How To Ask For Online Reviews
Nick Czerwinski
PPC & Local SEO Specialist
Online reviews have become integral to the modern consumer’s decision-making process. In fact, according to a survey conducted by BrightLocal, 91% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase or using a service. Additionally, 84% of people trust online reviews as much as they trust recommendations from friends and family. With this in mind, it’s easy to see why online reviews can make or break a business.
However, getting more reviews can be a challenge. Customers may not think to leave a review, or they may not know how to do so. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the best ways to ask for and get more reviews on review platforms. We’ll provide tips and statistics to back up our claims so that you can put these strategies into practice and start reaping the benefits of positive online reviews.
The Importance of Getting Reviews
Impact of Reviews on Purchasing Decisions
Online reviews have a significant impact on consumers’ purchasing decisions. A 2020 survey conducted by BrightLocal found that 91% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase or using a service. Furthermore, the same survey found that 68% of consumers are likelier to operate a business with positive reviews, while 40% will avoid a business with negative reviews. This means that having positive reviews can be a powerful tool for attracting new customers and retaining existing ones.
Moreover, online reviews can provide businesses with valuable feedback on their products, services, and customer service. By reading reviews, businesses can learn what their customers like and don’t like and make changes to improve their offerings.
Statistics on the Importance of Reviews
Here are some additional statistics that demonstrate just how critical online reviews can be for businesses:
Businesses with at least 10 reviews receive 46% more website traffic than businesses with fewer than 10 reviews. (BrightLocal)
57% of consumers will only use a business if it has 4 or more stars. (BrightLocal)
Businesses with positive reviews have an 18% higher likelihood of making a sale. (Invesp)
Clearly, having 5 star reviews on Google can have a significant impact on a business’s success. But in order to get those reviews, you need to know how to ask for them effectively.
In the next section, we’ll discuss some tips for asking customers for reviews in an effective and not pushy way.
Choosing the Best Channel to Request Reviews
When it comes to asking for reviews, the best approach will depend on your business and your customers’ preferences. Some customers may prefer to leave a review in person, while others may be more comfortable leaving a review online. Here are some different ways you can ask for reviews:
In Person
If you have a physical storefront, you can ask customers to leave a review in person. You could provide them with a business card or a postcard with a link to your review page, or simply ask them to leave a review on the spot. This can be a great way to build rapport with your customers and show them that you value their feedback.
Email is a popular way to ask for reviews because it’s quick, easy, and allows you to automate the process. According to a survey conducted by Search Engine Land, email is the most effective way to ask for reviews, with 70% of respondents saying that they are more likely to leave a review if they receive an email request. You could send an email to customers a few days after their purchase, thanking them for their business and asking them to leave a review. Be sure to include a direct link to your review page to make it as easy as possible for them to leave a review.
Text Message
Text messages can be a great way to ask for reviews if you have customers’ phone numbers on file. You could send a brief text message asking them to leave a review and include a link to your review page. Keep in mind that some customers may not be comfortable receiving text messages from businesses, so be sure to get their permission first.
Social Media
If your business has a strong presence on social media, you could ask for reviews there. For example, you could post a message asking customers to leave a review and include a link to your review page. You could also encourage customers to leave reviews by offering incentives such as a discount or a free product or service.
Ultimately, the best way to ask for reviews will depend on your business and your customers. It’s a good idea to try out different methods and see what works best for you.
Effective Strategies for Asking for Review
Timing is Everything
Timing is one of the most important things to remember when asking for reviews. You want to ask customers for a review when the experience is still fresh in their minds, but not so soon that they haven’t had time to process their experience fully. A good rule of thumb is to wait a day or two after the customer has used your product or service before requesting a review.
Personalize Your Request
When asking for a review, it’s important to personalize your request as much as possible. Address the customer by name, mention the specific product or service they used, and thank them for their business. This can help make the request feel more genuine and less like a generic form letter.
Make it Easy
The easier you make it for customers to leave a review, the more likely they are to do so. Provide a direct link to the review platform you want them to use, and consider including step-by-step instructions on how to leave a review. If you have a physical location, you could also provide a QR code that customers can scan to leave a review on their mobile devices.
Offer Incentives (with Caution)
While offering incentives for leaving a review is tempting, it’s essential to do so with caution. Many review platforms have strict guidelines around incentivizing reviews, and some may even remove reviews that are suspected of being incentivized. However, you could consider offering a small discount or coupon for a future purchase as a thank you for leaving a review.
