Customer reviews are a powerful tool that can help your business boost online exposure, improve reputation, perfect customer service, build loyalty, and so much more. The more reviews you have, the more potent the benefits. If you’ve been struggling to get customers to share their experiences, follow these 7 tips to open the testimonial floodgates.
1. Ask for reviews.
The first step to boosting customer reviews is to ask for…well, reviews. That’s a painfully obvious starting point, but it’s also painfully underutilized. A whopping 70% of customers are more than happy to leave a review if a business asks. That’s right! Simply requesting a review can elevate the number of client testimonials your business curates. Most customers aren’t actively deciding to NOT leave a review. Instead, it’s not something that crosses their minds. A request is all the nudge most clients need to share their thoughts.
2. Catch customers right after their purchase.
Recency is critical when encouraging customers to leave reviews. Generally, people are more motivated to leave a testimonial right after working with your business. As more time passes, that eagerness gradually decreases. The trick is to catch clients immediately after buying a product or paying for a service. This immediate follow-up increases the likelihood they’ll share feedback and ensures they remember specific details about what made the experience so great.
3. Give a specific time.
Time is one of the top reasons customers refuse to leave feedback even after a positive customer experience. When presented with an open-ended request for a review, clients are uneasy about dedicating an undisclosed amount of time to leave a testimonial. This problem is easily solved by offering a fair heads-up about how long it will take to write a review. You can say something like “Take a few minutes to fill out…” or “It’ll only take 2 minutes to complete…”. A little transparency can go a long way.
4. Offer the possibility of anonymity.
Some people are skeptical of sharing online reviews because they don’t want their information shared online. You can ease this concern by making it clear to potential reviewers that none of their personal info will get shared. Furthermore, you can allow a customer to omit their last or full name from the review, depending on their privacy preferences. You’ll be giving customers peace of mind knowing their information is protected while still getting the real reviews you need to improve your business.
5. Ask for emails at checkout.
Despite the variety of modern marketing channels, email is still among the most effective methods of communicating with customers. In fact, 72% of consumers prefer email as their primary source of contact with businesses. What relevance does that have for customer reviews? Well, collecting emails during the checkout process – whether that’s in-person or online – is a great way to send follow-up review requests. It’s easy to implement, and there’s no burden on customers. Plus, you’re building an email list at the same time which will come in handy for marketing efforts.
6. Offer an incentive for reviews.
Everyone loves free stuff, especially after spending money. Offering even a small thank-you for a review can considerably increase the number of clients willing to share their experiences. Coupons or gift cards for future businesses are an excellent strategy as you’re securing a review while encouraging customers to come back and spend more money with you. Be sure to make these incentives prominent so customers know what they’ll get in return.
7. Use powerful review management software.
The unsung hero of an effective customer review strategy is a committed management system. Google, Yelp, and other common review sites fail to give businesses the oversight and management needed to make the most of reviews. hapigood, on the other hand, helps businesses curate, manage, and publish customer feedback in an organized, effective, and scalable manner. It funnels all reviews to one, convenient location where businesses can figure out the most appropriate way to utilize them.
If your business is struggling to get the most out of customer reviews, contact us today to learn more about how hapigood can help.