Online reviews have an immense impact on your company’s success. Consumers tend to follow the opinions stated in reviews to determine which brands and products to trust. Do you want to harness this powerful tool for the benefit of your business? Use these steps to obtain positive reviews that channel more business your way.
1. Ask and you will receive
You’re allowed to ask for reviews. You don’t have to wait for people to volunteer them. If you do, you may only get negative ones, because people enjoy complaining more than giving compliments. Simply ask regular customers to rate your product or company. Ask suppliers and business partners to do the same. The result of your positive online reviews are beneficial to them too.
2. What and how you ask matter
When you ask for a review, choose your words wisely. Asking for good reviews sounds as if you’re requiring something whether it’s true or not. Customers don’t want to be told what to do. Simply ask for an honest review. If you ask the right group of people you’ll get excellent feedback.
3. Turn one review into a marketing campaign
An honest review shows you what stands out about your business or products. Improve these aspects even further and you’re guaranteed more reviews. If it’s important to one customer, it will matter to others as well. Use these focus areas in your marketing campaigns. It will attract new clients and you can guide them to comment on these features as well.
4. Respond to every review
You can respond to negative reviews by offering solutions. Don’t make excuses, because it may only aggravate the person more. Solutions show that you’re listening to a need and you’re willing to go the extra mile for customers.
Positive reviews deserve the same amount of attention. Thanking a loyal customer or another business for their support will improve your relationship with them. It can also spark more reviews in future since they know it’s not taken for granted.
5. Make it easy for the customer
If you’re asking a favour from a customer you should make it easy for them to comply. Nobody wants to waste time by writing long paragraphs. Send an email with a link to a rating website. They can give you a star rating and comment if they want to. The less effort it takes the better their mood will be. A good mood will translate into a positive review.