What are the key factors that determine your business reputation? Actually, there are a lot of reasons that can persuade your clients to make a purchase or to forget about the company. But what really matter in any cases, are reviews. Agree, when we’re going to buy something, we ask our friends or colleagues for recommendations. And if we don’t know whom to ask, we do a lot of research. Positive online reviews can change our mind for the better. They help us make sure that the decision is correct. Or lead to doubts whether everything is so rosy in reality. Companies without reviews seem even more suspicious. People don’t know what to expect from them, that’s why they make a purchase somewhere else.
Here are some impressive statistics that proves the reviews impact on the customer choice.
Therefore, if you want to build a really successful business, it is important to get more reviews. And we are ready to tell you how.
1. Optimize your website
It might seem that this step is not directly related to the reviews, but this is not the case. A long download, incomprehensible navigation, inconvenient design make users dissatisfied, and they surely will write about this wherever they can.
Bet on intuitive interface and easy purchasing process and you will set the right tone for customer relationships. Therefore, before thinking about how to ask for a review, make sure that your prospects have no complaints about the desktop or mobile version of the website.
And once you’ve attracted your target audience to your online page, take care they know how to leave reviews there. Set up badges to direct users quickly to your pages on Facebook, Yelp or Amazon to write their opinion. And if you’re asking for client reviews via email, be as polite and nice as it possible.
The second moment why do you need to optimize your website is about amount of steps to write a review. Just imagine, the customer opens your page with a wish to write a positive feedback. But it’s too hard to find the appropriate field, fonts are annoying, previous reviews are written in an incomprehensible manner and still without any response from you. Most likely the customer will leave your website and you’ll never know his or her opinion. It’s OK if speaking about single review only, but don’t forget about your business reputation.
2. Give them a little more than promised
This is a good way to get more reviews, more positive reviews. Receiving a long-awaited purchase, customers feel elation. And now remember your feelings when you got a little more than you expected, e.g:
- the fragrance sample;
- brochure with interesting recipes;
- the 7th coffee for free;
- $5 off for next purchase…
… and so on.
Of course, it doesn’t mean that you can rely on these presents and forget about the quality of the good or service you provide. But people are used to seeing a good service as a regular service. That’s why you need something more, something “extra” to get positive reviews. One more aspect, don’t hope for a miracle silently. Offer your customers to write about their experience. Usually people don’t bother to write something good about their experience. And your kind reminder can do you a favor. But don’t insist.
3. Create incentives.
You definitely appreciate your own time, and your customers act in the same way. They need a special occasion to write something good. Interesting, but bad reviews they write without any occasions. That’s why you need to create them, e.g. with incentives.
Offer them coupon codes, discount, gift cards, any privileges. Do not insist reviews should be good. Think about your target goal. Of course, you want your customers to be satisfied and you want to promote reviews attracting new customers. But what you really need is to improve the quality of your service. Any feedback, good or bad, helps you on this way. How will you know what to change if all your customers write good things just to receive free coffee? They can leave a perfect review, but will never recommend you. So get ready for feedback, whatever it may be
4. Choose several websites
There are several ways how to get customer reviews. You can receive them on your own website, on social networks and different portals. Find the most suitable for yourself, but don’t choose too much. Dozens of reviews at two or three websites look much more convincing than two or three reviews at dozens of websites.
There is a list of the most popular options:
- Yelp;
- Google;
- Amazon;
- Facebook;
- Better Business Bureau.
The last one is a highly trusted source of customer reviews in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. So if you’re wondering how to get reviews from customers, register with BBB. Here you can find a lot of prospects who are just wondering about new companies in their region. Or establish partnerships with other businesses from your niche.
Choosing other websites, you should think about your target audience and search for a popular and proven sources.
5. Always respond
The next method to receive easy digital reviews is pretty simple. Just respond to your customers.
Nobody likes to be ignored. Sometimes people write what they think because they want to complain, throw out their emotions. But mostly they write reviews to be heard. Even if your good or service weren’t too good, your customers will come back if they understand you’re ready to work with your mistakes. So respond them, answer their questions, comment if they’re saying untruth. It is a good strategy not only for those who have left the review, but for those who will read it in a month or a year. People love customer-oriented business, and they love to know there is someone alive. Who makes mistakes, but learns from them. Show your audience that you’re willing to take the necessary steps to fix things.
6. Don’t make fake reviews
A lot of companies, especially new ones, hire copywriters specifically for reviews. The task of these professionals is to write good reviews and to delete the bad ones.
But your customers are not fools. They are fed up with sugary reviews and will recognize fraud with ease. It is hard to write a dozen reviews and to stay original, to pretend you’re in someone’s shoes and know the situation from all it sides. Customers’ experience is unique and leave it be so. It is better to have fewer reviews, but sincere ones.
That’s why you don’t need to delete negative reviews. People are more open when it is going about situations that made them disappointed or even angry. If your business didn’t face conflicts, is it trustworthy? Remember that when your prospects read reviews, they’re paying more attention to the way you handle the complaints. When you prefer to delete them, it tells a lot about your way of business.
7. Communicate
How to get online reviews if you already have a perfect website, a Facebook account, always answer your customers and present them sweet gifts? One more option is about being interactive.
Are your familiar with Instagram or Facebook stories? Do you have a Twitter account? If you aren’t, fix it. It is an important channel for communication.
Retweet the most valuable reviews or make a highlight folder with them in Instagram. It is a nice way to promote your customers’ account, and they would appreciate it. People like attention, and they like when their favorite company or brand notice them. Organize a giveaway among the most active users, offer a prize for the most useful feedback. Show your audience you really care. And you will receive something more than reviews, you will receive their love.
Conclusion
Online reviews marketing is an important part of your strategy. It helps to attract prospects, to keep your repeated customers and to change your business for the better, find new ways of development. Leverage all the opportunities to get more positive reviews, but appreciate the negative ones. We hope our tips will help you on this way!
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