How to Read and Evaluate Reviews – When to Trust Online Reviews

Today, social media and online reviews are taken into consideration just as much as word of mouth to make buying decisions. With more and more people turning to online resources before making a purchase, it is important to understand and evaluate what you are reading. Some companies have been known to post their own positive reviews or compensate customers for leaving positive reviews, try to get negative reviews removed, or post critical reviews of competitors. Knowing this can make it hard to trust what you are reading. Below is a checklist that will help you recognize if a review can be trusted.

Here are five key steps to follow:

  1. Check out the reviewer

Look at multiple reviews by the same reviewer to help you decide how much trust to put on the opinions of that person. Read the reviewer’s posts on products, businesses, and services other than the one you are looking to buy, and take the opinions of “one-time” or “first time” reviewers lightly.

Reviewers, by law, are required to disclose if they have a connection to a company, but some companies may have family and friends write reviews or pay people to contribute reviews without recognizing the connection. An internet search of the reviewer will often reveal if they have a connection to the company.

  1. Be wary of similar wording in reviews

One way to get a feel for whether or not you’re reading a legit review is to read through all the company’s reviews across multiple sites. If you notice many of the reviews are using similar wording, it may be an indication that the reviewers are being paid for reviews. People who are paid to write reviews are often provided the content to use, so be cautious of reviews with similar phrasing.

  1. Read multiple reviews on several sites

Compare reviews on multiple sites so you can determine whether there is a trend. You want to read many opinions before you decide if there’s a trend happening. Generally, at least 2 dozen reviews is a good guideline.

  1. Discount extremely positive reviews

If a reviewer is going completely over the top making extremely positive comments or if every single review you read about a business is positive, reviewers may have been provided an incentive. You can also use this free website Fakespot.com that analyzes the reviews on certain sites and reports on how trustworthy the reviews are.

  1. How the company deals with reviews

Another important thing to consider is how the company is dealing with negative reviews they receive. Are they ignored? Are multiple people complaining about the same thing suggesting that the company is not doing anything to change its processes? You should see some company interaction with the reviewers, positive or negative, but especially with negative reviews. You should see the company offering solutions and trying to satisfy the customer.

A Gift of Valentine’s Day Chocolates! It’s what’s on the inside that counts.

Are you looking for something new and exciting for Valentine’s Day this year? We recommend swapping out the usual box of chocolates for something a little more adventurous- chocolate covered insects!

Eating insects may be a novelty in the U.S., but it is a common practice in most other countries. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, at least two billion people worldwide regularly eat bugs. For those who partake, entomophagy (insect eating) has a number of nutritional benefits. Insects are very high in protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and “good” fats. Additionally, farming insects requires much less land and water use than raising other major sources of protein such as pork and beef, which results in less of an environmental impact.

Many Americans are taking note of this, and entomophagy has been a growing trend over the last few years. Start-ups have been emerging all over North America, with most specializing in raising crickets to be sold in products such as protein bars and cricket flour. While we recommend trying out these other choices eventually, for Valentine’s Day you can’t go wrong with the chocolate covered options. There are a wide variety of delicious, chocolate-coated insect treats to be found online, including ants, crickets, scorpions, worms, and grasshoppers. For first time bug eaters, I would recommend a variety pack of multiple types, just like a regular box of chocolates. If you’re a little squeamish about the idea, go for the smaller ants and crickets – they’re more chocolate than insect and a great introduction to the world of entomophagy. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Named Six-time Top Workplace by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

We are excited to announce that we have once again earned a spot in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Top Workplaces list! Winning this award for the sixth time in seven years demonstrates Batzner Pest Control’s dedication to providing complete satisfaction not only to customers, but to employees as well.

It is an extra honor to receive this recognition in the year of our 70th anniversary. Despite the recent rapid growth of the company and its expansion into new markets, it has retained the family feel that has made it a great place to work since 1946.

If a family atmosphere with a strong work/life balance and well-rounded compensation and benefits package sounds right for you, don’t hesitate to contact us today!

