As we swing into the holiday season, it’s common for an overpowering sense of giving to sweep over us, whether we’re shopping for gifts or appreciating life’s blessings. It’s a great time to reflect on the things that bring us joy, but for home care agency owners, it’s also a good time to appreciate something that brings both joy and consternation – your agency’s online reputation.
For many business owners, it can be difficult to open up and allow your company, yourself, and your employees to be scrutinized by the public; some may even try to avoid reviews altogether. But it’s important to understand just how essential having a strong reputation is for your agency, and why you should be thankful for it, even when you get less than five stars.
Consumers are turning to review sites to research local businesses more than ever before, and those reviews make an impact. Recent surveys show that 84% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, and 74% report that positive reviews make them trust a business more. Additionally, according to the 2016 Home Care Benchmarking Study from Home Care Pulse, reputation is one of the top five reasons why consumers choose to work with an agency.
Your reputation is one of your agency’s greatest assets, so it’s important not to hide from it, but be thankful for it and encourage happy clients to contribute. Click here to learn how to build a solid reputation for your agency.
