help businesses identify the best software for their needs and budget.
Trustpilot
Trustpilot is a Danish consumer review website offering freemium services to businesses in over 65 countries worldwide. The firm relies on users, software and compliance teams to report and remove reviews that violate Trustpilot’s content guidelines from the platform.
In addition to customer reviews, Trustpilot offers a “TrustBoxesq” feature that businesses can add to their websites to display their overall rating and latest reviews. This can help build trust with potential customers and improve conversions.
Manage Your Online Reputation Effortlessly With Thrive Local
Online review platforms can contribute to a thriving online reputation for your business but, at the same time, tarnish your reputation if not managed properly. That’s where Thrive Local comes in.
Thrive Local is an all-in-one online reputation management agency that helps businesses monitor and manage their online reviews on popular platforms like Google, Yelp and Facebook.
Our ORM experts can help you respond to reviews, generate positive reviews and improve your online reputation.
Don’t let a few negative reviews hurt your business – boost customer satisfaction and successfully manage your reputation now!
