Customer online reviews have become a crucial element for Search Engine Optimisation, ranking right up there with on-site optimisation.

Taking advantage of their benefits starts by incorporating them into your overall SEO strategy in order to reap all the positive impacts they can bring.

Whether you offer services or products or both, online customer reviews will greatly influence the way people interact with your listings and website, both directly and indirectly impacting your SEO efforts.

Online reviews are important for several reasons, and have major implications through their ability to affect your website ranking and even on the purchasing decisions of your potential customers.

The importance of reviews for local businesses especially cannot be overlooked as search engines hold online reviews in very high regards, here are some reasons why:

• Google trusts what your customers are saying about a product or service more than they trust the business selling them.
• Search engines use review star ratings to determine if content is considered useful to the user or not.
• Online reviews can be used by search engines like Google to fill gaps in your content. For example, If a customer describes your products and services, Google may use those descriptions when browsers search for such information, that cannot be found on your website.

Before you create a review acquisition strategy that works best for your business, it’s a good idea to give some thought to which review websites and platforms would work best for you. Find out more about how to encourage online reviews here.

SEO is always moving, and you can’t afford to have a static strategy – online reviews are essential if you want to stay ahead of the competition.

At FCDM, we take the time to understand what your business needs are, in order to provide you with the greatest return on investment with our tailored Search Engine Optimisation services. If you’re ready to see what online reviews can do for your SEO and your business, get in touch with us today. Regardless of your company size, we want to talk to you and figure out how we can best serve you and help you with your SEO Strategy.