The Power of Online Reviews: How They Can Help Your Dealership Succeed

Are you looking for ways to set your dealership apart from the competition? Online reviews might just be the answer you’ve been searching for. In a highly competitive auto industry, where dealers sell similar products at comparable prices, online reputation has become an essential aspect of differentiating your dealership from others. Today’s car buyers are tech-savvy and spend most of their car buying process online, from finding the right vehicle to choosing the best dealership. That’s where your online reputation comes in. Here are five ways that online reviews can help your dealership get found, get chosen, and ultimately drive new business.

Improve your visibility online

Online reviews are a crucial factor in determining where your business ranks in Google’s local search algorithm. Although the exact details of the algorithm are not known, Google has indicated that the recency, frequency, quality, and quantity of your reviews have a significant impact. Here’s why:

1. Recency
   77% of consumers don’t trust online reviews that are older than three months, and 18% don’t trust reviews that are older than two weeks. This means that collecting online reviews should be an ongoing process.
2. Frequency
   Your dealership should aim to get new reviews every day. The experiences of your customers will change over time, and your online reputation should reflect that. Avoid collecting a large number of reviews in a short period of time, as this could appear suspicious to consumers.
3. Quality
   Ensure that your reviews have a good overall star rating and high-quality content. You can encourage thoughtful reviews by asking your customers to focus on specific aspects of your business.
4. Quantity
   The more reviews you have, the better. It’s that simple.
5. Boost walk-in traffic
   Online reviews can have a positive impact on walk-in traffic. A customer of Podium once told the company that he wanted to pause his service because he had received over 140 new walk-ins in the last month, many of whom cited good reviews as the reason for visiting the dealership.
6. Influence purchase decisions
   Online reviews have a direct impact on purchase decisions. A survey of 2,000 US consumers conducted by Podium found that 93% of consumers say online reviews have a significant impact on their purchasing decisions. In other words, online reviews can make or break your dealership’s sales.
7. Enhance your online reputation
   Online reviews help to build your dealership’s online reputation. Positive reviews can strengthen your dealership’s image and credibility, while negative reviews can damage your reputation if not addressed properly. That’s why it’s important to monitor and respond to online reviews regularly.
8. Offer valuable insights
   Online reviews provide valuable insights into the experiences and expectations of your customers. By analyzing the feedback, you can identify areas for improvement and make changes to enhance the customer experience.

Connclusion

Online reviews are a powerful tool that can help your dealership succeed in today’s competitive auto industry. By understanding their impact and importance, you can take advantage of the opportunities they offer and build a strong online reputation.

If you want to take your dealership’s online reputation to the next level, visit Rocketreviewtool.com and get started today. Our platform makes it easy to manage, monitor, and respond to online reviews, so you can focus on what really matters: driving new business and enhancing the customer experience.