Now that we have entered the digital world, the vast amount of information on the internet is endless. Alongside all of this information, it is safe to say that your dealership's reputation will exist on the internet. It is now easier than ever to write your review and experience of a given visit to a dealership, and the public can see how you felt about it. 

Every product or service you buy, or every business you visit, has reviews you can access before making a decision. Numerous auto-industry websites are designed to show online reviews of a dealership. Online search engines, such as Google, have their dominant platform for reviewing just about anything and believe customers care about studying reviews, especially for such major purchases. 

According to Digital Air Strike, their research concluded that 93% of vehicle buyers state that customer reviews helped them choose a dealership. This is a staggering statistic showing the importance of reviews and how your dealership manages them. A critical element to building trust with current and potential customers lies in your customer reviews. Here are five helpful tips to kickstart and successfully manage your online reviews. 

Customer service may be rather obvious but is always worth the reminder. After all, a review is based on how the customer felt and was treated. What were their end goal and expectations? And how close did you meet these points? Delivering superior customer service is the first step to leading to a positive review.

Message customers via social media and ask for their reviews on Google and Facebook. Social media is a powerful tool to sway people’s opinions. Google is on those major review hubs, as well as your Facebook dealership page. Reaching out and providing incentives to post a review of their genuine experience can increase the chances of more positive reviews. Because a portion of traffic will come from Facebook, seeing reviews directly on the page can be very helpful to the customer. Also, a larger quantity of reviews looks more promising and reputable than others with fewer reviews. 

Managing the inventory shortages and effectively communicating this issue can be a game changer. Be clear about why things are the way they are and how you can best assist the customer during these unprecedented times in the auto industry. Making sure the customer understands what they are getting into and providing any incentives that help create more attractive offers and deals.  

Keeping dealership information up-to-date and accurate online is a key component of positive reviews. Your dealership website, social media pages, and online information need to be accurate for the customer to give adequate reviews themselves. 

Interact and respond to customer reviews, positive or negative! Regardless of what the review is, responding, and addressing the review is always a good habit to implement. Many customers would want to see that your dealership cares about their experiences and how you can learn from mistakes and continue to improve on what you are doing well. 

Although the avenues to address and manage online reviews can be endless, this would be a great start to make sure these pointers are already in your plan. An online review and become a critical element in what your future customers decide. Car buyers care about customer service, transparency and honesty, online interaction, and accuracy online. Your reviews matter and make that a priority in your business model. Are you interested in how we can help your online reviews and grow your business? Contact us today for more information!