12 Strategies to Promote Positive Customer Reviews For Your Business

As a small business owner, you know the key to success is happy customers. Satisfied customers will return and do business with you again, and they’ll also tell their friends and family about their positive experiences.

But how do you make sure that your customers have a positive experience? Online reviews are the best ways to promote positive experiences in today’s digital age.

Review sites are influential because they provide social proof that your business is worth working with. When potential customers see how others have had positive experiences with you, they’re more likely to take the plunge and try your business.

So how do you get more positive reviews?

Here are 15 strategies you can use to get those 5-star reviews you deserve.

1. Provide Great Customer Service

One of the best ways to get online reviews is to provide an excellent product or service. Make sure every interaction with potential and current customers reflects your commitment to excellence.

You must train employees to handle difficult situations and go above and beyond for every customer.

By delivering excellent customer service, you increase the chances that customers will have a positive experience and be willing to leave a review.

Reviews are essential because they give potential customers insights into your business. Positive reviews show that you’re a business that cares about its customers and provides excellent products or services.

If you have mostly negative reviews, it will reflect poorly on your business and may dissuade potential customers from doing business with you.

Therefore, providing excellent customer service is essential to get positive reviews.

2. Be Empathetic

No matter what business you’re in, every customer that calls has a problem. It’s your job to listen and try to find a solution. By being empathetic and showing customers you understand their pain points, you let them know you care about solving their problems.

And when they feel you care, they’re more likely to leave a review online. So next time a customer calls, listen to their problem and show them you care about finding a solution. It could make all the difference in getting a great online review.

3. Don’t Pressure Customers

Asking a customer for an online review can be tricky. You don’t want to be pushy or forceful, but you appreciate their feedback. A great way to handle this is to let them know you would love to hear their thoughts.

Thank customers for their business and let them know their opinion matters. Expressing gratitude shows them you’re sincere in your request, and they’ll be more likely to leave a review.

4. Make it Easy to Leave a Review

Leaving a review should be easy. But sometimes, businesses make it harder than it needs to be. For example, they hide their review page or make customers fill out lengthy forms before they can leave feedback. As a result, fewer people take the time to write reviews. 

At Reputation Rooster, we understand people are likely to leave a review when the process is straightforward. That’s why we’ve made it easy for our clients’ customers to leave positive reviews. All they have to do is click a few buttons, and they’re done. 

If you’re looking for an easier way to get customer feedback, let us do the heavy lifting. We make it simple and painless for you and your customers.

5. Provide Several Online Review Sites to Choose

Word of mouth has always been an essential part of business, but online reviews have become increasingly important in the internet age. People trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, and they are often the first thing potential customers look at when considering a purchase.

That’s why providing several platforms for leaving customer reviews is so important. A few popular options include Google, Facebook, and the Better Business Bureau.

Giving customers various online review sites to leave positive feedback makes it easy for them to share their experiences with your business. And that can make all the difference in attracting new customers.

6. Follow-up By Phone After Services Rendered

Exemplary service isn’t just about providing quality work—it’s also about making sure the customer is happy with what they’ve received. That’s why it’s always a good idea to follow up with your customers after they’ve received service from you.

A phone call is a great way to show that you care about their experience and want to ensure everything went well. Following up is also an opportunity to resolve any issues they may have had.

Customers who feel their concerns are being addressed are more likely to leave positive reviews. So, pick up the phone and call them.

7. Solicit Reviews From Past Customers

Asking past customers for reviews is a great way to build up your online presence. These customers already know and trust your business, so they will probably leave a positive review.

And since online reviews are one of the significant ways potential customers choose a business, having more reviews can help you attract new customers and grow your business.

8. Provide Timely Reminders

We all know how it goes. You’re out and about when you suddenly remember that you meant to leave a review for the new restaurant you tried last week. But by the time you get home, you’ve forgotten all about it.

Sound familiar? Well, you’re not alone.

According to a recent survey, 43% of customers say they need a reminder before they leave a review. That’s why we send timely reminders to our clients that go out to their customers.

A polite reminder via email or text can help increase your reviews more than you can imagine. By sending a reminder, you’ll make it easy for customers to leave a review and help promote your business simultaneously.

9. Post Positive Reviews on Your Website

Internet users are increasingly reliant on online reviews when making purchasing decisions. A recent study found that nearly 90% of consumers consult reviews before purchasing. Given the importance of reviews, businesses must showcase their positive consumer reviews.

One way to do this is to add customer reviews to your website. Having your Star reviews prominently displayed on your website gives potential customers easy access to your business information.

In addition, it encourages them to check what others say about your products or services. You can also promote excellent reviews by mentioning them in social media posts.

10. Use a Widget To Display Real-time Reviews

There’s nothing more potent than a glowing online review. Just imagine someone on your website considering your service and seeing positive reviews popping up in real-time. It would be pretty hard for them to resist choosing you.

That’s the power of using a widget to display real-time reviews. When people see others are happy with your service, it builds confidence and makes it more likely they’ll choose you over the competition. Plus, it helps create a sense of urgency and encourages people to take action now rather than putting it off.

If you’re not using a widget to display real-time reviews, you’re missing out on a significant opportunity to convert more prospects into customers.

