Why Consumers Read Business Software Reviews Before Buying

If you've never heard of the practice of reading business software reviews before making a purchase, you're in for a surprise. When conducting research for BrianLett.com, I learned that according to Invesp, customers are willing to spend 31% more with companies that have excellent reviews. And a Yelp review can influence customers' buying decisions: 98% of consumers make purchases after checking out Yelp reviews before they make their final decision. Most consumers read between four and six reviews before making a purchase, and this number increases as the financial commitment grows. In fact, 64% of business software buyers want to read at least six software reviews before making a purchase.

Why consumers trust business software reviews

While reviews are no substitute for research and experience, they are still a valuable source of information for B2B software buyers. Consumers cite them to compare products, understand options, and build a shortlist. They also seek evidence to justify the recommended products. A recent TrustRadius survey found that over 70% of buyers trust business software reviews prior to making a purchase, and 41% read between four and seven reviews before making a decision. In addition, 76% of buyers cite the publication date as the primary indicator of relevance, while 67% prefer review sites with no ads.

Online reviews are fresh, and users find older reviews irrelevant. But there's a new global pandemic affecting the review world. Invesp found that customers spend 31% more on companies with positive reviews, and 98% make a purchase after reading Yelp reviews. Review sites affect the purchase decision of nearly 98% of buyers, and 18% consider them indispensable. However, only 2% of consumers believe that reviews are unreliable.

Despite the importance of unbiased reviews, it's also crucial to look for quality reviews. There's no point in investing in a product that has bad reviews if it's not up to scratch. Similarly, a product that has all-perfect reviews may not be up to scratch. However, unbiased reviews can attract new customers. You may find that a product has a high rating but no positive reviews. This could spell trouble for your business.

As a result of this heightened awareness of reviews, companies must learn how to respond to both negative and positive feedback. Research has shown that customers expect businesses to respond to their reviews within a week, but they don't get it fast enough. In fact, one-third of customers expect a response within three days. Fast response time is correlated with a positive reputation and higher trust levels. A good review response time is a key factor in improving a company's rankings.

While personal recommendations have always been essential to a business's credibility, online reviews carry as much credibility as personal recommendations. Consumers are more likely to trust unbiased and authentic reviews than spammy or biased ones. If reviews are authentic and high-quality, they can make the difference between a purchase and a failed business. And these reviews can increase sales by up to 18%.

Millennials prefer to read reviews.

According to a recent study, 93% of millennial consumers like to read online reviews before making a purchase. This is especially true for the mobile generation, which is much more likely to read reviews from others on their smartphones. These consumers feel that they cannot accurately evaluate a brand without a review from a satisfied customer. If you want to make the most of the millennials' preferences, ask them to write a review of your product. If you fail to do this, you may turn off potential customers or have them make a decision based on competitors' reviews.

A product review is the best way to generate high-quality content in a short period of time. Consumers tend to share their opinions more readily when they are offered a free sample of the product or service. Another effective way to motivate Millennials to write a review is to give them a discount, loyalty points, or early access to the product. PowerReviews has many clients who offer a sweepstakes entry in exchange for a review.

Millennials also use social media heavily. Currently, over 3.5 billion people use Facebook, making it the largest online review site. Millennials are the most likely to rely on online reviews to make decisions, so it is crucial to target these consumers with your advertising efforts. In fact, over half of millennials trust online reviews more than personal recommendations, according to GlobalWebIndex.

Consumer trust in reviews depends on the company providing the reviews and the people reading the reviews. A survey reveals that respondents trust online reviews as much as recommendations from friends or family. Even so, it is important to remember that consumers also have their own preferences when it comes to reading reviews. For example, some people may prefer to read more recent reviews than others. And while many people may not trust online reviews as much as they make personal recommendations, a consumer's perception of a software program depends on a few different factors.

It's not surprising that people would rather read reviews about a product or service. According to a recent study, 55% of consumers prefer to read written accounts of their experiences than relying solely on reviews by a company's owners. They also prefer high-star ratings. This is clear: more consumers are demanding better ratings from businesses and are more realistic than ever before.

Positive reviews lead to skepticism.

While good business software reviews may seem to lead to skepticism, they actually contribute to a more positive perception of the product. Many five-star reviews on the web are fake. Negative reviews, on the other hand, are often more credible. This can lead people to depend more on them. The only way to make sure that the reviews you read are accurate is to take the time to investigate the issues raised by them. Positive reviews, however, can help you build trust with potential customers.

The first thing to remember is that ignoring negative reviews may cost you money. A recent survey found that 51.7% of consumers expect a response from businesses within seven days. This is a huge opportunity to improve the overall customer experience. However, not all negative reviews are worthwhile. Remember that trolls only do so for attention and possible monetary gain. Responding to negative reviews, even those that are unfavorable, is essential to keep your existing customers.