Did you know that 78% of B2B buyers start their research online and 50% of them turn to social media or peer reviews (source: The Data Behind How B2B Buyers make Purchase Decisions). Have you thought about how significant a role review sites play in the buying decision of your customer? Also, do you know what people are saying about your company, services and products and how have you built reviews into your lead generation strategy?
In an interesting infographic by GetVoIP.com, the use of technology review sites is thoroughly scrutinized, which helps us determine: the differences between customer and expert evaluations; the role these reviews play on technology sales; and the top indicators of “fake” reviews.
I invite you to consider the subsequent information, which was featured in GetVoIP’s infographic, “Can Tech Review Sites Be Trusted?”
Numbers You Need To Know
Within a google search, you will likely find the following number of technology reviews:
- CMS software – 5, 060, 000
- ISP – 282, 100
- Tech support – 214,000
- Email providers – 62, 100
- CRM software – 18, 700
Is There A Difference Between Customer And Expert Reviews?
According to the infographic, there are numerous differences:
- Consumer reviews are more detailed; expert reviews discuss general matters.
- Some expert reviewers neglect to discuss usability; meanwhile, usability is a major component of customer reviews.
Note: Before settling on final purchases, consumers tend to refer to 11 reviews.
How Do Reviews Play A Role On Technology Sales?
- According to the infographic, about 79% of customers find online reviews just as dependable as personal references.
- Approximately 65% of customers will purchase products from a company if the company has positive feedback on the web.
- Online reviews boost product/service loyalty by 18%.
How To Spot A “Fake” Review
In reality, up to 15% of social media reviews are deceptive. Here’s what you need to know to spot a “fake” tech review:
- If the review uses the following words, it is questionable: “best ever”, “greatest”, “absolute worst.”
- The review should discuss both the positive and negative sides of the product/service.
- The review has no reference to an author.
Therefore, when you are referring to a tech review, it is important to:
- Read several sources.
- Ensure there’s a disclosure statement.
- Consider the date the product/service was reviewed.
Click on the image below to view the full infographic. How do you validate trust when you read technology review sites? I am looking forward to your response.
