It has probably happened to you before. You saw a great deal online and it seems almost too good to be true. The product looks good in the photos, but you don't know the company otherwise. Instead of placing your order immediately, you decide to check what other buyers' experiences are like. You look up the company on Google and scroll through Google My Business to see the reviews. Then you get a shock. Apart from a few vague, very positive reviews, you read, bewildered, one negative review after another. So, you're glad you checked the reviews after all…
Reliable or not, nowadays customer reviews determine how 'reliable' a company is. Most people take a quick look at a company or product's reviews before purchasing a product or doing business with a company. And that is precisely why it is important to have reliable, positive Google reviews under your company name.
In the rest of this article, you will read how to collect the reviews which are so important for creating a reliable and honest image of a company.
8 review tips for marketers and entrepreneurs
Before we discuss the tips, it is good to keep the following facts in mind:
- Consumers are influenced by both positive and negative reviews in the purchasing process;
- The more reviews, the better;
- However, it is also true that a few reviews are always better than nothing;
- Young consumers (18-34) trust online reviews as much as verbal recommendations from their environment;
- Most consumers trust advertisements less;
- Good (detailed) reviews can have a noticeable positive effect on sales;
- The more expensive the product/service, the more important reviews are in the purchasing decision;
- Are you looking for new employees? They also look at customer reviews;
- The vast majority of consumers only look at recent reviews;
- Text reviews are generally considered more valuable than photo or video reviews;
- With an average rating of less than 3 stars on Google, the consumer chooses a competitor with a better rating.
1. Fill in Google My Business
Any half-decent marketer knows that a fully completed Google My Business Listing is essential for your online visibility. This is a brief overview of the company with the most important information and contact details. This is good for ranking in Google, but also for quickly informing potential customers looking up a company.
Google reviews are a part of the Google My Business page. With sufficient google reviews stars are even displayed in the local search results. This makes you stand out even more.
2. #dtv
#dtv stands for 'dare to askThis also applies to entrepreneurs who would like more positive reviews online. It is perfectly fine to ask for them! As long as you do so politely and gauge whether it is appropriate at that moment. If you have just had an argument with a customer, it is not very wise to bring up the subject of a review. If the customer is most likely satisfied, then you can certainly ask for a review personally or via email after a visit or use of your service. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
3. Timing is important
As was mentioned earlier, the timing of when you ask for a review is of great importance to the chances of success. In addition to checking whether the customer is satisfied (if possible), the best time to ask for a review is right after they have purchased a product, left your restaurant or hotel, or used your service.
De pleasant experience then still sits fresh in the memory And someone who is absolutely positive will now, with full satisfaction, take the trouble to write a positive review. At a later point, that positive feeling may have faded too much, and it feels like too much effort.
4. Resolving negative reviews
Things won't always go smoothly. For instance, you may also encounter negative reviews. If a customer or visitor appears dissatisfied and expresses this in a review, it is good to find out where that dissatisfaction originated. Is the complaint about service, staff, product, or something else? Get in touch and ask for feedbackYou can use this feedback to improve your overall quality and prevent more negative experiences.
The next step is to turn the negative review into a positive one. In doing so, it is important not to take the comment personally and, above all, to remain friendly. Ensure the customer feels heard and ask how they would like the problem resolved. Show that you are genuinely willing to help.
Remember: The way you respond to a complaint determines whether someone's bad experience can still turn into a positive review.
5. Email review request
If you choose to ask for reviews via email, you must make it as easy as possible for the recipient. Include a clear call-to-action in your email that can be clicked to go directly to the review website. Make this action as follows accessible en easy possible. Therefore, keep your email brief by asking just one question, for example, such as 'What did you think of [product/service]? We would love to hear your opinion on the quality of our service and your order.'
Additionally, ensure that your branding is clearly recognizable in the email, so that the recipient at least recognizes it and does not perceive it as spam.
6. Choose your review platform
There are quite a few websites where you can collect reviews for your business. Our tip: make sure that you are at least in Google have a number of reviews listed (see tip 1). Additionally, you can choose a platform such as feedback companyHere you can choose your own rating fields and tailor them to your service or product.
7. Collect your reviews honestly
While you are absolutely allowed to ask for reviews, it is certainly not the intention to bribe or reward customers for leaving a positive review. That makes your reviews significantly less reliable and credible. It is also unfair, because it gives a distorted image.
The danger of this is that you actually end up receiving complaints. Potential customers rely on glowing reviews from others and are likely to be disappointed with the result. This is not what you want to achieve, so above all, remain honest and do not offer rewards for reviews.
8. Rate every review
Thank you Finally, there are always the customers who have left a positive review. They took the trouble to write a review, so give them the appreciation they deserve. Who knows, they might come back to you again!
Higher in Google thanks to positive reviews
Actively collecting positive reviews will pay off. After all, having positive reviews contributes to the SEO score of a website. Reviews are one of Google's ranking factors. Therefore, always ensure that the vast majority of your reviews are positive. Has a bad review been written? Then try to pay extra attention to obtaining new positive reviews. It would be a shame if you dropped due to one bad review, which might not even be entirely justified.
Thank you and goodbye!
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