How to Get Positive Reviews for Your Local Business

When you are trying to increase business and reach a new audience, your customers can be one of your biggest internet marketing tools. Roughly 70% of online consumers are more likely to trust a product or brand that has positive reviews. What does this mean for your local business? Getting positive reviews can benefit you more than you would think. The more reviews and mentions your business has, the higher you’ll rank in search engines. The more presence you have, the more customers will develop confidence in your brand. Customer reviews will help customers who are trying to choose a business select your company rather than one of your competitors. Getting actual customers to leave you reviews on one of the many sites these days can be tricky though. How do you ask for reviews without seeming too forward? Try these tips:

Make it Easy

Before asking for reviews, make sure the actual review process is quick and easy for your customers. The easier it is to quickly write and submit a review, the more likely they will be to leave you one. Review processes that are too long or too complicated can make customers frustrated. *Pro Tip: Set up custom review URL’s like TheeDigital.com/review to make an easy, shareable link that takes your customers right to the page they leave a review on. Learn how to create a link for Google+ reviews >>

Offer an Incentive for Leaving A Review

People are motivated to do something extra if they see value or a benefit in doing it. Offer an incentive, like a chance to win a giveaway or a discount off of their next purchase if they leave you a review. A little bit goes a long way, and those reviews can lead to increased revenue for years to come. *Be sure to check each review site’s guidelines on offering incentives before asking for reviews

Ask, But Don’t Be Pushy

It’s okay to ask your clients for reviews as long as the timing is appropriate. When you request reviews, don’t just ask for a positive rating – simply ask for a review, whether good or bad. Asking customers that you know are happy with their experience is a great way to make sure those reviews are positive. No matter what, let your customers know that your company values the opinions of its clients and works hard to implement the feedback given. If you have a sales team, have them mention leaving a review at the end of their sales call or after paperwork is finalized. That way their experience will be fresh in their mind and will ensure the feedback is accurate.

Promote Review Sites to Your Customers

Add a note or instructions on the receipt or final paper work when you finish a job or deliver a product, reminding your customers to leave you a review. Be sure to point it out and explain that you really value their feedback. If you have an email marketing campaign, or give out appointment cards, make sure you are reminding your customers to leave a review and provide them the link. Remarketing efforts keep your brand in front of their faces and remind them to leave a review in case they meant to do it later and forgot.

Benefits to the Business

Google+ reviews can help your listing climb to the top of the search engine rankings. After getting 5 reviews, your Google My Business listing will show a gold star rating, which is a great way to stand out from the competition. Having reviews on third party sites will improve your profile and lead to a jump in rankings, too. For instance, having positive Yelp reviews will boost your Yelp profile higher in the search engine results. Promote your Yelp reviews by placing a badge on the homepage of your website. Not only does this build social proof, but also improves your credibility to prospective and current customers.

Review Websites for Local Businesses

Reviews almost anywhere can help, but focusing on some of the more credible sites can really help boost your SEO efforts. Below are a few key review sites for all industries:

• Google+
• Yelp
• Facebook
• BBB

Here are a few key reviews sites for specific industries:

• Avvo – Lawyers
• Thumbtack – Home Professionals
• Home Advisor – Home Professionals
• Houzz – Home Professionals
• Healthgrades – Healthcare
• Healthtap – Healthcare

Tags: Online Reputation Management