Are Facebook reviews important? A lot of the property managers we work with ask us whether or not they should focus on Facebook reviews while they are building their property management reputation. While positive and visible Facebook reviews can help you with your brand, our recommendation is always to focus on Google and Yelp reviews first.
Review Hierarchy: Why Google Matters More
The reviews you attract on sites like Google and Yelp are more important than Facebook reviews because those sites are geared to help people find local services. Google is the search engine the vast majority of the population uses, so we recommend you prioritize there. It is worthwhile to build your reputation on Yelp if you are in an area where it is widely used (typically larger markets). Although many people use Facebook, you have to ask yourself if people are using Facebook to search for local services. In most cases, they are not.
Property Management Reputation Done Right
A good example of this done right is if you go to Google and type in Houston property management, you will see a company that has over 300 Google reviews and a 4.8-star rating. On Facebook, that same company has an identical 4.8 rating, but they only have 25 reviews.
This company is doing a perfect job when it comes to reputation management, and this is what will be most beneficial for your property management company. Focus on Google when you are soliciting reviews. Yelp is your second most important place for reviews, and Facebook is great to show off your average star rating, which you’ll see what we mean below.
The Benefits of Facebook Reviews for Your Property Management Business
While Facebook reviews are not your priority, they will help your company’s image. The review stars you generate on Facebook show up when people search for your business on Google.
It’s very easy for people to leave reviews on Facebook. So, we do recommend getting to ten reviews to solidify your average star rating. At that point, shift your focus back to Google and Yelp.
Removing Reviews on Facebook Altogether
If you are not satisfied with your reputation on Facebook, you can remove your reviews altogether. As of September 2020, you:
1. Navigate to your business page and ensure you’re logged in as the page.
2. Click on the Settings button at the top-right of the page.
3. On the left-hand side of the page, select ‘Templates and Tabs’ from the menu.
4. Navigate to the ‘Reviews’ tab, and click ‘Settings’.
5. To the right of ‘Show Reviews’, you’ll see a slider. Click to disable this, then click ‘Save’ to confirm.
6. Your reviews will no longer show up on your Facebook Business Page.
Only consider turning off Facebook Reviews as a last resort. Facebook star ratings gives your property management company a great opportunity to increase transparency and credibility with your clients. If you respond to each review, it goes a long way to prospective owners and clients that you care about your business and your customers. Make reviews work for you.
If you have any questions regarding Facebook reviews or managing your property management company’s reputation, please contact us at Fourandhalf.
