March 4, 2025 • 15 mins
This discussion explores the evolving landscape of online reviews and the shifts in consumer behavior towards ratings. We analyze research from Bright Local that sheds light on current trends and the implications for businesses aiming to maintain their online presence.
• Decline in online searches for local businesses since the pandemic
• Consumers' changing perceptions of five-star ratings
• The rise of video testimonials and alternative review platforms
Enhance your business visibility by harnessing video testimonials!
Read the whole story here: https://sites.google.com/view/rainmaker-reputation/reputationgenius-ai-rainmaker-reputation
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back to the Rainmaker's Edge Perspective.
You know we're always talkingabout staying ahead of the curve
, here and today.
Well, today we're diving deepinto a topic that's probably on
the minds of a lot of youlistening Online reviews, oh
yeah, those online reviews,Everyone loves them right.
Right, but it's not just aboutgetting those five stars anymore
(00:20):
.
It's about understanding howconsumer behavior towards those
reviews has shifted, how it'sevolved, especially as we all
look ahead to growing ourbusinesses even more in 2025.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
For sure, and I think this deep dive is going to be
particularly insightful forthose of you out there who are
thinking about maybe eventesting YouTube as an
advertising channel.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Absolutely.
So, to get us started, we'vebeen pouring over some really
interesting, some reallyinsightful research from Bright
Local.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Bright Local.
Yeah, they're kind of a bigdeal in the world of local
search.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
They are, and they've done something really
impressive here.
They've analyzed 15 years worthof data, 15 years on, how
consumers actually use onlinereviews.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
That's a huge data set and it gives us a really
clear picture of the long-termtrends.
Brett Local's been trackingthis stuff for so long that they
can actually pinpoint thesesubtle shifts in consumer
behavior.
It's almost like watching amovie in slow motion you really
see how things are developingand helps us to really
understand where everything'sheaded.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Exactly.
It's like having a crystal ball, almost.
But you know, one of the thingsthat jumped out at me right
away was something I wasn'treally expecting.
I just assumed you knowresearching local businesses
online.
That would just keep going upand up and up.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Right Like more and more people going online.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Exactly, but it turns out after hitting its peak back
in 2020, you remember duringthe pandemic.
Well, since then, it's actuallydeclined.
Researching local businessesonline, it's gone down.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Yeah, it seems counterintuitive at first, right
, but when you think about it itactually makes a lot of sense.
Because the pandemic, well, itreally changed how we all shop,
and those changes they'resticking around.
Well, think about QR codes.
Remember how those exploded inpopularity?
They became, I mean, theprimary way for people to get
information.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Oh yeah, you see them everywhere now Restaurants,
stores, even like museums.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Exactly, and remember during those lockdowns a lot of
the online searches that peoplewere doing.
They were very specific Is thisbusiness even open?
Do they offer curbside pickup,things like that?
So it was less aboutdiscovering new places and more
about just figuring out how toget what you needed when you
needed it, like basic survivalstuff, almost.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Yeah, and it was a really tough time for businesses
.
I mean just to put it inperspective, Yelp reported that
60 percent, 60 percent of thebusinesses in their index closed
permanently during the pandemicJust gone.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
It really makes you think about how drastically
things shifted.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yeah, for sure.
I mean that level of disruptionhad to have an impact, had to
have a ripple effect on howpeople interact with businesses
online, how they search for them, how they review them,
everything.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
So, okay, here's where things start to get really
interesting the Bright Localstudy.
Here's where things start toget really interesting.
The Bright Local study it foundthat consumers are now putting
less emphasis on those perfectfive-star ratings and they're
also not as focused on howrecent the reviews are.
You know, at first glance youmight think oh, that's bad news
(03:19):
for businesses.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Yeah, you'd think so, wouldn't you Like, you want
those perfect scores.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Exactly.
But here's the thing it mightactually be good news.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Good news how so?
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Well, the study suggests that consumers are
actually becoming morediscerning.
They're getting smarter aboutreviews.
