eKomi Introduces StarInsights™ Industry Reports - A Comprehensive Benchmarking Series on User Ratings and Reviews

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- eKomi, The Feedback Company and largest provider of user-validated ratings and reviews, today announced the launch of StarInsights™, an ongoing series of industry specific market research data indicating the most prominent companies with the highest quantity and quality of user ratings and reviews. Publicly visible feedback from actual customers has become one of the key components of a company's success in the digital world.

Multiple sources have proven that organizations leveraging customer and product reviews for marketing campaigns, e-commerce transactions and social referrals gain more online visibility and produce higher conversions on product fulfillment.  "Sixty-one percent of customers read online reviews before making a purchase decision, and they are now essential for e-commerce sites," said Graham Charlton, Editor-in-Chief, Econsultancy. "Furthermore, consumer reviews are trusted 12 times more than descriptions that come from manufacturers.  If CMOs, digital marketing professionals and other business leaders aren't leveraging the power of customer reviews, they are missing opportunities to drive revenue." Customer reviews have become so critical for businesses in this global economy because positive reviews have a dramatic impact on initial customer purchase as well as repeat sales.  Based on 2015 polling from marketing firm Brightlocal, 68% of US Internet users trust businesses more because of positive reviews.  Seller ratings and reviews, especially integrated into Google search results, motivate users to visit a company's website and are a crucial element in driving overall website traffic, thereby increasing revenue generating activities from visitors.

The first StarInsights study looks at the TOP IR 500 Electronic/Computer Merchants using aggregated Google Shopping Seller Ratings from the past 12 months:

• ABTelectronics.com --25,218 Total Lifetime Ratings and Reviews to date across Google Shopping Selling Ratings from the past 12 months has an average star rating of 4.8
  
• Alliedelec.com - 4.1 Seller Rating with no active Seller Reviews to date
  
• BHphotovideo.com – 542,498 Total Lifetime Ratings and Reviews to date across Google Shopping Selling Ratings from the past 12 months has an average star rating of 4.7
  
• Bestbuy.com -- 1,834 Total Lifetime Ratings and Reviews to date across Google Shopping Selling Ratings from the past 12 months has an average star rating of 4.4
  
• Dell.com -- 1,902 Total Lifetime Ratings and Reviews to date across Google Shopping Selling Ratings from the past 12 months has an average star rating of 4.0
  
• Gamestop.com -- 360 Total Lifetime Ratings and Reviews to date across all Google Shopping Selling Ratings from the past 12 months has an average star rating of 3.9
  
• Newegg.com -- 312,343 Total Lifetime Ratings and Reviews to date Google Shopping Selling Ratings from the past 12 months has an average star rating of 4.4
  
• Panasonic.com -- 2,432 Total Lifetime Ratings and Reviews to date Google Shopping Selling Ratings from the past 12 months has an average star rating of 3.6
  
• PCconnection.com -- Zero Ratings and Reviews to Date with no Star Ratings
  
• pcRush.com -- Zero Ratings and Reviews to Date with no Star Ratings
  
• Rakuten.com -- Zero Ratings and Reviews to Date with no Star Ratings
  
• Tigerdirect.com -- 146,705 Total Lifetime Ratings and Reviews to date Google Shopping Selling Ratings from the past 12 months has an average star rating of 4.1
  
• 47stphoto.com -- Zero Ratings and Reviews to Date with no Star Ratings
  
• Yesasia.com-- 658 Total Lifetime Ratings and Reviews to date Google Shopping Selling Ratings from the past 12 months has an average star rating of 4.6

While researching Google's Shopping Portal, we found merchants not listed on the IR 500 but who stood out overwhelmingly amongst other merchants in their segment.  They are:

• Buydig.com --128,345 Total Lifetime Ratings and Reviews to date Google Shopping Selling Ratings from the past 12 months has an average star rating of 4.7
  
• Adorama.com – 48,843 Total Lifetime Ratings and Reviews to date Google Shopping Selling Ratings from the past 12 months has an average star rating of 4.4

We first considered the best rated companies within the Electronic/Computer Segment. The study shows that ABT Electronics comes in the #1 BEST rated company for Seller Ratings with a 4.8.  BHphotovideo.com comes in as the #2 BEST rated company for Seller Ratings with a 4.7 and Yesasia.com comes in as the #3 BEST rated company for Seller Ratings with a 4.6.

Apart from the best rated companies within Electronic/Computer Segment, we also examined the most reviewed companies in this space. The #1 MOST rated company in Internet Retailer 500 is BHPhotovideo.com with over 542,498 Seller Ratings. The #2 MOST rated company is Newegg.com with over 312,343 reviews and the #3 MOST rated company in this space is Tigerdirect.com with over 146,705 Seller Ratings. Interestingly, Buydig.com, for example, is not a member of the Internet Retailer Top 500 club yet possesses over 128,345 Seller Ratings also ranking them among the top MOST rated companies in this segment.

PCconnection.com, pcRush.com, Rakuten.com and 47stphoto.com have not yet deployed a review and rating strategy leaving them vulnerable to reactive reviews which are displayed in search - nor are they being recognized by top search engines.  Companies with no reviews should certainly explore accreditation by Google's official seller rating program to increase their customer loyalty and positive referrals.

Accordingly as stated on Google's official AdWords Blog,, ''Seller rating extensions make it easier for potential customers to identify highly-rated merchants when they're searching on Google.com by attaching your merchant star rating from Google Product Search to your AdWords ads. These star ratings, aggregated from review sites all around the web, allow people to find merchants that are highly recommended by online shoppers like them. On average, ads with Seller Ratings get a 17% higher CTR than the same ads without ratings.''

"We are thrilled to share our StarInsights industry research results and hope the information provided helps companies across the competitive Electronics/Computer Segment gain a more clear understanding of how well their business is leveraging user ratings and reviews," said Michael Ambros, eKomi Founder and CEO.  "This first study focuses on the Electronics/Computer Industry and highlights the importance of having a trusted feedback platform that assists customers with making an informed decision and driving them to where they are going to shop when in need of electronic devices. The results highlight the opportunity within the online Electronic/Computer Segment to influence brand consideration and purchase intent by promoting positive feedback."

Notes to Editors
For more information on Seller Ratings please refer to: http://adwords.blogspot.com/2011/04/5-simple-ways-to-improve-your-adwords.html   

About eKomi

eKomi The Feedback Company was founded in 2008 by Michael Ambros and is Europe's premier and largest independent SaaS provider of transaction-based reviews & ratings and customer experience management. As a Goldman Sachs backed firm and Google worldwide partner with over 250 employees and headquartered in Berlin and Los Angeles with additional offices in London, Paris, and Madrid, eKomi has gathered and published well over 40 million reviews for customers. More than 14,000 companies worldwide successfully leverage eKomi´s social commerce solution to strengthen trust, increase sales, reduce returns, and drive organic traffic through genuine user generated content. eKomi´s groundbreaking social commerce technology enables businesses to generate customer  and product reviews as well as social recommendations, thereby creating viral effects on websites and social media, while search engine integration  allows for an immediate revenue-generating impact for business. For more information, visit http://www.ekomi.com

PR Contact for eKomi The Feedback Company:
Carrie Wick, Head of Global Public Relations & Communications
Phone: +49-30-2000-444-814
Email: [email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160126/326125

SOURCE eKomi The Feedback Company

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