In this digital age, where consumer trust is paramount, you just cannot ignore the need for positive reviews. According to a report by PowerReviews, around 99.9% of customers check out the reviews about a business before shopping for it online. People nowadays are ready to spend more but at the same time, they also want to make sure that they are spending on the right product/service.

The Power of Positive Testimonials and How to Gain Them

In the world of online shopping, testimonials and reviews are becoming increasingly powerful. Research shows that about 91% of people between the age of 18-35 trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. We know that all these numbers make online reviews seem daunting but leveraging them in the right way can boost your business.

Reviews are important for the business but it is just another task for the customers. Often, business owners struggle to get real reviews from customers and this can be frustrating. So, here we are with some ways by which you can get your clients to give reviews about your business.

The First Step Is to Ask

Even though your product is awesome, it takes extra effort and time to write a review. The reviews aren’t the first thing in the minds of customers. But with a reminder or a request, almost every customer would happily leave a positive review for a good product. They just need that extra push.

So, make sure that you ask for feedback, preferably right after the customer has received the product/service or after they have had a positive experience. This can help them remember things in detail. Send a short and polite email, explaining the importance of reviews for your business and requesting them to leave one. If possible, use tools that can automate the process of asking the customers for reviews.

You could ask them to write a review with answers to questions like “How they benefit from the product?” and “Would they recommend the product to others?” Curate more such questions that would give you positive review material.

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Also Read: Power of Citations | A Guide to Utilizing Citations for SEO Success | Local Citation Sites 

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Make the Reviewing Process Simple

Most customers would be ready to give reviews but if the process is too complicated, a lot of them will abandon it halfway. Provide the direct link to the review section of the site where you want people to leave the reviews. It can be your site or the review section of your listing in online profile directories or your social media accounts.

Employ all possible ways to make the process quick and simple for customers. It would help to have them leave reviews on your site or review platforms rather than on social media. Some people won’t have a Facebook or Instagram account and asking them to leave a review there can complicate the process for them.

Create a Template

This is simply making it easier for people to leave reviews and at the same time leveraging the review to showcase the positives.

For example, you could add some bullet points about particular features or highlights of the product/service. The customer can either use them or ignore them. People would mostly appreciate having these points since it would help them write reviews faster.

Respond to the Reviews

If you want your customers to feel a personal connection with your brand, you need to let them see the person behind the business. One way to do that is by engaging with the customers who leave reviews.

Whatever the review is, make sure that you provide a reply for it. If it is a positive review, a simple thank you will go a long way. If it is negative, then try to interact with the customer and resolve the issue. This way your business would be seen as trustworthy and consumer-centric.

Not only does this help retain existing customers but it also encourages new customers to leave reviews.

Offer a Gift or Discount

It helps if the customer is motivated to leave a review. You can offer a gift card or credit points to the customers who leave reviews. This not only encourages them to write reviews but also makes them purchase from you again. Another option is to offer discounts or cashback. If it is another company or someone with a website, then you can offer a shoutout and backlink to their website. This makes the customers feel seen and who doesn’t enjoy a little attention?

And Lastly, Ask Again

If you have sent an email, asking a customer to leave a review and you have not received a response, it can help to ask again.

Sometimes people want to leave a review, but postpone the task and then forget. A gentle reminder will help. If you can, directly call the customer or send a follow-up email. Make sure that you are polite with your request and don’t push them if they are not willing to.

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Also Read: Niche Marketing Guide for Small Business Owners|Local Citation Sites|Online Profile Directories 

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LocalBizNetwork

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