They understand now that eventhe best businesses they're
going to have an off day everynow and then.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Makes sense.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
And let's face it, some reviewers they can be
pretty harsh.
Maybe they had a bad day, Maybethey're just, you know, one of
those people who loves tocomplain.
Whatever the reason, consumersare starting to see through that
a bit more.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
I've heard that.
I've heard people say thatsometimes a 4.9 star rating it
actually feels more trustworthythan a perfect five.
Yeah, Like it feels moreauthentic, more real, Like it
actually reflects a range ofexperiences you know.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
That's so interesting .
It's like they're looking for amore balanced picture.
They don't just want thehighlight reel, they want to see
the behind the scenes stuff too.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Right, it's like they're reading between the
lines a little bit more.
Trying to get a sense of whatthe business is really like, not
just what it wants to project.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
And here's something else that really caught my eye
Cons caught my eye.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Consumers are actually more willing to write
reviews now, even if theyhaven't written one in the past
year.
Really, that's great news.
It means people are moreengaged, more eager to share
their experiences, good or bad.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
And that's huge for local businesses.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Absolutely, and it means you've got to capitalize
on that and encourage it.
Make it easy for them to leavethose reviews, remind them, ask
them, especially those happycustomers.
Mark MIRCHANDANI.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
And where should those reviews be going?
Speaker 2 (04:46):
MELANIE WARRICK.
Well, google Business Profile,that's still the king those
reviews.
They directly impact yourvisibility in local search
results, so make sure you'reactively soliciting reviews
there.
Don't be shy about it.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
OK, so Google is still top dog, but what about
all those other platforms?
Is it still just a Google worldout there?
Because I've heard things arechanging.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
You're right, Things are changing.
While Google is still at thetop, we are seeing a decline in
Facebook's influence when itcomes to reviews.
Yelp is still around stable,but their engagement levels
aren't what they used to be.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Interesting.
So if it's not just aboutGoogle anymore, where are these
reviews going?
Where are people looking?
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Well, what's really interesting is the rise of these
alternative review platforms.
I mean YouTube, local newsoutlets, even social media.
They're all becoming players inthe review game.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
Yeah, that makes sense.
It feels like the lines arestarting to blur, you know,
between those traditional reviewsites and these other platforms
, like it's all just becomingpart of this big conversation
online.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yeah, and the source we looked at.
They even asked what does aconsumer care about the
definition of a review platform?
Really?
I mean, a testimonial is atestimonial, right.
It doesn't really matter whereit shows up online, does it?
Speaker 1 (06:01):
I guess not as long as people are seeing it right.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
That's a good point, but I do think there's something
to be said for those dedicatedreview sites.
You know they often have muchstronger systems in place to
make sure the reviews areactually real and that they're
not being manipulated, somethingthat you might not find on
other platforms.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Yeah, you're right, and we've all seen examples of
those platforms not catchingfake reviews right Like just a
few weeks ago.
There was that whole issue withGoogle reviews, where
legitimate reviews weredisappearing.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
And business scores were being affected, and then
those reviews suddenlyreappeared.
It was chaos.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
It shows you that even those big platforms, those
trusted platforms, they're notperfect.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Right, they're not foolproof, and it makes you
think well, how much can wereally rely on them?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
good question.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
So, okay, we've talked about google, we've
talked about these alternativeplatforms, but there's one
platform in particular that I'mreally excited about, and it's
one that might surprise you,because the study revealed that
youtube is actually emerging asthe second most popular
alternative review source.
Youtube Wow, I know right,video testimonials.
They're becoming incrediblyinfluential.
(07:09):
People want to see and hearthose real experiences.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Absolutely Video.
It's just such a powerfulmedium.
It lets you connect with peopleon a much deeper level.
It feels more personal, moreauthentic, and those are the
kinds of connections that buildtrust.
And ultimately, that's whatit's all about, right Building
trust with potential customers.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Exactly, and that's where I want to connect this
directly back to you, ourlisteners, especially those of
you who are intrigued by YouTubeas an advertising channel.
