Having easy access to the internet has drastically changed the way people shop for all kinds of products nowadays. However, during this era where e-commerce is rapidly growing, more and more companies can’t help but wonder about whether or not site reviews are actually beneficial. When customers can’t physically experience the products they buy, what’s the first thing they do? Of course, they turn to site reviews. We don’t just claim this! A study has revealed that 93% of customers say reviews impact their purchase decision. Let’s admit it. Opening up to criticism online is never easy. But with the statistics in mind, it is an essential step for any e-commerce site to succeed. If you want to learn more about the benefits of customer reviews on your business, read on! They Play An Important Role In Purchasing Decisions Social proof refers to the psychological phenomenon wherein people make judgments based on the collective action of others. In the case of e-commerce, reading site reviews play an important role in the final purchasing decision of customers. There’s no denying that customers want reassurance when shopping online. Even if the reviews are from total strangers, they are more likely to make a purchase if the site reviews are positive. In the same manner, if a customer sees that others have purchased a product, they are more likely to buy it for themselves. According to statistics, site reviews are trusted 12 times more than other marketing materials. In addition, 88% of 18 to 34-year-olds trusted site reviews as much as personal recommendations. These data just go to show that social proof is highly influential for e-commerce sites. For e-commerce sites, this highlights the benefits that can be reaped from placing great importance on positive site reviews. They Build A Sense Of Trust and Credibility  The number of global e-commerce shoppers reached an estimated 1.92 billion in 2019 alone. There are so many brands popping left and right for every product category, but there is no certain way to verify their quality. It’s getting harder for customers to know who to trust their money with. The fact that online scams are becoming rampant is not helping the situation as well. Customers can’t help but rely heavily upon site reviews. According to a survey, 72% of consumers claim that positive reviews make them trust a business more. For them, the positive reviews their read indicate good quality and services. It creates an online reputation that the company offers customers what they want. What does this mean for e-commerce sites? Naturally, having positive site reviews will increase the confidence of new customers to push through with their purchase. They Generate Word Of Mouth When people have reviews to talk about, they are also more likely to share it with other people. Even if the reviews for your e-commerce site aren’t all positive, this is a way to boost your online presence! They Boost Your Site Rankings Most customers will look at search engines like Google when deciding to buy a product. Based on a study, 63.6% of consumers check reviews on Google before visiting a business. Just like any other website, Google has a unique way of indexing content and they value original and fresh content. Site reviews improve rankings on websites because they feed the content machine. Most customers will use keywords such as the name of certain products in their reviews. Therefore, adding more content on Google associated with your site. When you’re on the first page of Google, people will likely see your e-commerce site as a trusted authority in your industry. They Give An Opportunity To Improve The Business At the core of every successful e-commerce site is excellent customer service. Site reviews are constructive criticisms from your customers. If you know about what your customer thinks of your products or service, then you’ll know how you can improve your business. For example, a customer might tell you about their negative experience regarding your limited payment methods. You can try addressing the problem and enhance your customer service by opening up more payment methods. Remember that all reviews are positive. Nevertheless, they can help you identify customer pain points and genuinely help boost your e-commerce site to success. Key Takeaway Remember that the benefits of customer reviews on e-commerce sites are unmatched. If you have positive site reviews, you can easily boost your brand awareness and drive sales. On the other hand, if you receive negative reviews, it opens up an opportunity to improve your products and services. Either way, it’s a win-win situation. With that being said, remember to ask for site reviews on your own e-commerce site! In an age where people are shopping for all kinds of products, site reviews are a critical way to gain the ultimate edge in the competitive marketplace.