In the digital age, product and service reviews are the equivalent of word of mouth advertising. Where friends and neighbors once swapped stories about which products they liked and which ones had been disappointments, now product reviews fill the gap.
These product reviews serve a vital function, and they have a global reach. And for the businesses who make and sell those products, these reviews can mean the difference between profit and loss and fame or obscurity.
If you are running one of those businesses, you know how important a positive review can be. But how do you encourage your customers to say nice things about you, and what techniques can you use to keep those positive notices coming? Here are some tips to get you started.
Set Up a Formal Process
It is important to have a formal process in place to solicit, receive and post customer reviews. If you do not have such a process in place, now is the time to design one.
You can use ready-made templates to set up your process, but it is always a good idea to customize them to your own needs. Think about who your customers are, where they are coming from, what they are buying and the impact their reviews can have on your business.
Automate the Ask
Leaving product reviews is a time-consuming process, and not just for your customers. Setting up a review process and soliciting reviews when people buy products can take time, but automation will make it easier.
From sending out follow up emails to communicating with customers to thanking buyers for their kinds words, every part of your review solicitation process can be automated to some extent. You may need to make some adjustments along the way, but once the basics are in place your life should be a lot simpler.
Make the Process Simple
Many satisfied buyers do not leave reviews simply because it is too difficult. They may not know where to post their review or how to share their experience, and even if they do they may not have the time.
If you want to get more reviews for your products, make the process as simple as possible. Providing a ready-made and personalized link and emailing it out will simplify the review process for your customers and increase the odds of a response.
Explain the Importance of a Positive Review
Many buyers, even very satisfied ones, may not think their words will make a different or help the brands they love. For buyers of brand name products, that may indeed be the case, but life is different for small business owners.
Without a brand name to trade on and lacking easy name recognition, small business owners need to work extra hard to get the word out, and positive reviews are important steps in the right direction. If you want to encourage more positive reviews, start by letting your customers know how critical those mentions really are.
Online reviews are the new currency of the digital age, and small business owners can live or die by these mentions. If you want to get your business noticed and sell more products, having a review solicitation process in place can help a lot. The tips listed above can help you get started, so you can garner the positive attention your business deserves.
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