Customer Review Platforms Compared: Which is Best for Your Brand?

Nowadays, customer reviews are no longer a luxury - they're a necessity. These powerful testimonials serve as social proof, influencing purchasing decisions and building trust with potential customers. But navigating the vast landscape of customer review platforms can be daunting. Worry not, this guide is here to help you find the perfect platform to amplify your brand's voice and empower your customers.

What is a customer review platform?

A customer review platform, also known as an online review website or consumer feedback platform, is a web-based platform that allows consumers to publicly share their opinions and ratings on products, companies, or services. These platforms serve as a valuable resource for potential customers who are looking for authentic feedback from real users.

Customer review platforms have gained significant importance in the digital age, as consumers increasingly rely on the experiences and opinions of others to make informed purchasing decisions. These platforms provide a space where users can express their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with a particular product or service, allowing others to gauge its quality and reliability.

Why utilize customer review platforms?

• Building trust and credibility
  Customer reviews play a crucial role in building trust and credibility for businesses, as evidenced by the fact that 92% of customers rely on online reviews to assess local businesses. When potential customers see the positive feedback from satisfied customers, it instils confidence in the quality of your products or services. Online review websites, consumer feedback platforms, and customer testimonial platforms provide a transparent platform for customers to share their experiences, helping to establish trust with new prospects.
• Improved online visibility
  One of the key benefits of utilizing customer review platforms is its improved online visibility. Google My Business and other rating and customer review platforms can significantly boost your search engine ranking. Research indicates that online reviews contribute to about 15.44% of how Google evaluates the prominence of a local business, underscoring their pivotal role in search engine optimization.
• Driving sales and conversions
  Positive customer reviews can influence purchasing decisions. When prospective customers see glowing testimonials from satisfied customers, it creates a sense of trust and reliability in your brand. This trust often translates into higher sales and conversions, as customers are more likely to choose a business with positive feedback over its competitors.
• Cost-effective Marketing
  Utilizing customer review platforms is a cost-effective marketing strategy compared to traditional methods like advertising. Positive reviews generate organic word-of-mouth marketing, reaching a wider audience without incurring significant costs. By encouraging customers to leave reviews and actively managing your online reputation, you can harness the power of customer feedback to promote your business without breaking the bank.

⭐ Explore the advantages of customer reviews further in 7 Reasons Why Customer Reviews Are Vital for Your Business.

Key features to consider in customer review platforms

1. Review collection and management

• Omnichannel collection: Look for platforms that allow customers to leave reviews across various channels, including your website, social media, and popular review sites.
• Automated review requests: Consider platforms that offer automated email or SMS requests for reviews after a purchase or interaction.
• Review filtering and moderation: Ensure the platform allows you to filter and moderate reviews, addressing inappropriate content and responding to concerns promptly.

2. Analytics and reporting

• Detailed reporting: Choose a platform that provides comprehensive reports with insights like sentiment analysis, keyword breakdown, and customer demographics.
• Comparative analysis: Some platforms let you compare your reviews against competitors, identifying areas for improvement.
• Actionable insights: Find platforms that generate reports with actionable insights and recommendations to enhance your customer experience strategy.

3. Customer engagement tools

• Public response options: You should choose a platform that has a feature of responding publicly to reviews, both positive and negative, which can demonstrate transparency and address customer concerns.
• Private messaging capabilities: Opt for platforms that offer private messaging features to engage directly with customers who leave negative reviews or have specific inquiries.
• Review tagging and flagging: Consider platforms that allow you to tag and flag specific review sections for internal discussion and follow-up with relevant team members.

4. Additional Features

• Integrations: Platforms that integrate seamlessly with your existing CRM, marketing automation, or social media management software.
• Fraud detection and prevention: Choose platforms with features that help identify and mitigate fake reviews, maintaining the authenticity and integrity of your online reputation.

When selecting a customer review platform, it is important to consider key features that address pain points and provide benefits. By considering these key features, businesses can effectively manage and leverage customer reviews to improve their online reputation and customer experience.

Top 10 customer review platforms to level up your campaigns

1. CozyCot

CozyCot is a comprehensive review platform designed to streamline the process of collecting, showcasing, and amplifying authentic customer feedback for business owners. By consolidating all review-related tasks into one user-friendly platform, CozyCot simplifies the management of reviews and brand details, empowering businesses to interact with customers, handle feedback, and build trust effectively. With its unified dashboard, CozyCot enables businesses to craft unique brand profiles across various industries, making their products and campaigns easily discoverable.
Moreover, as a cloud-based and hosted platform, CozyCot ensures complete security and accessibility, allowing businesses to bolster customer reviews conveniently from any internet-enabled device, at any time.

• Platform features
  Customized campaigns tailored for a selected group of UGC creators aligned with your products
  Full widget library to showcase your star-review content
  Personalize your profile, invitations, and more with your branding
  Advanced analytics and insights to get more from your feedback
  An ad-free profile page
  Automated social sharing
  Downloadable marketing assets
• Pricing

2. Google My Business

Google My Business (GMB) is a platform offered by Google to help local businesses manage their online presence across Google Search and Maps. It allows businesses to claim their listing, update their information, and interact with customers directly. Beyond merely listing basic business information, GMB functions as a comprehensive review platform where customers can leave feedback, ratings, and reviews about their experiences with the business.