If you're getting thoseenthusiastic five-star reviews,
don't hesitate to ask thosehappy customers.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Hey, would you be willing to share your experience
in a short video testimonial.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
It's a really easy thing to ask too, but I think it
can make a big differenceBecause those video testimonials
they add something that youjust can't really get from a
text review A level ofauthenticity, like you're seeing
the real person, hearing theirvoice.
It just makes it more real.
Yeah, for sure it's morebelievable and it kind of taps
into how people are consumingcontent these days.
(08:06):
You know, everything's sovisual now and, honestly, who
has time to read through tons ofreviews?
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Exactly, and video is just.
It's more engaging, it's easierto connect with and, from a
practical standpoint, you're notjust getting a review, you're
getting content that you can useon your social media, on your
website.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
So review you're getting content that you can use
on your social media, on yourwebsite, so it's a win-win
really.
So we've talked about howonline reviews are changing and
how video testimonials arebecoming more and more important
, but what does all this meanfor local businesses Like?
What's the big takeaway here?
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Well, I think the biggest takeaway from this
Bright Local study is thatyou've got to have a
multi-platform approach.
It's not enough to just focuson Google or Yelp or whatever
your favorite review site is.
You need to be visible andengaged across all those
platforms Traditional reviewsites, social media, video
platforms like YouTube.
You got to be everywhere.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
And that's where a tool like Rainmaker Reputation
AI CRM can really be a gamechanger right.
Because managing yourreputation online across all
those platforms, that's a lot.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
It can feel overwhelming, for sure, and
that's why that's why we're soexcited about Reputation Genius
AI.
It's our, it's our intelligenttool that's designed
specifically to help localbusinesses businesses just like
yours take control of theironline presence, really make it
work for them.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Now, for those of you who might not be familiar with
Reputation Genius AI, can yougive us a quick rundown of what
makes it so special, what makesit so powerful?
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Sure, I think one of the best things about Reputation
Genius AI is that it helps youcollect more reviews, which is,
I mean, it's essential intoday's competitive landscape
More reviews, more visibility.
But it goes way beyond that.
It doesn't just collect thereviews, it helps you actually
use those reviews to boost yourvisibility and to build trust
with potential customers.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
So how does it do that?
Can you give us a concreteexample?
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Absolutely so.
Let's say, you get a glowingfive-star review on Google right
Reputation.
Genius AI, it can take thatreview automatically and repost
it to Facebook, instagram,twitter, even and it adds these
eye-catching graphics to make itstand out really grab people's
attention.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Oh, that's cool.
So it's like it's doing thework for you.
You don't have to go andmanually share those reviews
across all those differentplatforms.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Exactly.
It saves you a ton of time andit makes sure that those
positive reviews, those amazingreviews that you're getting,
they're reaching as many peopleas possible.
And it doesn't stop there itcan also automatically respond
to reviews in a way that'soptimized for search engines.
So it not only saves you time,but it makes sure that you're
presenting your business in thebest possible light.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
I think that's something a lot of business
owners struggle with, right Likefinding the time to respond to
every single review.
It can be tough, especially ifyou're already busy running your
business.
So that automatic responsefeature, I bet that's a
lifesaver.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Oh, it is.
And there's one more featurethat I think is really really
cool Reputation Genius AI.
It actually gives you NFC cards.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
NFC cards.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Yeah, and these cards make it super easy for your
customers to leave reviews likeright then and there.
So all they have to do is taptheir phone on the card and it
takes them right to your GoogleBusiness Business profile and
they can leave a review justlike that.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
I love that.
It just takes all the frictionout of the process because,
let's face it, even if you havereally satisfied customers, they
might forget to leave a review,or maybe they just don't want
to go through the hassle offinding your page or figure out
how to leave a review.
These NSC cards, they make itso simple, so easy.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Exactly and it works.
We've seen businesses just byusing Reputation Genius AI.
They've seen a huge increase, areally significant increase, in
the number of reviews thatthey're collecting.
