How to Get Good Reviews Online

Online reviews can be a blessing or a curse to your company. The review is classic word of mouth taken to a whole new level. There is a wide array of websites that allow customers to write reviews. After trying your services or products, customers can tell others about you on one of these sites. Reviews on the Internet can reach a huge audience, so it’s very important that what's written in the reviews is positive and accurate.

You don't have any control over what customers write about you. However, if you get enough good reviews, a few bad ones will hardly be noticed.

Quality Products and Services

Offer the best products and services possible and follow it up with excellent customer service. This is where many businesses fail. They ignore customer feedback about their products and don't respond quickly enough when there are problems. If you make your customers happy and try your best to deliver what they want, you will earn great reviews.

Ask for Reviews

If you offer good products and services that genuinely help your customers, you don't have to twist their arms to get good reviews. All you need to do is ask. Right after they've enjoyed your product or service, gently remind customers that good reviews help your business grow and continue providing these products. Most customers will leave a review if asked politely.

Make it as easy as possible for people to leave reviews, and you'll receive more and more. Give customers the URL to the review site where they can write their comments. If you’re interacting with customers online, give them a clickable link. If you’re offline, consider using QR codes. These are 3D barcodes that customers can scan with their mobile devices and be directed straight to the review site.

Offer Incentives

Many companies include reviews in their customer loyalty strategies. If you're not getting as many good reviews as you'd like, offer your customers an incentive. Make sure they understand that they don't have to say good things; they only have to leave you feedback. Offer a freebie, coupon, discount, or extra service first and let customers know it's no-strings-attached. You may take a loss – they may not write a review – but if they don't feel forced, they will be more likely to do it.

Boost Your Online Presence

Build your online presence and connect with your customers in as many places online as possible, including Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites. Especially for your under-30 customers, this engagement will go a long way in building customer loyalty and encouraging them to interact with you, which includes leaving reviews.

Quick and Efficient Damage Control

Respond to negative reviews quickly. Negative reviews don’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. They offer you an opportunity to show people that you care about customer service. Ask the reviewer about his or her bad experience and offer ways you could help fix the issue, such as offering a free replacement product or a refund. Bend over backwards, not to save face, but to make the reviewer happy. Others will see this and think more highly of you.

Get into a Routine

Getting good reviews is a numbers game. The more proactive you are in seeking feedback, the more feedback you'll get. Make it part of your regular sales process and daily routine to get customer feedback wherever possible.