Lupo Named PCT Technician of the Year

Batzner is proud to announce that our own Scott Lupo has been named the 2014 Pest Control Technology Residential Technician of the Year. Lupo, a Master Service Specialist and 17-year veteran at Batzner, was selected for the award based on his excellent customer service track record and volunteer commitments.

You can read the full story on PCTonline.com. Learn more about Scott and his dedication to providing legendary service in the video.

Batzner Pest Control Donates Food to Local Pantries

NEW BERLIN, Wis., December 06, 2016: Batzner Pest Control kicked off this holiday season with its annual food drive. All employees split into eight teams competing against each other to see who could donate the most food items. Batzner showcased its commitment to the areas it serves by collecting 1,334 food items for donation.

All donated items will be split between the following locations:

  • New Community Shelter, Green Bay, WI
  • The Goodman Center, Madison, WI
  • Food Pantry of Waukesha County, Waukesha, WI
  • Northern IL Food Bank, Geneva IL

Brenda Borgman, from the winning team, shares her thoughts about her team’s success by saying, “We weren’t focused on winning because it wasn’t about winning for us. It was pooling our resources together and giving as much as we could. Once we did that, the holiday spirit just came out of us.”

In 2017, the Batzner team looks forward to surpassing the amount donated this year.

Batzner Pest Control Donates 1,886 Pounds to Local Food Pantry

NEW BERLIN, Wis., Dec, 23, 2015: Batzner Pest Control presented the Food Pantry of Waukesha County with 1,886 pounds of food today. The Food Pantry of Waukesha County is dedicated to providing food to many Waukesha County residents who go hungry every day.

Batzner team members throughout Illinois and Wisconsin were challenged to donate food items at their team meetings in December. Each team’s collection bin was weighed at the end of the competition to see which team would be crowned victorious.

“Batzner is committed to giving back to the community,” said Jerry Batzner, CEO and President of Batzner Pest Control. “I believe it is important to support the communities that have allowed us to protect their brands, food, health, property and families.”

With over 130 team member’s contributing to the Food Pantry of Waukesha County’s mission, Batzner donated nearly one ton of food. A team even exercised creativity by encouraging employees to bid on homemade specialty nuts. The money collected for the homemade nuts was used to purchase additional food to help the team collection efforts.

“We are excited that our donation was able to assist the Food Pantry of Waukesha County in their fight against hunger in the community,” Batzner said. In working with the Food Pantry of Waukesha County, we can help others in need together. The Food Pantry encourages others in the community to host food drives to help sustain their inventory. Learn more here.

Batzner Wins Top Choice Award

When it comes to providing protection from pests, Batzner is the best according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel readers. Batzner Pest Control is proud to announce that it has been named the top pest control provider by residents of Southeast Wisconsin in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s inaugural Top Choice Awards.

Batzner customers and employees both agree that Batzner is the best in the area. The Top Choice Winner Award comes just months after employees named Batzner a Top Workplace in Southeast Wisconsin for the fifth time.

“Receiving recognition as both a Top Workplace and winning the Top Choice Award reinforces our mission to guarantee complete satisfaction from Batzner employees and customers,” said Jerry Batzner, President and CEO.

“We are honored to know that the region thinks of Batzner as the name to know for pest control”, Batzner said.

The Top Choice Awards recognize the best of the Milwaukee area in several categories ranging from dining and entertainment to home and professional services.

You can view Batzner and all of the Top Choice Award Winners at jsonline.com/topchoice.

Batzner Moves Up on Pest Control Technology’s Top 100 List

NEW BERLIN, Wis., July 12, 2016: The pest control industry continues to thrive, enjoying robust growth overall. Batzner Pest Control, a New Berlin, WI based pest control provider covering Wisconsin, is an example of a pest management company benefiting from this growth phase. Once again, they have been recognized on Pest Control Technology Magazine’s (PCT) Top 100 list of pest control firms, moving up from #55 to #51, following another year of unprecedented growth.

