Let’s take a step back in time and look at the evolution of online reviews and the expansion of the practice of trading advice over the internet. A lot of times before this became widely accepted, we had to rely on “word of mouth” for suggestions.
What Is the Origin of Online Reputation?
It’s interesting to note that the history of online reviews dates back to 1999 when they were primarily restricted to certain seller websites like eBay. The use of reviews has grown across a number of platforms, but most of them have been taken up or acquired by larger firms or businesses.
Then came Yellow Pages on the internet. Remember those massive yellow tomes that we couldn’t seem to get rid of? Several years ago, the Yellow Pages and City Search introduced an online review component to their business directories, allowing consumers to read evaluations before making purchases from local shops and eliminating the need for printed directories altogether. Although we can’t be sure, we can guess that there are still some roaming about.
By 2002, Google had acquired the technology behind Usenet search. Because it conferred ownership over all of Usenet’s online discussion groups, this altered the dynamic of the situation. There was a search engine on the Usenet forums, which enabled users to find relevant material by searching for a given topic. This service provided the ability to search for and browse previous discussion groups, and as a result, the reach of online reviews and conversations expanded significantly.
The websites RateItAll and MuseStorm were the first to incorporate online evaluations and discussions about businesses in 2007. They were not intended to be used as a rating system from the outset but rather to assist customers in finding companies online.
Yelp was the first to market with features that allowed businesses to respond to reviews of their products or services, thereby facilitating improved contact between customers and businesses on the internet. Because of the popularity of these features and communications, modern-day evaluations and ratings have become commonplace.
Even though online reviews and online reputation have been present for quite some time, their popularity, as well as the number of review sites and reputation management services, have only recently risen, as has the number of review sites themselves.
What Has Happened to Our Lives as A Result of Online Reviews
Doesn’t it seem like the novelty of review sites seems like an eternity ago? Except that it wasn’t. In recent years, the popularity of internet reviews has increased significantly. The evolution and creation of new platforms, such as Yelp or access to housing and Airbnb, or when Amazon was just a book site, has resulted in the company becoming the dominant player in the consumer products and reviews industries.
After a while, the scope of online reputation and management grew to encompass large internet corporations that we are all familiar with today. Yelp, Amazon, Google, Facebook, and TripAdvisor, to name a few of the top challenges that began to dominate the internet, gained extensive influence, and have had a significant impact on the evolution of online reviews, as well as on how we see and look at businesses today.
What has been the impact of online reviews on your life or business?
After years of reading reviews, it’s tough to remember what life was like before they were introduced. Even just ten years ago, customer reviews were not as prevalent or as highly emphasized when it came to purchasing items and services. Even searching on a cell phone is more recent than we know, and we take it for granted most of the time.
Consider how internet reviews have evolved from simple communication and discussion forums to completely altering the scope of a company’s operations. Whether to assist a business is thriving or failing. The importance of internet reviews and the fact that this wasn’t always the case are two things that we tend to forget about.
Make Use of Online Reputation Management Software
We will never be able to go back to the world before online reviews, but we will require reputation management to assess and maximize them to the benefit of a company’s bottom line.
Managing internet reviews can be difficult, but there is a technology that can assist with the process. Using online reputation management software is the most convenient approach to keep track of your internet reviews. Furthermore, it frees up additional time to devote to your company’s operations and to providing exceptional customer service.
Online reputation management software keeps track of all online reviews across all platforms. It enables immediate attention to be given in order to help reduce harmful outcomes. Your clients will be able to get their issues fixed while your internet reputation is protected.
Depending on the version, online review software can be prohibitively expensive. Alternatively, you would have to invest time in hiring an employee to manage reviews, or you would have to take time out of your schedule to do so. In any case, there is a price to pay. One, on the other hand, will not take your attention. You can operate your business more effectively if you use reputation management software, which gives you peace of mind.
Regardless of whether you opt to manage online reviews manually or to use online reputation software, you will need to consider your online presence in order to keep your business running smoothly and efficiently. Because of the ubiquity of online reviews, reputation management software is a must-have for all businesses, regardless of the platform on which it is implemented.
Conclusion
Online reputation has come a long in just a few years. What is interesting is where we will be in another twenty or thirty years. I hope you enjoyed reading about the history of online reputation. It is something that I am very passionate about. It was hard to limit the post to fewer words than I am used to on the subject. Maybe in the near future, I will write another blog about it and tell you even more about how online reputation has impacted and bettered our lives.