3 Simple Ways to Gain Online Reviews
By Anne Leonard
Online reviews are often the first thing that pops up when someone searches for your business. When potential customers see a lack of reviews, they may be likely to look for services elsewhere. You might be asking yourself, “What can I do about this?” Here are three simple ways you can gain more online reviews for your business.
1. Offer incentives for reviews.
Everyone loves freebies, whether that be discounts or knick knacks. So, why not use this to your business’s advantage? On social media or even on a sign outside of your shop, offer incentives in exchange for your customers’ reviews. Sites including Facebook, Google and Yelp tend to get a lot of traffic, so start by requesting reviews on these platforms. In addition, you can request Check-ins on Facebook, which are another beneficial and inexpensive way to market your business.
2. Take control of your online presence.
Platforms like Facebook and Google make it easy for you to take control of your online presence. With Facebook Business Manager, you can easily view stats for your page, online reviews and comments. This is also another avenue where you can respond to comments made on your page. With Google, make sure to download their Google My Business app.
3. Always respond to customer reviews (Yes, the negative ones, too.).
While you can hope that all of your customer reviews will be positive, there’s a chance that they’re not all going to be glowing. Wondering what to do in this tricky situation? Respond to them in a polite and professional manner. Explain the situation in more depth, then you may choose to offer a refund or discount for their next visit. Taking the time to respond accomplishes three things:
- You alleviate the comment from the flustered customer.
- You show your other customers that you’re responsive to feedback.
- You open the door for new customers to be more willing to try your business.
In this digital age, where more and more users are seeking customer reviews before visiting a business, it’s more important now than ever to make sure you are making these a priority.
Next: 5 Ways to Enhance Your Online Presence with Social Media
