The Psychology Behind Why Customers Leave Google Reviews

The Psychology Behind Why Customers Leave Google Reviews

It’s no secret that Google reviews are critically important to your business. Positive reviews can bring in new customers and boost sales. Meanwhile, even one negative review can damage the reputation of a business, especially if not handled properly. 

But why do customers decide to leave reviews in the first place? To answer this, we have to understand the psychology behind it. Understanding why customers leave Google reviews, both positive and negative, will help you get more positive reviews for your business.

Let’s dive into the psychology behind why customers leave Google reviews.

They Want to Be Heard

Customers, both satisfied and unsatisfied, want to be heard. When they leave a review, it's a way for them to share their thoughts and feelings about their experience with your business. They hope you'll take their reviews to heart and adjust how you run your business, thus creating a better experience for future customers.

Sometimes they just want to vent about a perceived bad experience. Ensuring that your customers are heard before they leave your business will help reduce negative reviews. If they feel heard by you in person, they are less like to go public.

Reciprocity

Reciprocity is the psychological tendency for people to respond to a positive action with another positive action. According to research, when businesses respond to customers' positive reviews, it's more likely they'll leave more positive reviews in the future. 

By using this psychological principle, small business owners can build better relationships with their customers and, in turn, boost their reviews.

Negative Experiences are More Memorable Than Positive Ones

Unfortunately, this is a psychological fact. Bad experiences are more likely to stick in customers' memories than good experiences. This means that one negative experience can tarnish a customer's view of your business and lead them to leave a negative review. 

That's why small business owners must strive to reduce negative experiences as much as possible. Address any issues right away to ensure all customers leave happy. 

When the inevitable bad review happens, respond right away. It’s vital that any negative comments are acknowledged, whether or not you feel they are valid.

Social Influence

Social influence plays a big role in the psychology behind why customers leave Google reviews. When customers see other people leaving reviews, they're more likely to do so themselves, either to jump on board the bandwagon or provide their own experience. 

Therefore, small business owners should ask for reviews and make it easy for customers to leave them.

Emotions

Emotions play a vital role in why customers leave reviews. Positive emotions, such as happiness or joy, can prompt customers to leave positive reviews. On the other hand, negative emotions, such as anger or disappointment, can lead customers to leave negative reviews. As a business owner, you need to understand the emotional impact of each customer interaction and address any negative emotions as soon as possible.

Conclusion

Understanding the psychology behind why customers leave Google reviews can be the difference between a successful or unsuccessful business. Small business owners need to create positive experiences for their customers, understand the power of reciprocity, and utilize social influence. 

By focusing on the customer's emotional experience and recognizing how they interact with a business in the online world, you can ensure your reviews remain positive, or at least balanced. 

Overall, customers want to be heard, have good experiences, and feel connected to businesses. By striving to meet those needs, small business owners can increase their chances of positive reviews and, ultimately, business success.

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