You know that local search visibility is essential to driving customers to your business. But what are the best ways to ensure that your business shows up in local search results? One key factor is customer reviews. Business listings with recent, positive reviews are more likely to be clicked on, so it’s important to encourage your happy customers to leave reviews. Here are some tips for maximizing your visibility in local search results through reviews.
Why online reviews are important for businesses
Not only do online reviews help you build trust with potential customers, but they also improve the quality of your services in response to customer feedback. Online reviews can be seen as a win-win situation – both you (the business owner) and local consumers receive value from them.
How to get more reviews from customers
Send your customers a personalized email asking for an online review. You can include instructions on how to write the review, such as where to go, and even a bit of guidance for their feedback. Include links to the sites where you want reviews, such as your Google Business Profile. The key is to make leaving a review as simple as possible.
How to respond to negative reviews
Receiving a negative review can be hard, especially when reviews are being seen on a public platform. However, it is important to maintain professionalism at all costs. Take the time to respond thoughtfully and carefully to every negative review. Showing humility and apologizing for any inconvenience your product or service may have caused can go a long way in how customers view your business. Companies that respond promptly and courteously to customer reviews, even negative ones, stand out from the rest.
The benefits of having a lot of positive reviews
With customers now turning to Google to find local businesses, having a bank of positive reviews can make a world of difference in getting more leads. Positive reviews not only add legitimacy to your brand, but they also speak volumes about your level of commitment to quality and customer satisfaction – key ingredients for long-term customer relationships and repeat business.
How to encourage customers to leave positive reviews
Positive reviews can be an incredible asset for any business – it’s free marketing, advertising, and evidence of great customer service.
To encourage customers to leave positive reviews, the first step is to ensure they actually are having a great experience. Ask your staff to ask customers how they are experiencing their products or services, and suggest ways to make their satisfaction even greater.
Then, create emails and/or text message surveys that can be sent out after a customer’s visit. Make sure to thank customers for leaving reviews.
Jumpstart your online reviews with our free 14-day program
Online reviews are one of the most important factors in driving customers to your business. If you don’t have enough positive reviews, you could be missing out on a lot of potential customers. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to encourage customers to leave positive reviews about your business. Try starting a free trial of our reputation marketing services to jumpstart your process of getting more online reviews.