Consumer reviews play an enormous role in the consumer decision-making process. However, some online review sites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, or Angie’s List have been under attack by critics who theorize that at least 16 percent of the reviews on these sites are fake. This is mostly due to businesses who are trying to offset negative reviews by posting fake positives. It is important for businesses to monitor their online reviews as it impacts their reputation however, their social media presence also affects the bottom line.
What is the value of a social share on Facebook? I’m not referring to a simple like or a thumbs up which is a bit ho-hum at this point. I’m referring to getting someone to put a little skin in the game and actually share a post or information on their personal page which is a different story and carries a much greater value. It is a referral and referrals are the most powerful form of marketing that you can use and it’s also the least expensive. When Facebook friends see that someone is willing to put their reputation on the line for a particular brand or product they take notice and wonder if they may be missing out on something. There is no recipe on how to woo a Facebook community as each one is different, but engaging them and beckoning them to talk about you should be the main objective as each share will be worth its weight in gold.
