Authenticated reviews are a consumer’s best friend when it comes to peace of mind about contacting a business, or not! But it’s important to read them and look out for some tell tale signs – here’s a few tips.
Reviews tell the story of a business – don’t just read the introduction
Knowing how to make the most out of reviews will help you from encountering cowboys
Reviews say much more than whether a business is excellent or poor. They describe things you want to know about, such as attention to detail, quality of work, after sale or job service, how good a business is at offering professional advice and guidance. Often they will let you know about the character of the business and the people who work there – that they are respectful and driven, that they listen, that they clean up after the job is done.
But sometimes in business circumstances change, focus can drop, attention and service may decline and that’s why recent reviews are critical.
Often reviews will discuss value for money but the important thing to remember is that there will always be a variance in quotes and a monetary amount means nothing if the overall performance of the business and the end results aren’t up to scratch. It is always worth paying more for superior work and service.
5 stars may look great at first glance – but you need to scratch below the surface
Many businesses may have a large number of fantastic reviews and a glowing 5 Star reputation but the currency of reviews is really important. Sometimes in business circumstances change, focus can drop, attention and service may decline and that’s why recent reviews are critical.
Don’t just take in the stars and the number of reviews – check them out, see how recent they are. Recent reviews tell you some very vital things about a business.
- That they are still trading
- That their excellent reputation and commitment to quality work is ongoing
- That there is no downward trend in their performance.
The very latest consumer research says that reviews that are more than 6 month’s old create doubt – that any of the points made above may be true. Any doubt is worth listening to.
It’s important to look at a few businesses and compare and contrast
Authenticated reviews are a resource for your benefit – so take a look at a few local businesses before making a call. Read reviews, check out what they have to say and see that they are recent as well. There is no harm in calling a few businesses after you’re satisfied with the story of their reviews and getting a few quotes for your job.
To read more about the ways that consumers are reading reviews and the value they place in them – check out the latest research and analysis on consumer reviews.
NoCowboys reviews are authenticated and monitored by robust systems and checked personally as well. Only an actual customer of a business can leave feedback. Remember – that’s not the case with a lot of other review platforms.