“This year marks a special time in Batzner’s history because it marks our 70th year of business and thanks to the hard work of our dedicated team members, we again continue to grow double digits,” Jerry Batzner explained. “We continue to add to our team which allows us to service our expanding territories while still maintaining our commitment to legendary service to our loyal customer base. These two factors are keeping us on track to be in the top 50 in 2017,” Batzner said.

PCT’s annual Top 100 list of pest management largest companies is based on year-end revenues and is a prestigious industry accolade. In additional to this award, Batzner was also named “Top Workplaces” by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for the sixth time this year.

Batzner Celebrates 70 Years in the Pest Control Business

NEW BERLIN, Wis., December 8, 2016: Batzner Pest Control is proud to announce that it has entered its 70th year in business. “The growth and positive change we’ve experienced over the years are products of the legendary service our team members provide every day,” said Jerry Batzner, President and CEO. “If team members feel valued, and we’re connected to what’s important to them, they’ll be engaged with the company and our customers.”

Now in its third generation of family ownership, Batzner Pest Control has been protecting homes and businesses since 1946, when the company was founded by Ed Batzner. Though much has changed in the last 70 years, a few things remain the same. The Batzner family is still putting customers first with its Legendary Service promise and exclusive pestfree365 program, both unique in the pest control industry.

Batzner prides itself on being a pest control partner in every sense of the word, with expertise in both residential and commercial accounts. Experiencing double digit growth for the past twenty years, Batzner has expanded its service area to include Green Bay, Madison, and south through Chicago. The company offers expert advice to homeowners that is specific to their situation, and provides sanitation consulting, educational sessions, and in-house training programs for business and industry clients.

The company has also worked hard to retain an employee-friendly environment and attract top employees to its team. As a seven-time winner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Top Workplace Awards, most recently in 2016, its clear employees appreciate this dedication. Dave Kusnierek, District Service Manager, explains, “It’s a very caring organization, very people oriented. We treat people with respect.”

For protection of your home or brand, there is only one company that provides the best results and service in the industry – Batzner. The name to know for pest control since 1946.

Batzner Adds Four Additional Associate Certified Entomologists to Staff

NEW BERLIN, Wis., May 23, 2017: Batzner Pest Control is pleased to announce they have added four more Associate Certified Entomologists (ACEs) to their staff. Jason Ganas, Brad Fischer, Dan Stawicki, and Greg McMillon have recently joined Batzner’s existing ACE team. Endorsed by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), ACE is one of the most trusted and respected titles that one can achieve in pest management, with requirements that are stringent, including passing a rigorous exam and having a minimum of five years of pest control experience. Jerry Batzner, CEO and President, proudly stated, “Our emphasis on continued training and education provides for staff advancement and allows us to provide more advanced and professional service.”

Choosing a contractor can be challenging for a customer. ACEs give Batzner the expertise to solve difficult cases in the field and ensure proper regard for the safety, health, and welfare of the public and environment when practicing pest control protocols. Batzner District Service Manager, Brad Fischer, explained, “Having ACEs on the team holds the company to a higher standard of professionalism and expertise in the industry, and gives clients added confidence.”

The opportunity to achieve ACE certification is one of several opportunities Batzner offers its staff to continue their education and expand their knowledge on pest identification and inspection. Service Manager Jason Ganas stated, “It feels good to be part of a community of industry professionals where we use our field experience to help grow our education.”

Many Batzner employees have also continued their training and education with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection’s Master Tech program. Managed through UW-Madison, this certification requires three years of industry experience and the passing of an entirely experience-based test, proving them to be experts in the field. The most recent Batzner team members to earn Master Tech recognition are Mike Chapel, Skie Gierach, Ashley Schroeder, Nick Schanz, and Sandy Ehlers.

Learn more about Batzner’s team of ACEs here.

Batzner Pest Control is the largest independently-owned pest control services provider in Wisconsin and is expanding rapidly in Illinois. Founded in 1946 and now in its third generation of family ownership, Batzner has mastered its mission of providing legendary pest control solutions to homes and businesses throughout its service area. Batzner is one of only 3% of pest control companies nationwide that are QualityPro Certified – the leading certification program from the National Pest Management Association. For more information, visit www.batzner.com.