How to get more reviews
A solid online reputation is built on positive reviews
Nowadays, before choosing to make an online purchase or work with a company they find online, people almost always read reviews. But unfortunately, few people write them of their own accord, unless of course they’re unhappy.
The truth is, unhappy customers are far more likely to write reviews than loyal customers. As a result, companies risk having an unbalanced online reputation that is not truly representative of the service they offer.
The only way to avoid this problem is to take a proactive approach to generating more positive reviews. Here are a few tips to help you.
Ask for advice
People are unlikely to write reviews on their own. You’ll be surprised to learn that the vast majority of them are more than willing to write reviews when asked. The most effective way to generate more reviews is simply to ask for them.
The best time to ask for feedback is in person, just after the service or product has been delivered and while the experience is still fresh in the customer’s mind. But if that’s not possible, you can ask for opinions by e-mail or on social media.
Encourage evaluations
If you’re not comfortable asking for reviews, the best way to get them is to get your customers to write reviews for you. However, if you opt for this solution, you need to be careful.
You should never confuse encouraging people to write reviews with buying them, and you should also make sure that you’re not being selective about who you encourage to write reviews. If you only encourage happy customers, you’ll feel like you’re buying five-star reviews.
On the other hand, if you encourage all your customers to do so, you’ll get the impression that you’re simply trying to get honest feedback about your company. Simply remind your customers to be honest in their assessment and to identify the incentive they received in exchange for their assessment.
Reply to your opinions
People write reviews for all sorts of reasons, but one of the main reasons is to provide feedback to the company in question. People are more likely to continue giving you feedback if you respond to it, because it shows them that you’re listening.
Make it a point to respond to both negative and positive reviews. When responding to negative reviews, make sure you don’t get into an online argument or get defensive. If the review is unfair, inauthentic or based on a misunderstanding, invite the reviewer to contact you directly to discuss the matter.
Keep a close eye on your online reputation
People expect you to respond to their comments and to do so quickly. But to do this, you need to know when someone writes a new review. These days, most small businesses are listed on several review platforms, which can make it difficult to keep track of your online reviews, especially if you’re forced to do so in an already busy schedule.
Appoint someone within your company to monitor and respond to new notices.
Focus on delivering quality service
When someone writes a review about your company, you want it to be an honest reflection of the service you provide. Since you want these reviews to be positive, you have to start by offering quality service to every customer.
