Online reviews have become one of the most important aspects of business operation. Studies have shown that more than 60% of customers look at online reviews before deciding whether to buy a product/service and about 63% of consumers are more likely to buy from sites that have a significant amount of reviews.
Unfortunately, customers are usually too busy or too lazy to leave their comments online. And because of this, you need to find ways to encourage your clients to leave online reviews without sounding needy or desperate.
A lot of small business owners ask how they can prevent or manage bad reviews, but the best way to counteract negative feedback is to flood it with positive ones. And so, here are a few ways you can encourage customers to leave online reviews that can help boost your business:
1. Ask for reviews
This is the most obvious one, but you have to make sure that you are asking for reviews wherever you can. Most customers only write feedbacks when they are highly satisfied – or really disappointed – with a product or service. Encourage the silent majority by directly asking for reviews at the end of their purchase.
2. Make it simple
One of the easiest ways to gain more feedback is to make it as simple as possible for your customers to give them. For example, you can incorporate a simple rating mechanism on your follow-up email or on your order confirmation page. You can also ensure that you have a visible account on widely-used online review sites like Yelp, Google, and Facebook.
3. Incentivize
Businesses should prevent themselves from offering rewards or discounts in exchange for reviews. But there are ways you can incentivize online reviews that do not demoralize the entire process.
A lot of companies use online voting and social media to figure out what their consumers’ favorite product features are, giving out rewards to selected participants in the exchange. You could start a monthly prize draw for reviewers by mentioning it on your “thank you” email or by placing a leaflet in the package.
4. Utilize social media platforms
Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are ideal for directly communicating with your consumers – and for your consumers to communicate with one another. Start a discussion among your followers, ask questions about your products and services. Maxeemize can also help your business develop a helpful community strategy.
5. Publish all reviews
Display both good and bad reviews to encourage customer feedback. Design a testimonial page on your site or develop a creative campaign that would present your customers’ experiences.
Take control of your online reviews now and contact Maxeemize at (949) 431-0431 or click on our Contact Us page to schedule your free online reviews management consultation.
