How to Get Customers to Leave a Review
In today’s digital age, the online reputation of your business can make or break its success. Potential customers very often rely on reviews to gauge the credibility and quality of a business before making a decision. Ensuring your business has a steady stream of positive reviews not only builds trust with potential customers but also plays a significant role in your online visibility. In this guide, we’ll explore strategies for how to get customers to leave a review and how it can benefit your business.
The Importance of Customer Reviews
Customer reviews serve as powerful social proof, influencing the purchasing decisions of potential customers. In fact, 93% say reviews have impacted a purchase decision and only 2% [read that again – TWO PERCENT] say they have never read an online review. Everyone reads reviews, it’s now just a very natural step in a purchase decision. Whether they’re searching for a local restaurant or a service provider, people turn to online reviews to determine the reliability and quality of a business. A lack of reviews or negative feedback can deter potential customers from engaging with your business, highlighting the critical importance of cultivating a positive online reputation.
Enhancing SEO with Reviews
Beyond their influence on potential customers, reviews also impact your business’s visibility in search engine results. Search engines, particularly Google, consider factors such as the quantity, recency, and sentiment of reviews when determining a business’s ranking. With Google dominating the search engine market share, focusing on accumulating reviews on Google Business Profile is essential. Did you know that approximately 92% of all online searches are conducted on Google? That equates to 5.9 million Google searches per minute, which is a ridiculously vast audience you don’t want to overlook.
Setting Up Your Google Business Profile
If you haven’t already, setting up your Google Business Profile should be a top priority. This free tool allows you to showcase essential business information and serves as a platform for collecting and managing customer reviews. It’s your digital storefront and ensuring it’s well-optimized can significantly impact how you appear in search results. Within the GRT Marketing Membership, we will guide you so you know exactly how to do this and what you should pay attention to, in order to make sure it’s well-optimized.
Expanding Your Review Reach
While Google should be your primary focus, having reviews on other platforms can also benefit your business. However, given Google’s status as the search authority, prioritizing reviews on this platform is crucial. With millions of users turning to Google for answers, having a strong presence here is paramount to your business’s success.
Making it Easy for Customers to Leave Reviews
Simplicity is key when it comes to encouraging customers to leave reviews. Provide multiple avenues for customers to leave feedback, such as handing them a card with a QR code or sending a text or email with a direct link to your Google Business Profile. Grab this link from your Google Business Profile where it says “Ask For Reviews” – doing this provides less clicks (i.e. less effort) for your customers. Additionally, don’t underestimate the power of a verbal request – a personal ask can significantly increase the likelihood of receiving a review. In an ideal situation, you’d verbally ask for the review and then send them the link electronically right after they agree.
Crafting Thoughtful Responses
When customers take the time to leave a review, it’s essential to respond. Express gratitude for positive reviews and include keywords if they naturally flow. Address any concerns raised in negative reviews with professionalism and objectivity. Do not go into details of any interaction, even if you do not agree with what the person has said in the review! Remember, your responses aren’t just for the reviewer; they’re for potential customers reading through your reviews…this is especially true for negative reviews/responses.
Have super old reviews out there you never responded to? Go respond now! Better late than never when it comes to responding. Both Google and prospective customers want to see that you’re engaged!
Leveraging the GRT Marketing Membership
As a member of GRT Marketing, you have access to invaluable support and guidance to optimize your review collection strategy. Our marketing membership will equip you with a back-pocket marketing coach, empowering you to implement effective marketing strategies independently and on your own time. With the GRT Marketing Membership, you can streamline your marketing efforts and focus on parts of the business you love most.
In today’s competitive business landscape, harnessing the power of customer reviews is essential for success. By implementing the strategies outlined in this guide and leveraging the resources available through the GRT Marketing Membership, you can cultivate a strong online reputation, attract new customers, and propel your business to new heights. Start prioritizing how to get customers to leave a review today and watch your business thrive in the digital realm.