If you’re a small business owner, you’ve likely already faced some uphill battles when it comes to marketing your company online. Today’s consumers want to know what other people think about a product or service before buying and are looking for user reviews online on sites like Google and Yelp to help them make purchasing decisions.
If you don’t have a good online reputation, you could be missing out on a lot of potential customers. That’s why it’s so important to actively manage your online reputation and make sure you have plenty of positive reviews.
But asking your customers for reviews can be tricky. You don’t want to come across as pushy or desperate. Fortunately, there are some easy and straightforward ways you can ask for reviews that are less likely to turn potential customers off. Keep reading to learn more.
Why Your Online Reputation & Reviews Matter
How People Use Reviews to Shop
Consumers are increasingly turning to online reviews to help them make purchasing decisions. Recent data from BrightLocal indicates that 89% of consumers surveyed say they are likely to purchase from a company that responds to all of its web reviews, and over half of respondents said they would not want to do business with a company that does not respond to user reviews.
This means that for small businesses, having quality online reviews on multiple platforms is essential in order to compete with larger businesses and win new customers. To ensure that your business is getting the most positive reviews possible, consider implementing a review management strategy if you don’t already have one or making changes to your existing strategy to encourage better performance. If you’re not sure where to start, consider reaching out to a review management company that can help you get started.
Which Platforms Should You Have Reviews On?
There are many different review platforms where customers can leave feedback for businesses, including Google Business Profile, Facebook, Angi, Yelp, Nextdoor, and more. To determine which platforms are most relevant to your business, consider the following factors:
- The type of business you have
- The products or services you offer
- Your target audience
- The geographic areas you serve
- The platforms that your competitors are using
While it’s important to have a presence on as many platforms as possible, it’s also important to focus on the platforms that are most relevant to your business. Make sure you’re putting your effort into the right places.
For example, for local businesses, it’s especially important to have strong reviews on your Google Business Profile and Yelp profile.
The bottom line is that you need to focus your efforts on the platforms that are most likely to generate new leads. For most businesses, that means focusing on Google, Nextdoor, Facebook, and Yelp.
How to Ask For Reviews 7 Different Ways
1. In Person
If you own a brick-and-mortar business, asking customers for reviews in person is a great way to get started. This method works best if you have a great relationship with your customers. When the transaction is complete and they’re handing you their credit card or cash, simply say something like, “It would mean a lot to us if you could leave us a review on Google or Yelp.”
2. On the Phone
Another great opportunity to ask for a review is over the phone. After someone has made a purchase or used your services, give them a call to follow up and see how everything went. The key is to be brief, polite, and grateful. If they had a positive experience, let them know that you would appreciate a review and direct them to the appropriate platform. You can say something along the lines of, “Thanks in advance for your feedback about our company!”
3. Via Text
In our tech-centric culture, it only makes sense to ask for reviews via text message. This method can work well if you have the customer’s permission to text them — for example, if they opted in to receive SMS messages from you when they made their purchase.
After they’ve had some time to use your product or service, shoot them a quick text letting them know that you would appreciate a review on your Google Business Profile or Yelp page. You should include information on how and where to leave the review, and if the customer doesn’t respond to your initial text, you can try sending a follow-up message a few days later.
4. By Email
Sending an email is another excellent way to request reviews from customers who have already had some time to use your product or service. A few days after their purchase, send them an email thanking them for their choice to work with you and asking them to post their thoughts online. You can even include links directly to your listings so they can leave their review with just a few clicks. The easier you make it for customers, the more likely you are to get a review.
5. With a Handwritten Note or Letter
For a more personal touch, you can also ask for reviews by sending a handwritten note or letter. This method works well if you have a smaller customer base that you interact with on a regular basis, or if your products are higher-end or more expensive. If you go this route, make sure your handwriting is legible and that you’re using high-quality paper and envelopes. This will show them that you’re truly grateful for their business and that you’re interested in hearing their thoughts.
6. On Your Invoices or Receipts
Adding a request to your invoices or receipts is another way to make it easier for customers to leave you a review. You can simply add a sentence at the end of your invoice or receipt that says something like, “We would appreciate your feedback on [insert site name].” Customers who delete emails and texts from businesses may be more likely to engage with a less invasive request for a review.
7. On Social Media
You can also ask your social media followers who have made a purchase to leave a review and pin a post that directs them where they can go to do so. This will help increase the visibility of your reviews and make it easier for potential customers to find them on platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. When you receive a positive review, be sure to thank the customer for their feedback.
Other Tips for Customer Review Success
Remember that you can’t ask your customers for positive reviews — it’s unethical. This will give your business more credibility and improve your chances of getting more positive reviews in the future.
Check Out Our Business Intelligence Marketing Software
How Surefire Local Can Help Your Small Business Manage Its Online Reputation
If you want to grow your small business, it’s important to pay attention to your online reputation and reviews. People use reviews to make decisions about which business they’ll give their hard-earned money to, so it’s important to have a good online reputation. Surefire Local’s business intelligence marketing software can help your small business manage its online reputation in several ways. First, the program can track your online reviews and ratings across multiple platforms, so you can quickly identify any negative feedback and address it accordingly.
Additionally, our platform provides detailed insights into your customer satisfaction levels, helping you to identify areas where your business could improve its service. Finally, we offer a suite of tools to help you proactively generate positive reviews and build up your small business’ online presence. Schedule a demo today to see how Surefire Local’s business intelligence marketing software can help you take control of your online reputation and get more 5-star reviews.