Hey There,
You know how you ask friends for recommendations before trying a new restaurant or service? Well, that conversation has moved online, and it's happening on a massive scale. This is the world of customer reviews!
Business Profiles with 5 or more reviews can get up to twice as many customers.
Imagine having a loyal customer stand outside your shop, telling everyone how great you are. That's what online reviews do, but to a massive audience.
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Why Reviews Are Your Business's New Best Friend
Everyone thinks reviews are hard, or its awkward to ask your customers, or it's not worth the effort. Here's why they're so powerful:
- They're a Trust Magnet: 91% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase. It's like having a friend vouch for you to thousands of potential customers.
- They're a Megaphone for Your Quality: One happy customer can influence hundreds of potential ones. It's word-of-mouth marketing on steroids!
- They Make Decisions Easier: Reviews help customers feel safer about their choice. It's the online equivalent of seeing a busy restaurant and thinking, "It must be good if so many people eat there!"
- They're Your 24/7 Sales Team: Reviews work for you round the clock, convincing potential customers even when you're sleeping.
- They Improve Your Visibility: More reviews can boost your search engine rankings, making it easier for customers to find you.
The Exponential Power of Reviews
Here's a little math to think about:
If you get just one new review a week, that's 52 new people vouching for you in a year.
If each review influences just 10 people, that's 520 potential customers!
Remember, good reviews tend to encourage more good reviews. It's a beautiful snowball effect for your business.
Focusing on Google Reviews: Your First Step to Review Mastery
While there are many review platforms, let's focus on the giant: Google Reviews. Here's why:
- It's Where People Look: When someone searches for your business, Google reviews show up front and center.
- It's Easy for Customers: Anyone with a Google account can leave a review quickly.
- It Boosts Your Local SEO: Good Google reviews can help you appear higher in local search results.
How to Get Started with Google Reviews
- Claim Your Google My Business Listing: If you haven't done this yet, go back to last week's email for instructions!
- Ask Happy Customers for Reviews: The simplest way? Just ask! After a positive interaction, send a thank you note, with the receipt, with any after care or notes and just ask...
"Thank you so much for being a valuable customer, would you be so kind as to leave us a quick review?"
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Make It Easy: Send customers a direct link to your Google review page. Here's how to get that link:
- Sign in to Google My Business
- Click 'Home'
- In the "Get more reviews" card, you'll see your short URL to request reviews
- Respond to All Reviews: Good or bad, a response shows you care about customer feedback.
- Use Reviews in Your Marketing: Share great reviews on your social media or website. It's content that builds trust!
- Bonus Step: If you have a retail location or truck, you can add a QR code to your "Get More Reviews" page, making it easy for your customers.
Your Action Step
This week, ask at least five happy customers to leave you a Google review. Then, respond to each review you receive.
Coming Up Next
Next week, we'll explore how to handle negative reviews (because they happen to everyone) and turn them into opportunities for your business.
Here's to your glowing online reputation!
Sarah Al Jindan
Curator | SmallBiz MENA
P.S. Having trouble getting those first few reviews? Reply to this email, and I'll share some creative ideas to get the ball rolling!
