For many businesses word of mouth is one of the most powerful ways of getting new customers.
Even here at StudioRav a good portion of new business is from people who have been recommended our services by existing clients.
In the online world however it’s reviews which take the place of word of mouth recommendations.
We are all used to seeing reviews on websites like Amazon, Argos and TripAdvisor.
Reviews on Argos
Good and bad reviews are really powerful in helping us decide where to spend our money.
As the internet makes it so easy for us to find countless businesses and their competitors you need to make sure you stand out and differentiate yourself from the rest.
There are now many websites where customers can go to leave feedback and reviews such as TrustPilot, Feefo, Yell.
However, by far the best ones to go for would be Google My Business and Facebook.
Good reviews are vital for any business because:
1. They show that you have the experience
2. They show you have happy and satisfied customers
3. They show that you’re a reliable and trustworthy business
So, we understand that reviews are essential for any business.
The next question is how do you actually get them?
The simplest answer is to ask your customers.
We’ve had clients in the past who have wondered if they could buy reviews or get fake ones – our advice is that it’s not worth it.
At the end of the day if you do a good job then a customer is more likely to leave a good review and you don’t have to worry about your account getting suspended etc.
Here are some tips on how to ask for Google or Facebook reviews:
1. Make it easy – There are some great tips online on how to get your Facebook or Google review page and then make it into a nice easy link which you can send to customers
2. Send it out – Put it in your signature, on your website, in your emails and send it out.
You could also use it in your email campaigns or even offline flyers and business cards.
The more people who see the link, the more who are likely to leave reviews.
Another good idea is to text it, Whatsapp it and even phone people and tell them about the link.
3. Tell them what to say – Giving people an example review means they don’t have to think about what to write and you can ensure they put in certain keywords.
eg. StudioRav were very helpful and friendly and their webdesign skills were amazing!
4. Thank them – Always remember to respond to your reviews and thank people for leaving them.
At the end of the day they are your clients and they’ve taken time out of their day to say something nice about you.
What’s the cost of this?
Facebook, Google and many other sites where you can leave a review are completely free so it’s vital you make use of them.
Sites like TrustPilot however have free plans and then start charging for more advanced features or integrations.
At the end of the day it’s most likely you want good reviews on Google and Facebook first.
What if I get bad reviews?
Every business comes across customers who just won’t be satisfied no matter how hard you work.
Every business therefore could potentially get a bad review.
However, the best way to tackle these is by responding to them in a professional way and show how you have taken steps to improve the situation.
Sometimes even asking the customer to get in touch with you again to discuss can show a willingness to engage and fix the issue.
Businesses who simply don’t reply back or ignore bad feedback are the ones who really put customers off.
Offering something in return for a review
Giving customers an incentive for leaving a good review sounds like a good idea but it’s most probably a breach of terms and conditions.
Offering something in exchange for a good review is basically like buying a review and therefore it’s not recommended to do so.
As mentioned above you can thank people who leave a nice review and you could always send a nice gift to someone who left a review if you wanted to.
Want to get more reviews?
If you want to get more reviews on Google or Facebook for your business then let us help you.
We can help you put together emails and marketing materials which can be sent out to existing clients so they will want to leave good reviews.
At the end of day you want everyone to know about the good work you do!