The Importance of Managing Your Dealership's Online Reviews

As a dealership manager or the person in charge of your company’s online reputation, it is crucial to understand the impact of online reviews on your business. Consumer reviews can either make or break your dealership’s success, which is why it’s essential to be proactive in requesting and responding to them.

Studies show that customers are more likely to make a purchase decision based on online reviews, making it vital for dealerships to have a significant presence in search engines and review sites. A high number of positive reviews can boost your dealership’s ratings, search rankings, and overall brand perception, while negative reviews can be detrimental to your business’s reputation.

Here are ten essential tips to help you manage your dealership’s online reviews effectively:

1. Request reviews consistently: Encourage customers to leave feedback after every interaction. Having a consistent and repeatable process in place to request reviews can help ensure that you have a representative sample that’s fresh and relevant.
2. Use mobile apps to send review requests: To make the process more convenient, consider using a mobile app to send and follow up on review requests. This will allow sales reps to quickly send a text-based review request to the customer while they’re still in the showroom.
3. Thank customers for their feedback: Regardless of whether the feedback is positive or negative, be sure to thank your customers for taking the time to provide their insights. Constructive criticism can help you improve your customer service and attract more positive reviews in the future.
4. Respond to reviews: Reputation management experts recommend responding to at least 20% of positive reviews and 100% of negative reviews. Having a system and templates in place to respond quickly and effectively can help improve your dealership’s online reputation.
5. Focus on the positive: When responding to feedback, keep your response upbeat and positive. Avoid defending yourself or pointing out what went wrong. Instead, emphasize your commitment to providing excellent customer service and assure the customer that you’re doing everything possible to resolve the issue.
6. Take discussions offline: In cases of negative reviews, it’s best to avoid getting into a discussion online. Invite the customer to contact you directly so you can address their concerns in detail.
7. Use templates: Having well-crafted, approved, and templated responses to common scenarios can save your dealership managers and reps time and help ensure a consistent message across all responses.
8. Train your staff: Provide regular training to your dealership staff on the importance of online reviews and how to request and respond to them effectively. This can help ensure that your dealership is always providing excellent customer service.
9. Monitor your online presence: Regularly monitor your dealership’s online presence to keep track of new reviews and respond promptly. This can help you maintain a positive online reputation and attract more customers.
10. Invest in online reputation management tools: Consider investing in online reputation management tools to help you manage your dealership’s online reviews more effectively. These tools can help you track your online presence, monitor new reviews, and respond to them promptly.

Managing your dealership’s online reviews is essential to your business’s success. By following these tips, you can take control of your online reputation, attract more customers, and ultimately increase your sales.

Do you want to improve your dealership’s online reputation and attract more customers? Consider using Rocketreviewtool.com, a tool that helps businesses get reviews and improve their SEO. Our platform is designed to help you manage your online presence effectively and respond to reviews promptly.