How to Get More Business Reviews
These days, many purchases start online as consumers look for reviews of the businesses where they are planning to get the products and services they need.
Studies show that 85% of consumers believe online reviews as much as personal recommendations of people they know.
Reviews also substantially add to a business’ online presence and improve their search engine ranking which helps attract more customers to the business.
With the growing benefits resulting from positive reviews, businesses need to get more business reviews. A review describing a customer’s satisfactory experience on a product or service is more effective in getting sales than a traditional advertisement.
So, here are some of the ways for businesses to get more reviews.
1. Set up Business Profiles on Multiple, Relevant Review Sites
Make sure that your business page can be found in the sites where shoppers go to read or create business reviews such as Google, Facebook, Yelp, Yahoo, Tripadvisor and other relevant sites.
Know the rules on each site to avoid any penalties and enjoy all the benefits offered to businesses.
Research and be visible on the platforms where your competitors can be found.
2. Ask for reviews directly
If not prohibited by the review site, ask your customers directly for their reviews. You can ask them through prompts on your website, social media pages or emails. Request for a review not too long after the purchase is made or after you have resolved a customer’s issue or query.
3. Make it easy and simple for customers to make reviews
Generally, customers would not spend time to figure out how to leave a review unless they have some complaints or negative experience to share.
So, make it easy for them by:
– providing the direct links to the review sites. Don’t make them go through several pages to be able to make a rating or write a review.
– saving the reviewers from the difficulty of composing their reviews by telling them what you want. For example, ask them why they bought the product, did it meet their expectation and if they would buy from you again.
You can also create a tutorial to help your customers learn how and where they can post their reviews. There are also apps that make it easy for customers and website visitors to leave reviews.
4. Ask social media followers to review your business
Businesses with significant social media followers can ask them for reviews.
5. Reward your reviewers
If it’s not prohibited by the review site, giving points, small gift cards, coupons, small prizes and other incentives will motivate consumers to leave reviews. Make it clear that reviews, whether negative or positive are qualified for the reward.
You can also recognize customers with the most number of reviews to show your appreciation.
6. Send a follow-up email
Keep track whether the emails you sent asking for customer reviews have been opened or not using apps like Campaign Monitor and MailChimp. Send a follow up email with a different subject after about four days to recipients who did not open the first email
Those customers might have been willing to write a review had they opened the first email.
7. Respond to reviews promptly
Monitor customer reviews and respond promptly. Thank those who wrote positive reviews to show your appreciation.
Consider negative reviews as opportunities to show how your company cares for its customers. Reach out to them and attend to their problems. Listen to the complaint to fully understand the problem and to be able to provide the right solution.
8. Turn a negative review into a marketing opportunity
Negative reviews turn customers away. However, a small percentage of negative reviews compared to the positive ones provide authenticity to the overall reviews.
Negative reviews could teach businesses how they can improve their products and services. Proper handling of negative reviews helps to build trust in the businesses. Respond to negative reviews on the review site in addition to emails or phone calls. Potential customers will be confident that whatever problems they may have with your product and services, they will not be ignored.
Once the problem in the negative review is resolved, it’s likely that you’ll get another review but a positive one this time. The review of a happy customer is much better than any advertising copy you pay for.
9. Include reviews in your standard sales and customer service processes.
Make your sales and customer service employees responsible for getting and monitoring reviews from their customers. Since it will be part of their performance evaluation, the assigned employees will make sure to follow up customer reviews or the satisfactory resolution to customer issues in negative reviews.
Conclusion
The consumers’ buying habits have made reviews essential for any business. Reviews are the social proof customers are looking for to trust that your business will provide them with what they need.
Learn how big companies get more customer reviews and see if their strategies will work for your business.