Follow Up (but Don’t Overdo It)
If a customer doesn’t leave a review after your initial request, don’t hesitate to follow up with a friendly reminder. However, it’s important not to overdo it – one or two follow-up emails are usually sufficient. If a customer still doesn’t leave a review after that, it’s best to move on and focus on getting reviews from other customers.
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Tips to Maximize the Impact of Your Reviews
To get more reviews, it’s crucial to make it as easy as possible for customers to leave them. In this section, we’ll discuss some key strategies to help you streamline the review process and encourage more feedback from your customers.
Choose the Right Review Platforms
When it comes to review platforms, it’s essential to focus your efforts on the ones that matter most to your business. Consider where your target audience will search for your business, and focus your efforts on those platforms. Some of the most popular review websites include Google My Business, Yelp, and Facebook, but there are many others to choose from.
Provide Direct Links
One of the easiest ways to encourage customers to leave reviews is to provide direct links to the review platforms you want them to use. You can do this in several ways, such as including a link in your email signature, adding a “Leave a Review” button to your website, or even printing the link on your receipts or business cards.
Respond to Reviews
Finally, one of the best ways to encourage customers to leave reviews is to show them you value their feedback. Make sure to respond to all positive and negative reviews in a timely and professional manner. Thank customers for their positive feedback and address any concerns from negative thoughts.
Offer Mobile Review Options
More and more consumers are using their mobile devices to search for businesses and leave reviews. To make it easy for customers to leave reviews on their mobile devices, provide direct links to mobile review options or use mobile-friendly review platforms.
Use Automated Review Requests
Many review platforms offer tools that allow you to automate review requests. For example, you could set up an automated email that is sent to customers a few days after they make a purchase, asking them to leave a review. This can save you time and make customers more likely to leave a review.
By making it easy for customers to leave reviews, you’ll be well on your way to building a strong online reputation. In the next section, we’ll discuss how to handle negative reviews and turn them into opportunities for improvement.
Dealing with Negative Reviews
While getting positive reviews can be a great way to build your online reputation, negative reviews can be just as important. Studies have shown that customers trust businesses more when they have a mix of positive and negative reviews, indicating that the reviews are authentic and not artificially inflated.
That said, negative reviews can be tough to handle. Here are some tips for dealing with negative reviews in a way that can turn them into opportunities for improvement:
Respond Promptly and Professionally
The first step in handling negative reviews is to respond promptly and professionally. Acknowledge the customer’s concerns and apologize for any negative experiences they may have had. Ensure you take their feedback seriously and are committed to making things right.
Take the Conversation Offline
While responding to negative reviews publicly is important, it’s also a good idea to take the conversation offline as soon as possible. Provide a way for the customer to contact you directly (such as a phone number or email address) and work with them to resolve the issue to satisfy both parties.
Learn from the Feedback
Negative reviews can be a great source of feedback and help you identify improvement areas. Take the time to read through each negative review and look for patterns or common themes. Use this feedback to make changes to your business or customer service processes.
Follow Up
Once you’ve resolved the issue with the customer, follow up with them to ensure they are satisfied with the outcome. This can help to rebuild trust and may even result in the customer revising their review to reflect the favorable resolution.
Negative reviews are an opportunity to learn and grow as a business. By handling them professionally and using the feedback to make improvements, you can turn a negative experience into a positive one for both the customer and your business.
In the final section, we’ll summarize the key points covered in this post and provide some final tips for getting more reviews on review platforms.
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Conclusion: Tips for Getting More Reviews on Review Platforms
In this post, we’ve covered the importance of online reviews for your business and strategies for getting more reviews on review platforms. Here are some final tips to keep in mind as you work to build your online reputation:
Ask for reviews at the right time
Timing is everything when asking for reviews. Consider asking customers for feedback shortly after a positive experience, such as after completing a purchase or receiving a service.
Personalize your requests
Customers are likelier to leave a review if they feel the request is personalized and not just a generic message. Use the customer’s name and mention specific details about their experience to make your proposal more personal.
Offer incentives
While you can’t pay customers for positive reviews, you can offer incentives for leaving feedback, such as a discount on their next purchase or entry into a contest.
Stay ethical
Finally, remember that staying honest regarding online reviews is vital. Never fake reviews or pay for the positive feedback; this can damage your reputation and even result in legal trouble.
By following these tips and implementing the strategies discussed in this post, you can build a solid online reputation and attract more customers to your business.
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