5 Top Reasons Consumers Choose One Local Business Over Another

This post was sponsored by ReviewInc. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the sponsor.

Every day, across America and around the world, people are turning to search engines to find answers to their most pressing needs.

Where can children cut their hair?

Which plumber is our best option for fixing this broken pipe?

Is there a financial services advisor serving this area that I can trust?

For local service providers, finding it online is essential. But just seeing you don’t put money in the bank.

What inspires the local consumer to choose one local service provider over another?

Communication with consumers is about passion, reputation and clarity.

Let’s take a look at the top reasons why local consumers choose one service provider over another when evaluating their choices in local search results.

1. You have an excellent reputation

Online reviews are essential, as people now spend more time reading reviews than ever before.

In the past, service providers relied on word of mouth and recommendations from friends to generate referrals and more business.

Now, online reviews are mainstream.

audit It surveyed consumers in the United States over the past ten years and every yearCustomers continue to choose online reviews from sites like Google, Facebook, Yelp and industry specific sites as the most important factor in their decision making process.

In fact, our 2022 survey showed that 43% of consumers chose reviews over online advertising, the Yellow Pages, a company website, and other sources.

Results from a Google ReviewInc survey, January 2022

However, consumers assume that an excellent reputation is proven, rightly or wrongly, by a company’s online reviews because it often reflects quality customer service.

2. You provide great customer service

Consumers crave excellent customer service, no matter the industry.

Providers that are responsive, friendly, accessible, and knowledgeable will naturally build a good reputation.

Working with a knowledgeable and helpful team is the key to gaining new clients.

Companies that prioritize these values ​​will find that customers return year after year bringing their family, friends and colleagues with them.

In today’s predominantly online world, excellent customer service has evolved into live support via live chat, social media, text, and phone as instant ways to provide assistance.

Consumer expectations have skyrocketed, and even the slightest unpleasant experience or lack of response can lead to bad reviews.

This means that bad customer service means bad business and can greatly affect the success of your business and discourage consumers from coming back and providing referrals.

Excellent customer service will be reflected in your business ratings, which is the real reason why consumers choose a local service provider.

3. They can find you online

Being online is a given. Basically, your business does not exist on the Internet if it is not ranked on the first page of search engine results pages (SERPs).

Companies must work on their SEO or pay to be visible on SERPs through paid search.

With mobile devices so commonly used for search, appearing in Google’s 3-pack for your top keywords is essential. You can’t win clicks and leads if you’re not there.

Not surprisingly, the number one reason for appearing in the three-pack is the number of reviews and rating quality.

Investing time and money in search engine optimization is vital for any business that wants more consumers to find them online.

Keyword analysis, research, content creation, social media, backlinks, pay-per-click advertising, email marketing, online reviews, ratings, and more all affect your business reputation.

All of these activities help improve your local visibility.

And according to the patient access flight report for Kyruus, 91% of patients conduct online searches even after receiving a referral to a medical provider.

This means that you need SEO to seal the deal even if word of mouth is already working to get you the referral.

4. Your price is favorable

Price is not the only factor when choosing a company, but it is undoubtedly important.

Although this is not always the case, most consumers care about the price.

Even if you don’t have the lowest prices, consumers will want to know they’re getting a bargain.

The psychology of pricing is a separate topic entirely; We know that consumers will often pay more when they see better value or prestige.

It is better to have competitive prices over low prices because competitors can always negotiate lower prices.

Therefore, it is imperative that your prices match the consumers’ perceived value of the service provided.

Ensure consumers know the details of what they are receiving for the price paid.

It is also a good idea to keep prices at an agreed amount depending on the services provided if the consumer chooses to stay.

Businesses that increase prices can justify doing so with a more compelling online presence, including their reputation, testimonials, videos, and of course positive reviews.

People often pay more for better customer service, which is evident in the reviews they leave for local service providers.

5. Your business provides quality service and consumer values ​​that align with your brand

People value quality, especially when choosing a company.

Quality and great customer service means for the savviest business owner they build ongoing, long-term relationships.

Lifetime value is associated with a long-term horizon when growing a business.

Providing excellent customer service and a great value deal will motivate your customers to spend more money over time and refer their friends.

If your business contains core values ​​that appeal to consumers, they will choose you over the competition.

In your marketing strategy on your website or promotional materials, be sure to focus on your core values ​​around quality.

For example, a healthcare provider can emphasize the importance of improving a patient’s health through quality of care, longevity, physical fitness, and overall patient satisfaction.

Your service quality and core values ​​should appear as emotional themes in your company reviews, attracting more new consumers.

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Managing your online reputation and reviews is essential.

Reputation management software They can help streamline the feedback process and help boost the company’s reputation.

Always provide the best customer service possible.

Take advantage of automations such as live or social chat, text or phone, or quickly contact your customers as needed.

Web visibility is a must.

Investing in digital marketing services such as SEO, PPC, social media, reviews and ratings is crucial to ensuring that consumers find your business via search engines.

Ensure that you have a clear pricing strategy that aligns with the perceived value of the services you provide.

Always provide a quality service so that your consumers will come back and refer their friends. Use your core values ​​to tell a story that will attract like-minded customers.

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Featured image: perfectlab/Shutterstock

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