It's all about like making itas easy as possible for those
customers to share theirpositive experiences.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
It sounds like Reputation Genius.
Ai is like this all-in-one toolthat really tackles a lot of
those challenges, those painpoints that local businesses
have when it comes to managingtheir online reputation,
especially now that video isbecoming such a big deal.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
It really is and, the best part, it's always evolving
.
We're always looking for newways to use technology to help
businesses succeed, to help themstand out, especially as the
digital landscape you know it'salways changing, it's always
evolving.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
So, for our listeners out there who are intrigued by
this, what's the best way tolearn more about Reputation?
Genius AI.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Well, the best way is to head over to our website.
You can find all the detailsabout Reputation Genius AI there
.
See how it works.
You can even schedule a demoget a firsthand look at what it
can do.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
Sounds good and I know a lot of our listeners.
You know they're reallyinterested in how to use those
video testimonials, especiallywith YouTube becoming such a
popular place for local reviews.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Oh yeah, that's smart and Reputation Genius AI.
It can definitely help you takeadvantage of that.
We're always looking for waysto add new features, you know,
features that keep up with allthe latest trends, and video
Video's at the top of that list.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
It's really cool to see how technology can help
local businesses you knowconnect with their customers in
new ways.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
In ways that are actually engaging, that actually
work.
So, as we wrap up our deep divehere into the world of online
reviews, I want to leave youwith one final thought,
something to think about, ofonline reviews.
I want to leave you with onefinal thought, something to
think about.
How could you use videotestimonials to really elevate
your business, to take it to thenext level as we move into 2025
(13:17):
?
Speaker 2 (13:17):
and beyond.
That's a really good question.
Think about the impact that awell-made video testimonial
could have.
It could be the thing thatconvinces someone to choose your
business, you know, to finallysay, okay, this is the one.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Because it's all about making that connection
Right, that human connection,and building trust.
And video video is reallypowerful for that.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
For sure.
So, as you go about your day, Ireally encourage you to think
about some creative ways to usevideo testimonials in your
marketing.
You know how can you make themwork for you.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
And remember the team here at Rainmaker Reputation
AICRM.
We're here to help every stepof the way.
We're passionate about helpinglocal businesses like yours
thrive in this crazy digitalworld.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Thanks for joining us on the Rainmaker's Edge
Perspective.
We'll see you next time.
Welcome back to the Rainmaker's Edge Perspective.
You know we're always talkingabout staying ahead of the curve
, here and today.
Well, today we're diving deepinto a topic that's probably on
the minds of a lot of youlistening Online reviews, oh
yeah, those online reviews,Everyone loves them right.
Right, but it's not just aboutgetting those five stars anymore
(00:20):
.
It's about understanding howconsumer behavior towards those
reviews has shifted, how it'sevolved, especially as we all
look ahead to growing ourbusinesses even more in 2025.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
For sure, and I think this deep dive is going to be
particularly insightful forthose of you out there who are
thinking about maybe eventesting YouTube as an
advertising channel.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Absolutely.
So, to get us started, we'vebeen pouring over some really
interesting, some reallyinsightful research from Bright
Local.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Bright Local.
Yeah, they're kind of a bigdeal in the world of local
search.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
They are, and they've done something really
impressive here.
They've analyzed 15 years worthof data, 15 years on, how
consumers actually use onlinereviews.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
That's a huge data set and it gives us a really
clear picture of the long-termtrends.
Brett Local's been trackingthis stuff for so long that they
can actually pinpoint thesesubtle shifts in consumer
behavior.
It's almost like watching amovie in slow motion you really
see how things are developingand helps us to really
understand where everything'sheaded.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Exactly.
It's like having a crystal ball, almost.
But you know, one of the thingsthat jumped out at me right
away was something I wasn'treally expecting.
I just assumed you knowresearching local businesses
online.
That would just keep going upand up and up.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Right Like more and more people going online.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Exactly, but it turns out after hitting its peak back
in 2020, you remember duringthe pandemic.
Well, since then, it's actuallydeclined.
