For small businesses, a strong online reputation is essential to building trust with customers and attracting new business. One of the best ways to achieve this is through customer reviews. However, many business owners struggle to get feedback from their customers, making it difficult to build up a solid base of reviews. Without reviews, potential customers may look elsewhere or hesitate to trust your business.
In this guide, we’ll share practical tips on how to get more reviews and boost your online reputation, helping your small business stand out.
1. Ask for Reviews at the Right Time
One of the simplest and most effective ways to get more reviews is to ask your customers directly, but timing is everything. The key is to ask when the customer is most satisfied with their experience.
Best Times to Ask:
- After a Purchase: Once a customer has received their product or experienced your service and is happy with the result.
- After a Positive Interaction: If a customer leaves a compliment or gives positive feedback, use the opportunity to request a review.
- During Repeat Business: Loyal customers are more likely to leave a review, especially if they’ve had multiple positive experiences.
Pro Tip: Train your staff to recognise opportunities to ask for reviews during customer interactions. A simple request at the right moment can lead to valuable feedback.
2. Make It Easy for Customers to Leave Reviews
Customers are more likely to leave a review if the process is quick and easy. Provide clear instructions and make sure they can review your business in just a few clicks.
How to Simplify the Process:
- Send a direct link: Use a tool like Google Review Link Generator to create a direct link that customers can click to leave a review. Share this link via email, social media, or text.
- Include review links in follow-up emails: After a purchase or service, send a follow-up email thanking the customer and include a link to your preferred review platform.
- Provide multiple review options: Offer several platforms where customers can leave reviews, such as Google My Business, Facebook, or Yelp, depending on what’s most relevant for your industry.
Pro Tip: Include simple step-by-step instructions on how to leave a review if your customers are not familiar with the platform you’re using.
3. Incentivise Reviews (Without Breaking the Rules)
While many review platforms have rules against offering rewards in exchange for reviews, there are ways to ethically encourage feedback without violating policies.
Ideas for Encouraging Reviews:
- Offer a discount or small reward: Instead of directly offering something in exchange for a review, consider giving customers a discount or bonus after they leave feedback, regardless of the review’s content.
- Run a review contest: Encourage customers to leave reviews by running a monthly contest where anyone who leaves feedback is entered to win a small prize. Just make sure to follow platform rules about incentivising reviews.
- Thank customers with a small gift: After leaving a review, send customers a token of appreciation, such as a discount on their next purchase or a thank-you gift.
Pro Tip: Always be transparent and avoid pressuring customers to leave only positive reviews. Authentic feedback, whether good or constructive, helps build trust.
4. Respond to All Reviews—Positive and Negative
Responding to reviews is just as important as getting them. When potential customers see that you actively engage with your reviews, it shows that you care about your customers and value their feedback.
How to Respond:
- To Positive Reviews: Always thank the customer for their feedback. Highlight any specific comments they made and acknowledge their positive experience.
- To Negative Reviews: Stay professional and avoid being defensive. Address the customer’s concerns and offer to resolve the issue. This shows that you take problems seriously and are willing to make things right.
Pro Tip: Keep responses brief and personal, using the customer’s name and referring to their specific experience. This builds rapport and shows that your business cares about individual customers.
5. Leverage Social Proof
Once you start collecting reviews, don’t just leave them sitting on review platforms—use them as social proof to attract more customers. Sharing positive reviews across your website and marketing channels can build trust and credibility.
Where to Use Reviews:
- On your website: Add a dedicated testimonials page or feature reviews on product/service pages to show potential customers what others think about your business.
- In social media posts: Share standout reviews on social media platforms to showcase your customer satisfaction.
- In marketing emails: Include glowing reviews in your email newsletters or marketing campaigns to build confidence with your audience.
Pro Tip: Use actual customer names (with permission) and photos where possible to add authenticity to your testimonials.
6. Encourage Reviews Across Multiple Platforms
While Google My Business reviews are crucial for local SEO, don’t limit yourself to one platform. Different customers may prefer different review platforms, and a broad spread of reviews helps build a more comprehensive online presence.
Top Review Platforms:
- Google My Business: Essential for local businesses as it directly impacts your local search rankings.
- Facebook: Great for social engagement and building trust with a wider audience.
- Yelp: Ideal for restaurants, services, and hospitality businesses.
- Trustpilot: Popular for eCommerce and online service businesses.
Pro Tip: Don’t overwhelm customers with too many options. Offer two or three main platforms to ensure you collect reviews where they matter most to your business.
7. Monitor and Improve Your Online Reputation
It’s important to consistently monitor your reviews and online reputation. By keeping an eye on feedback, you can identify trends and address any potential issues before they escalate.
How to Monitor Your Reputation:
- Set up Google Alerts for your business name to be notified of any new mentions or reviews.
- Use reputation management tools like Yext or Reputology to track reviews across multiple platforms and manage responses in one place.
- Regularly review feedback to spot any recurring issues and improve your products or services accordingly.
Pro Tip: Aim for a balanced review profile. A mix of positive reviews with occasional constructive feedback looks more authentic than all glowing five-star reviews.
Conclusion
Getting more reviews and building a positive online reputation doesn’t have to be difficult. By asking at the right time, making it easy for customers to leave reviews, responding thoughtfully, and leveraging social proof, you can encourage valuable feedback and boost your business’s reputation.
Struggling to build your online reputation? Contact New Era Digital today for help creating a review strategy that drives more feedback and improves your local visibility.
Ready to boost your online reputation? Contact New Era Digital today to create a review strategy that helps your small business attract more positive feedback.
