ReputationChanger.com Responds to New Consumer Study

NEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With the advent of the smart phone, as well as the continued rise of sites like Yelp.com, TripAdvisor, and Angie's List, online reviews seem to grow increasingly prevalent all the time. Spending any length of time conducting Google searches reveals just how central these sites are to the online landscape. A new consumer poll, conducted by Street Fighter Magazine, reveals that online review sites are not only prevalent, but also deeply influential. The astounding survey results have won the attention of ReputationChanger.com.

The Street Fighter survey polled 200 U.S. consumers, asking them questions about the frequency with which they consult online reviews. The survey results find that an incredible 93 percent of respondents check online reviews before visiting an eating or retail establishment, at least sometimes. 15 percent of those who responded say they consult review sites all the time; more than 16 percent say eight times out of ten; and 30 percent say they check online review sites roughly half the time.

The use of online review sites is even higher in certain demographics, Street Fighter reports. In fact, among 18-34 year-olds, a sweeping 98 percent say that they consult online review sites.

These findings have won the attention of ReputationChanger.com. As an industry-leading online reputation management firm, ReputationChanger.com is committed to helping businesses improve their online image, which often means addressing the problem of negative online reviews. ReputationChanger.com CEO Cliff Stein has issued a press statement, offering his own evaluation of the new study.

"This study is frankly not very surprising, and really fits with the trends that many of us within the industry have observed about online review sites," Stein remarks. "Online reviews sites are not only growing more numerous, but they are also growing more influential when it comes to consumer behavior. Consumers want to make sure they are spending their hard-earned money on products and services that are reputable and high-quality, and consulting with online review sites is often the easiest way to access this information."

While this may be beneficial to consumers, however, Stein says it is bad news for many businesses. "The problem is that these online review sites are not always truthful," the ReputationChanger.com CEO says. "In a lot of cases, negative online reviews are posted by angry or frustrated employees, or perhaps ex-employees. Additionally, bad reviews can be planted by business rivals."

What all of this means, Stein explains, is that no company is ever immune to bad reviews. "They can happen to any brand, and they can happen any time," Stein observes. "When they do happen, the consequences are often downright brutal. Because so many consumers are checking these review sites, and trusting what they read there, a company with bad reviews can often find itself on the receiving end of lost sales, a diminished customer base, and more."

These adverse effects are significant, Stein says, but companies do not have to take them lying down. "ReputationChanger.com is passionate about helping businesses repair their online reputation by suppressing negative or unscrupulous reviews," he explains. "We cannot stop people from posting bad reviews. No company could promise that. But what we can do is seek to minimize their impact."

ReputationChanger.com offers review suppression services that involve inundating search engines with positive, brand-enhancing content—all in an effort to push negative reviews out of the public eye. "If we can push bad reviews from Google page 1 to Google page 3, then very few people will ever see them, and the impact will be minimal," says Stein. "That is our goal at ReputationChanger.com—to present our client as a brand of choice among consumers."

ABOUT:

ReputationChanger.com is an industry-leading reputation monitoring and management company. Founded in 2009, ReputationChanger.com was the brainchild of a passionate team of online sales and marketing experts. Now joined by content writers, social media professionals, and account executives, ReputationChanger.com is devoted to helping companies and individuals take control over how they are presented on the Internet.

SOURCE Reputation Changer LLC