• Platform features
  Claim and manage your listing
  Showcase your business
  Gather and respond to reviews
  Engage with customers
  Track insights
• Pricing: Free

3. Trustpilot business

Trustpilot is a global online review platform designed to help businesses of all sizes build trust and credibility with potential customers. It allows consumers to leave public reviews about their experiences with various companies, offering valuable insights and promoting transparency.

• Platform features
  Collect and manage reviews
  Public and private messaging
  Advanced analytics
  Reputation management tools
  Multilingual support
• Pricing

4. Podium

Podium is a customer interaction platform specifically designed to empower small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to manage communications and generate positive reviews effectively. It goes beyond traditional review platforms, offering a suite of tools to connect with customers on their preferred channels.

• Platform features
  Managing all customer interactions in one platform, including text messaging, calls, and email.
  Automate review requests via SMS and email
  Reputation management
  Insights and reporting
• Pricing

5. Yotpo

Yotpo is a platform that turns customers into brand ambassadors by gathering reviews, videos, and photos. It also helps create special experiences that boost engagement and foster customer relationships.

• Platform features
  Running social media campaigns
  Integration with several e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, Zapier, etc.
  Analytic tools to help users keep track of their UGC campaigns
  Social media widgets to help brands showcase UGC
  SMS marketing
  Shoppable galleries on the brand’s web page
• Pricing

6. Birdeye

Birdeye is a versatile software that businesses use to manage their online reputation and improve the customer experience across multiple organizations. Users have praised its ability to significantly enhance their online image by increasing the quantity, quality, and overall rating level of reviews.

• Platform features
  Multi-channel review management
  Social media monitoring
  Reputation management
  Webchat and messaging
  Surveys and insights
• Pricing

7. Yelp

Yelp is a well-established online review platform primarily focused on local businesses. It allows consumers to discover businesses, read and leave reviews, and share photos about their experiences. Businesses can claim their listing, manage their profile, and interact with customers through the platform.

• Platform features:

Enhanced listing management
Review management
Business analytics
Paid advertising options to increase your business visibility

• Pricing
  Yelp calculates estimated costs based on real quotes provided by businesses, so actual costs may vary. Yelp Guest Manager offers pricing options starting at $99 per month for restaurants with newer growing operations.

8. Feefo

Feefo is a ratings and reviews platform that collects reliable and constructive reviews for thousands of clients worldwide. It goes beyond gathering reviews by offering a suite of tools to showcase positive testimonials strategically and leverage valuable customer insights for growth.

• Platform features
  Product and service reviews
  Visual UGC
  On-page display tools
  Public reviews page
  Google seller ratings
  Content insight
  API access
  Customer success
• Pricing

9. G2 Reviews

G2 Reviews is a dedicated online review platform specifically focused on business-to-business (B2B) software and services. It allows businesses to showcase user reviews from verified customers, build trust and credibility, and attract potential clients.

• Platform features
  Verified B2B user reviews
  Detailed review criteria
  Market comparison and positioning
  Engaging with reviewers publicly to address concerns and build trust
  Lead generation and marketing tools
• Pricing: On request

10. Review.io

Review.io is a comprehensive review management platform designed to empower businesses of all sizes to cultivate positive online reputations and harness the power of customer feedback. It offers a user-friendly interface and a suite of features to simplify the review collection, analysis, and management process.

• Platform features
  Collecting and managing reviews from various platforms
  Customizable review forms
  Automated review requests
  Sentiment analysis and insights
  Reputation management tools
• Pricing

By utilizing these top customer review platforms, businesses can gather valuable feedback, enhance their online reputation, and attract more customers. These platforms offer various features and insights to help businesses level up their marketing campaigns and drive success.

Selecting the right platform for your brand

The journey to finding the perfect customer review platforms starts with a deep dive into your own business. Understanding your identity is key: are you a charming local bakery, a bustling e-commerce store reaching a global audience, or a B2B powerhouse shaping industries? This self-discovery guides you toward platforms specializing in your industry's needs.

Next, take your business size into account: are you a small but mighty startup anticipating a steady stream of reviews, or a well-established enterprise requiring a platform that scales seamlessly with your growth? Honesty about your goals is crucial: do you yearn to build trust with potential customers, climb the ranks of search engines, gather insightful feedback from your audience, or skyrocket your sales?

Finally, be realistic about your budget: how much can you comfortably dedicate to a monthly subscription? By answering these interconnected questions, you'll gain a clear understanding of your specific needs and pave the way for selecting the customer review platforms that empower your voice and connect you seamlessly with your customers.

When selecting a customer review platform, it's important to consider these factors to ensure that you choose a platform that meets your specific needs and helps you achieve your goals. Whether you are a local business, an e-commerce store, or a B2B enterprise, understanding your business type, size, goals, and budget will guide you in making the right decision.

Conclusion & next steps

Customer reviews allow businesses to gain valuable insights into their customers' experiences, identify areas for improvement, and address any issues promptly. It also helps in building a positive online presence, increasing brand visibility, and attracting new customers.
By actively managing customer review platforms, businesses can leverage positive reviews to their advantage and mitigate the impact of any negative feedback.

To effectively manage customer reviews, businesses should:

1. Regularly monitor online review websites, consumer feedback platforms, and rating and review platforms.
2. Respond promptly and professionally to both positive and negative reviews, showing appreciation for positive feedback and addressing any concerns raised.
3. Use the insights gained from customer reviews to improve products, services, and overall customer experience.
4. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews and testimonials
5. Implement a system to track and analyze reviews to identify trends and areas for improvement.