Researching local businessesonline, it's gone down.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Yeah, it seems counterintuitive at first, right
, but when you think about it itactually makes a lot of sense.
Because the pandemic, well, itreally changed how we all shop,
and those changes they'resticking around.
Well, think about QR codes.
Remember how those exploded inpopularity?
They became, I mean, theprimary way for people to get
information.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Oh yeah, you see them everywhere now Restaurants,
stores, even like museums.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Exactly, and remember during those lockdowns a lot of
the online searches that peoplewere doing.
They were very specific Is thisbusiness even open?
Do they offer curbside pickup,things like that?
So it was less aboutdiscovering new places and more
about just figuring out how toget what you needed when you
needed it, like basic survivalstuff, almost.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Yeah, and it was a really tough time for businesses
.
I mean just to put it inperspective, Yelp reported that
60 percent, 60 percent of thebusinesses in their index closed
permanently during the pandemicJust gone.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
It really makes you think about how drastically
things shifted.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yeah, for sure.
I mean that level of disruptionhad to have an impact, had to
have a ripple effect on howpeople interact with businesses
online, how they search for them, how they review them,
everything.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
So, okay, here's where things start to get really
interesting the Bright Localstudy.
Here's where things start toget really interesting.
The Bright Local study it foundthat consumers are now putting
less emphasis on those perfectfive-star ratings and they're
also not as focused on howrecent the reviews are.
You know, at first glance youmight think oh, that's bad news
(03:19):
for businesses.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Yeah, you'd think so, wouldn't you Like, you want
those perfect scores.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Exactly.
But here's the thing it mightactually be good news.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Good news how so?
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Well, the study suggests that consumers are
actually becoming morediscerning.
They're getting smarter aboutreviews.
They understand now that eventhe best businesses they're
going to have an off day everynow and then.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Makes sense.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
And let's face it, some reviewers they can be
pretty harsh.
Maybe they had a bad day, Maybethey're just, you know, one of
those people who loves tocomplain.
Whatever the reason, consumersare starting to see through that
a bit more.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
I've heard that.
I've heard people say thatsometimes a 4.9 star rating it
actually feels more trustworthythan a perfect five.
Yeah, Like it feels moreauthentic, more real, Like it
actually reflects a range ofexperiences you know.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
That's so interesting .
It's like they're looking for amore balanced picture.
They don't just want thehighlight reel, they want to see
the behind the scenes stuff too.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Right, it's like they're reading between the
lines a little bit more.
Trying to get a sense of whatthe business is really like, not
just what it wants to project.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
And here's something else that really caught my eye
Cons caught my eye.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Consumers are actually more willing to write
reviews now, even if theyhaven't written one in the past
year.
Really, that's great news.
It means people are moreengaged, more eager to share
their experiences, good or bad.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
And that's huge for local businesses.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Absolutely, and it means you've got to capitalize
on that and encourage it.
Make it easy for them to leavethose reviews, remind them, ask
them, especially those happycustomers.
Mark MIRCHANDANI.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
And where should those reviews be going?
Speaker 2 (04:46):
MELANIE WARRICK.
Well, google Business Profile,that's still the king those
reviews.
They directly impact yourvisibility in local search
results, so make sure you'reactively soliciting reviews
there.
Don't be shy about it.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
OK, so Google is still top dog, but what about
all those other platforms?
Is it still just a Google worldout there?
Because I've heard things arechanging.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
You're right, Things are changing.
While Google is still at thetop, we are seeing a decline in
Facebook's influence when itcomes to reviews.
Yelp is still around stable,but their engagement levels
aren't what they used to be.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Interesting.
So if it's not just aboutGoogle anymore, where are these
reviews going?
Where are people looking?
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Well, what's really interesting is the rise of these
alternative review platforms.
I mean YouTube, local newsoutlets, even social media.
They're all becoming players inthe review game.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
Yeah, that makes sense.
It feels like the lines arestarting to blur, you know,
between those traditional reviewsites and these other platforms
, like it's all just becomingpart of this big conversation
online.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yeah, and the source we looked at.
