When someone is thinking about buying your product or hiring you for a service, they rarely take your word for it. They want proof.
Whether you run a business-to-consumer shop like a local bakery or a business-to-business company like a commercial accounting firm, online reviews are a critical part of the decision process. Prospective clients look at reviews to decide if you are reliable, active, and worth their hard-earned money.
At Solutions for Growth, a marketing agency for small businesses, we work hard at consistently gathering reviews from our clients. We do this because it keeps our reputation strong, but also because reviews are incredible conversation starters. When a client leaves a glowing review, it gives us the perfect opportunity to reach back out and develop that feedback into a full client story. These stories become powerful case studies that show future clients exactly how we solve real-world marketing problems.
Getting those reviews, however, requires a game plan. I am curious to know what my fellow Constant Contact community members are doing to keep their feedback flowing.
Ask your clients directly - Sometimes the simplest approach is just opening your mouth or sending a personal email right after a successful project or sale.
Use automated tools - Many business owners save time by setting up software that requests feedback via email or text message the moment a transaction closes (we do this for clients, hint hint).
Provide direct links - Reducing friction by sending a clickable link directly to your Google Business Profile makes it incredibly easy for people to respond.
What is working best for your business? Do you make it a point to ask your clients face-to-face, or do you rely on automated systems to handle the heavy lifting? Drop a comment below and let's share our best strategies.
