In today’s digital age, customer reviews are crucial for the reputation and success of local businesses. Positive reviews act as authentic word-of-mouth marketing and can greatly impact sales. Acquiring customer reviews requires intentional efforts and strategic techniques. Professional local SEO companies can assist in acquiring good online reviews and improving SEO results.
Key online review statistics show that more than 99.9% of people read reviews at least occasionally, when shopping online. 91% of consumers acknowledged that positive reviews made them more likely to support a business. Around 79% trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Only 13% of people would consider using a business with a two-star or less rating. Online reviews provide social proof of the quality of your business offerings, establish your level and area of expertise, and build trust. Let us consider ten good strategies to harness the power of customer reviews and establish a reputable and customer-centric image.
Attract Customer Reviews with These Proven Strategies
- Provide Exceptional Customer Experiences – To attract positive customer reviews, you need to deliver outstanding products or services. A customer’s in-store experience counts most when it comes to the amount and quality of reviews your business receives. Deliver outstanding products or services and exceed customer expectations. Happy and satisfied customers are more likely to leave positive reviews.
- Ask for Reviews in Person – Train staff to politely ask satisfied customers for honest reviews. Personal interactions can have a significant impact on encouraging customers to share their experiences. However, this tactic won’t work if there is a line of customers and the counter staff keeps repeating the same message “Please Review Us to each and every customer. Instead, when the time is right, a staff member can use his/her practical judgment to ask customers that dropping a review would be helpful for your business. Keep in mind that this applies to both in-store staff and online/phone support.
- Utilize Email Follow-ups – Send a follow-up email expressing gratitude to customers and request their honest feedback. Provide direct links to review platforms or your website’s review page for convenience.
- Optimize Online Listings -. Ensure your business is listed on popular review sites such as Google My Business, Yelp, TripAdvisor, and industry-specific directories. Claim and optimize these listings with accurate information including your address, phone number, business hours, and website.
- Use In-store Placards to Encourage Reviews – As a local business with a brick-and-mortar store, you can use in-store signage such as banners, flyers, or window clings to invite reviews. Display in-store signage. Include a review request on bill receipts or utilize a kiosk with an in-store app to guide customers to leave reviews. Or, you can have a QR code that points to a list of review profile links so that customers can choose the platform of their choice to leave a review.
- Leverage Social Media – Engage with your audience on social media platforms and encourage customers to share their experiences and leave reviews. Promptly respond to comments and messages to foster a positive online presence. If you run a restaurant business, you can informally ask if there was an older menu item that was discontinued that customers really miss. Then, you could encourage customers to mention that in their review as a “vote for bringing it back. This technique empowers customers to share fun stories in the form of reviews while boosting the social media engagement of your brand.
- Offer Incentives – Consider providing incentives such as discounts or entry into giveaways in return for reviews. However, avoid offering incentives specifically for positive reviews to comply with review platform guidelines.
- Display Customer Reviews Prominently – Showcase customer reviews on your website, social media pages, and physical location. Positive reviews act as social proof and can influence potential customers.
- Include Review Reminders on Your Website – Simplify the review writing process for customers by using call-to-action buttons, pop-ups, or direct link generators to guide them to review platforms.
- Thoughtfully Respond to Reviews – Respond to all reviews, positive and negative, in a personalized manner. Express gratitude for positive reviews and address concerns or issues raised in negative reviews. Responding to reviews shows that your business values customer sentiments.
Customer reviews are invaluable assets for local businesses, serving as a testament to the quality of products or services offered. Implementing effective techniques to attract customer reviews can significantly impact your business’s online reputation, visibility, and overall success. Embracing the above listed techniques can help achieve the positive impact of customer reviews on your business’ growth and success. Consider utilizing organic search engine optimization services to leverage the power of customer reviews and take your business to the next level.