They even asked what does aconsumer care about the
definition of a review platform?
Really?
I mean, a testimonial is atestimonial, right.
It doesn't really matter whereit shows up online, does it?
Speaker 1 (06:01):
I guess not as long as people are seeing it right.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
That's a good point, but I do think there's something
to be said for those dedicatedreview sites.
You know they often have muchstronger systems in place to
make sure the reviews areactually real and that they're
not being manipulated, somethingthat you might not find on
other platforms.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Yeah, you're right, and we've all seen examples of
those platforms not catchingfake reviews right Like just a
few weeks ago.
There was that whole issue withGoogle reviews, where
legitimate reviews weredisappearing.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
And business scores were being affected, and then
those reviews suddenlyreappeared.
It was chaos.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
It shows you that even those big platforms, those
trusted platforms, they're notperfect.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Right, they're not foolproof, and it makes you
think well, how much can wereally rely on them?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
good question.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
So, okay, we've talked about google, we've
talked about these alternativeplatforms, but there's one
platform in particular that I'mreally excited about, and it's
one that might surprise you,because the study revealed that
youtube is actually emerging asthe second most popular
alternative review source.
Youtube Wow, I know right,video testimonials.
They're becoming incrediblyinfluential.
(07:09):
People want to see and hearthose real experiences.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Absolutely Video.
It's just such a powerfulmedium.
It lets you connect with peopleon a much deeper level.
It feels more personal, moreauthentic, and those are the
kinds of connections that buildtrust.
And ultimately, that's whatit's all about, right Building
trust with potential customers.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Exactly, and that's where I want to connect this
directly back to you, ourlisteners, especially those of
you who are intrigued by YouTubeas an advertising channel.
If you're getting thoseenthusiastic five-star reviews,
don't hesitate to ask thosehappy customers.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Hey, would you be willing to share your experience
in a short video testimonial.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
It's a really easy thing to ask too, but I think it
can make a big differenceBecause those video testimonials
they add something that youjust can't really get from a
text review A level ofauthenticity, like you're seeing
the real person, hearing theirvoice.
It just makes it more real.
Yeah, for sure it's morebelievable and it kind of taps
into how people are consumingcontent these days.
(08:06):
You know, everything's sovisual now and, honestly, who
has time to read through tons ofreviews?
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Exactly, and video is just.
It's more engaging, it's easierto connect with and, from a
practical standpoint, you're notjust getting a review, you're
getting content that you can useon your social media, on your
website.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
So review you're getting content that you can use
on your social media, on yourwebsite, so it's a win-win
really.
So we've talked about howonline reviews are changing and
how video testimonials arebecoming more and more important
, but what does all this meanfor local businesses Like?
What's the big takeaway here?
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Well, I think the biggest takeaway from this
Bright Local study is thatyou've got to have a
multi-platform approach.
It's not enough to just focuson Google or Yelp or whatever
your favorite review site is.
You need to be visible andengaged across all those
platforms Traditional reviewsites, social media, video
platforms like YouTube.
You got to be everywhere.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
And that's where a tool like Rainmaker Reputation
AI CRM can really be a gamechanger right.
Because managing yourreputation online across all
those platforms, that's a lot.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
It can feel overwhelming, for sure, and
that's why that's why we're soexcited about Reputation Genius
AI.
It's our, it's our intelligenttool that's designed
specifically to help localbusinesses businesses just like
yours take control of theironline presence, really make it
work for them.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Now, for those of you who might not be familiar with
Reputation Genius AI, can yougive us a quick rundown of what
makes it so special, what makesit so powerful?
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Sure, I think one of the best things about Reputation
Genius AI is that it helps youcollect more reviews, which is,
I mean, it's essential intoday's competitive landscape
More reviews, more visibility.
But it goes way beyond that.
It doesn't just collect thereviews, it helps you actually
use those reviews to boost yourvisibility and to build trust
with potential customers.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
So how does it do that?
Can you give us a concreteexample?
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Absolutely so.
