Online reviews have rapidly become the top source of new leads, with 34% of marketers citing them as the number one channel for customer acquisition. And that's just scratching the surface of their potential – one Birdeye's latest data report found that 92% of consumers read at least two reviews before deciding whether to trust a business.

As customers, we all check online reviews before booking a hotel, trying a new restaurant, or buying a high-ticket item. In fact, recent Birdeye research revealed that:

68% of consumers check online reviews for a business before choosing a brand or service provider.
80% of consumers are more likely to choose a business that responds to reviews.
78% of consumers mention that they are unlikely to choose a business with a poor online reputation.
50% of consumers read at least five reviews before choosing a business, and this could be across various review sites and forums.
Clearly, online reviews significantly influence consumer decision-making, and businesses need an active review management strategy to be on top of their review monitoring efforts.

Reviews generally offer invaluable insights into customer perceptions, market sentiments, and brand awareness. Therefore, monitoring online reviews is critical for your business to grow with a solid online reputation.

Implementing a review monitoring system enables your business to keep a tab on the customer viewpoint, respond promptly to reviews, handle negative reviews, and identify crucial trends instantly.