You’ve seen plenty of local businesses get ahead of the competition because of online reviews. However, your own business currently isn’t doing so well in this area. Don’t assume that getting more reviews is an impossibility. Employing some smart and simple strategies can get your company more reviews in the near future.
Ask for Reviews
One useful way to increase the number of reviews that your customers write is to simply ask them to leave their feedback on specific sites. Do keep in mind that bribing customers to write reviews is inappropriate, and some review sites do have rules in place to protect against such behavior. You can, however, ask customers if they would please leave reviews. Making this request after having a positive interaction with a customer is certainly a useful approach.
Find Your Niche
Having reviews in too many places could become confusing. In short, prospective customers might see that your company has only one review on a bunch of different sites. Aim to streamline your efforts. Working with companies like RevLocal can help you find review sites that are a match for your business. For example, the owner of a restaurant and the owner of a home repair shop would ask their customers to leave reviews on different sites appropriate to the niche.
Put Links on Social Media
When current customers want to see the latest news with your business, they may very well check out your social media sites. As thus, make sure that links to the sites housing your company’s reviews are available on the social media platforms. In addition to getting to see what other people have to say about the business, customers might be reminded of their own promise to you to write a review.
Respond to Reviews
You also want to interact with your customers on review sites. When your business receives a positive review, write a message of gratitude. Also, learn how to respond to negative comments with dignity and grace. Of course, you should not allow your company to be bullied online, but do understand that some customers are likely making reasonable requests. The way in which you respond to negative reviews of the business can tell prospective customers a lot about whether or not they want to turn into actual clients.
Getting reviews for your business is quite important. Many consumers in the modern world look to these reviews for guidance. As thus, use some strategies for getting more reviews of your company out there in the world.
Anica is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. You can connect with Anica on Twitter @AnicaOaks.
