How to Ask for Google Reviews to Grow Your Business
Looking to increase your Google review count? If so, your best bet is to be proactive and learn how to ask for Google reviews from your clients.
According to recent studies, this is one of the best ways to improve your bottom line. These days, over 80% of buyers read reviews for local businesses. Close to 50% of them only pay attention to reviews written in the last two weeks.
Google in particular has a lot of clout with consumers. After all, they account for 57.5% of all reviews in the world. This proves that dedicated review sites (like Yelp) are less important than sites where users already have an account.
Want to know more about how to request Google reviews? Not sure why reviews matter at all? Here’s a quick guide that will answer these questions and more!
The Benefits
First things first: why are Google reviews considered to be major trust indicators? Well, it all comes back to three key benefits: visibility, social proof, and revenue.
Visibility is simple: the more reviews you have, the more you’ll appear in search results. For instance, any eCommerce store should aim to get 100+ reviews with an average 3.5 rating over a year. This gets you a Google Seller Rating.
Social proof has an impact on consumer behavior. If someone has bought a product we’re interested in, we want to know what they thought of it. If your brand has lots of positive feedback, new customers are more likely to trust it.
Reviews are also a big help with revenue. With a strong online presence, you’ll get higher click-through rates. In the long run, this will lead to higher conversions and higher turnover.
Developing a Strategy
Your goal should be to get as many Google reviews as possible. To do that, you’ll need a strategy that involves asking clients at several points.
Why is this necessary? The truth is, most people are passive when it comes to providing feedback. If their buying experience was fine, they’ll probably leave it at that. If you ask them to leave a review, though, many will oblige.
You should also ask for the right type of feedback. Depending on the platform, some reviews will leave a better impression than others. Text reviews are the most common, but a video will be more effective in some situations.
Finally, you’ll need to know how to manage online reviews. If you get a negative review, don’t get personal and try to resolve the issue to the best of your ability. For more information on how to manage reviews on Google, click on that link.
Who to Ask
When it comes to how to get more Google reviews, patience is a virtue. Instead of sending review requests to your entire client base, take it one step at a time.
For starters, figure out who your most loyal customers are. Find people who are recommending your services on social media without your input. Then, use their voices to get your campaign started on a positive note.
Once you have some positive reviews to fall back on, start thinking further. Develop a system that sends automatic review requests to anyone you do business with. This may lead to some negative feedback, but quantity is more important at this point.
When to Ask
Getting positive reviews is all about timing. If you pick your spots carefully, your customers will be more likely to leave a good review.
If you’re an eCommerce store, don’t ask for a review as soon as the item gets dispatched. Give the customer some time to get acquainted with the product. The same applies if you’re running any service-related business.
For SaaS companies, it’s best to ask for reviews after major updates. You can also ask after releasing a feature that makes your clients’ lives easier. Any point where your customers are likely to appreciate you will help with feedback.
The Email Experience
Email is one of the best review-gathering methods. It’s not pushy, it’s convenient for the client, and you can automate the entire process.
Here are three tips on how to get the email experience right.
1. Keep It Simple
If a customer leaves you a positive review, they’re doing you a favor. The least you can do for them is to make this process as simple as possible. Use a clear CTA, link them to your review page, and make sure that the link is easy to notice.
For the best results, consider contacting a review collection service. With a review collection listing, it’s easier to direct customers to it. Plus, working with Google-licensed partners allows you to earn Google review stars.
2. Tailor Your Requests
When you’re sending a Google review request, it helps to add personal touches. One common example is to include their full name. You should add specific details about their order, such as the type of service they received.
This is a small touch, but it makes your clients more comfortable. Try to make them feel like a valued individual instead of a faceless addition to your portfolio.
You should also tailor your requests according to your brand identity. Your main goal should be to make your emails instantly recognizable. This goes a long way toward creating a positive customer experience.
3. Show Appreciation
This one is simple enough: be polite and show gratitude for the customer’s time. You can go a step further by using loyalty programs to encourage reviews. Many brands have seen a lot of success in rewarding customer action.
The one thing to keep in mind here is that incentives may not be here to stay. In recent years, Google prevented using financial incentives to get reviews. There’s always a chance they’ll update their review policy further, so keep an eye on it.
More on How to Ask for Google Reviews
As you can see, creating a review campaign is not an easy task. This is a process that requires patience and consideration.
If you do manage to get a decent number of reviews, make the most of them. For instance, they can be a key part of a wider marketing scheme. With some luck, your reviews will turn into the best sales pitch you can ask for.
Want to know more about how to ask for Google reviews? Interested in other marketing campaigns that might be a good fit for your business? Keep reading our Digital Marketing section!