Let's say, you get a glowingfive-star review on Google right
Reputation.
Genius AI, it can take thatreview automatically and repost
it to Facebook, instagram,twitter, even and it adds these
eye-catching graphics to make itstand out really grab people's
attention.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Oh, that's cool.
So it's like it's doing thework for you.
You don't have to go andmanually share those reviews
across all those differentplatforms.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Exactly.
It saves you a ton of time andit makes sure that those
positive reviews, those amazingreviews that you're getting,
they're reaching as many peopleas possible.
And it doesn't stop there itcan also automatically respond
to reviews in a way that'soptimized for search engines.
So it not only saves you time,but it makes sure that you're
presenting your business in thebest possible light.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
I think that's something a lot of business
owners struggle with, right Likefinding the time to respond to
every single review.
It can be tough, especially ifyou're already busy running your
business.
So that automatic responsefeature, I bet that's a
lifesaver.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Oh, it is.
And there's one more featurethat I think is really really
cool Reputation Genius AI.
It actually gives you NFC cards.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
NFC cards.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Yeah, and these cards make it super easy for your
customers to leave reviews likeright then and there.
So all they have to do is taptheir phone on the card and it
takes them right to your GoogleBusiness Business profile and
they can leave a review justlike that.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
I love that.
It just takes all the frictionout of the process because,
let's face it, even if you havereally satisfied customers, they
might forget to leave a review,or maybe they just don't want
to go through the hassle offinding your page or figure out
how to leave a review.
These NSC cards, they make itso simple, so easy.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Exactly and it works.
We've seen businesses just byusing Reputation Genius AI.
They've seen a huge increase, areally significant increase, in
the number of reviews thatthey're collecting.
It's all about like making itas easy as possible for those
customers to share theirpositive experiences.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
It sounds like Reputation Genius.
Ai is like this all-in-one toolthat really tackles a lot of
those challenges, those painpoints that local businesses
have when it comes to managingtheir online reputation,
especially now that video isbecoming such a big deal.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
It really is and, the best part, it's always evolving
.
We're always looking for newways to use technology to help
businesses succeed, to help themstand out, especially as the
digital landscape you know it'salways changing, it's always
evolving.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
So, for our listeners out there who are intrigued by
this, what's the best way tolearn more about Reputation?
Genius AI.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Well, the best way is to head over to our website.
You can find all the detailsabout Reputation Genius AI there
.
See how it works.
You can even schedule a demoget a firsthand look at what it
can do.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
Sounds good and I know a lot of our listeners.
You know they're reallyinterested in how to use those
video testimonials, especiallywith YouTube becoming such a
popular place for local reviews.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Oh yeah, that's smart and Reputation Genius AI.
It can definitely help you takeadvantage of that.
We're always looking for waysto add new features, you know,
features that keep up with allthe latest trends, and video
Video's at the top of that list.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
It's really cool to see how technology can help
local businesses you knowconnect with their customers in
new ways.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
In ways that are actually engaging, that actually
work.
So, as we wrap up our deep divehere into the world of online
reviews, I want to leave youwith one final thought,
something to think about, ofonline reviews.
I want to leave you with onefinal thought, something to
think about.
How could you use videotestimonials to really elevate
your business, to take it to thenext level as we move into 2025
(13:17):
?
Speaker 2 (13:17):
and beyond.
That's a really good question.
Think about the impact that awell-made video testimonial
could have.
It could be the thing thatconvinces someone to choose your
business, you know, to finallysay, okay, this is the one.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Because it's all about making that connection
Right, that human connection,and building trust.
And video video is reallypowerful for that.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
For sure.
So, as you go about your day, Ireally encourage you to think
about some creative ways to usevideo testimonials in your
marketing.
You know how can you make themwork for you.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
And remember the team here at Rainmaker Reputation
AICRM.
We're here to help every stepof the way.
We're passionate about helpinglocal businesses like yours
thrive in this crazy digitalworld.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Thanks for joining us on the Rainmaker's Edge
Perspective.
We'll see you next time.
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