As consumers ourselves, we all know that we prefer to purchase from businesses that have a lot of positive customer reviews.
The more reviews a business has, the more potential customers feel they can trust what the reviews are saying. However, if you’re just starting to build your online presence, it can be frustrating trying to collect enough reviews to strengthen your business’ reputation and give it the authority it needs in order to grow. Here are some quick tips to encourage more customers to take the time to leave you a positive review.
- Make the process easy. QR codes on receipts and packaging are an excellent way to reduce friction in the review process. Link directly to your preferred review page to make it as easy as possible for customers to rate and review.
- Take advantage of momentum. Customers are more likely to leave a review when the experience is fresh in their minds. Follow up after a positive experience by reminding the customer via email or text message to leave a review. Remember that personalizing the message can increase response rates.
- Leverage your social channels. Don’t be afraid to post engaging social content asking followers to share their experiences. You can share past reviews as examples, and mention that small businesses rely on reviews.
- Build a review hub on your website. Create a dedicated page on your site where visitors can find links to all the platforms where they can leave a review, as well as feeds from those platforms so they can read existing reviews all in one place.
- Respond to reviews. Replying to reviews, both positive and negative, demonstrates that you value customer feedback. Keep your replies friendly and professional so that others are encouraged to share their experiences.
- Use a review management tool. Services like Birdeye, Podium, or ReviewTrackers can automate review requests, which will streamline the process for both you and your customers.
What about incentives?
While it’s tempting to provide your customers with small discounts or other advantages for leaving a review, be careful. Many platforms (Yelp, for example) discourage incentivized reviews, and for good reason — you don’t want potential customers thinking that the only reason you have good reviews is because you’re “paying” for them with customer perks.
Building authority in your niche requires a strong marketing strategy. Our team can help — contact us for a free consultation, and we’ll get you pointed in the right direction with actionable advice that will help set your business up to have its best year in 2025!
COGO Interactive is an award-winning digital marketing agency specializing in online marketing strategy, web design, SEO and social media marketing. We work with clients in Virginia, Maryland, Washington, DC and across the nation.