11. Respond to All Reviews

When you get a review, whether it’s positive or negative, respond promptly. Thank customers who leave positive reviews and address the concerns of those who leave negative reviews head-on.

By responding quickly and effectively, you show potential customers that you care about customer satisfaction and will go the extra mile to fix problems.

In addition, responding to reviews can go a long way in promoting positive customer experiences, even when things don’t go smoothly.

12. Use Automated Tools

Reputation Rooster automates the review process with an easy-to-use online platform that helps businesses quickly and efficiently get the reviews they need to promote their business and attract good customer reviews.

By using our online reviews procurement platform, you can:

✰ Automatically send review requests to customers via email and text.

✰ Send reminders to customers who haven’t left a review.

✰  Monitor and respond to reviews.

✰ Display high-quality reviews on your website (5-4 star ratings).

✰ Use a widget to display real-time reviews

Why Do Positive Online Reviews Matter for Your Business?

You know online reviews can ruin your reputation as a business owner. If you have positive reviews, potential customers will trust your business and do business with you. If you have poor reviews, it can deter customers from choosing your company.

Here is a few key reasons online reviews matter for your business.

1. Consumers Trust Online Reviews

In today’s digital world, potential customers are looking for reassurance that they can trust your business before they make a purchase. With so many review sites and social media platforms, it’s easier than ever for customers to find out what others think about your business.

Positive reviews from real customers can help give them the confidence they need to choose your business. Now is the time to start if you’re not already monitoring and responding to online reviews. You can turn online reviews into a powerful marketing tool with little effort.

2. Reviews Influence Search Results

Have you ever wondered why some businesses appear at the top of search results while they bury others at the bottom? One reason is online customer reviews.

Search engines like Google consider online reviews when ranking businesses in search results. This means that if you have positive reviews, your business is more likely to appear at the top of search results, which can help attract even more customers.

3. Reviews Help You Stand Out From Your Competition

In today’s competitive marketplace, ensuring your business stands out from the crowd is more important than ever. One way to do this is by encouraging customers to leave reviews on popular review sites.

When customers see positive comments about your business on review sites, they are more likely to choose your business over a competitor with fewer or no reviews.

4. Reviews Allow You To Show Off Your Customer Service

You show excellent customer service skills when responding to online business reviews. By responding promptly and effectively to positive and negative reviews, you can show customers that you’re a business that cares.

Gain Trust and Credibility Through Company Reviews

According to a study by Harvard Business School, online reviews are the second most trusted source of information about a business, behind only personal recommendations.

In addition, reviews are 12 times more likely to influence a purchase than advertising. This means that online business reviews are a great way to do it if you want to gain the trust and credibility of potential customers.

How to Leverage Positive Reviews and Use Them to Your Advantage

Now that you know why online customer reviews are essential, let’s look at ways to use them to your advantage.

1. Share Positive Reviews on Your Website.

If you have a website for your business, showcase your positive reviews prominently. You can do this by adding customer testimonials to your website or by using a review widget that displays your latest reviews.

2. Share Positive Online Reviews on Social Media

Social media is an excellent platform for promoting positive online business reviews. You can share customer testimonials on your local business social media pages or even create social media posts featuring quotes from your positive online reviews.

3. Use Online Reviews to Improve Local SEO

Customer reviews are critical if you’re looking to improve your local search results. Online reviews can help boost your ranking on search engine results pages and influence potential customers’ decisions about doing business with you. So if you’re not already focused on getting reviews, now is the time to boost your search engine optimization.

Respond to Negative Reviews, Positively

Any business owner knows that one of the worst things to happen is receiving a negative review. Not only can it damage your reputation, but it can also dissuade customers from doing business with you.

However, every cloud has a silver lining, and a negative review can also be an opportunity to show off your customer service skills. The key is to respond quickly and sympathetically and to offer a solution to the problem. Taking swift and decisive action can turn a negative situation into a positive one.

1. Thank Your Customer For Their Feedback

Thanking a customer for their feedback is vital for several reasons.

First, it shows that you value their opinion and want to improve your business based on their input.

Second, it helps to build loyalty and encourage repeat business.

Finally, it helps to create a positive online reputation for your business.

Thanking a customer for their feedback is a simple way to show you appreciate their business and are committed to providing the best possible service.

2. Apologize For The Negative Experience

It’s always important to apologize for a customer’s negative experience, regardless of whether it was your fault. An apology shows you’re taking responsibility for the situation and will work to make things right.

An apology can help to diffuse any anger or frustration the customer may be feeling. Taking responsibility for the problem and apologizing for the inconvenience can turn a negative experience into a positive one.

3. Offer a Solution

If you respond correctly, you can turn a dissatisfied customer into a loyal one. The key is to offer a solution to the problem and let the customer know what you will do to prevent the issue from happening again.

For example, if a customer complains about a long wait time, you could offer them a discount on their next visit. Taking responsibility for the situation and offering a remedy can turn a negative review into an opportunity to build customer loyalty.

What is the Best Way to Ask for Online Business Reviews?

Online reviews are essential to any business, and knowing how to ask for online business reviews is crucial. When you ask customers for online reviews, you want to ensure you’re asking correctly so as not to come across as pushy or salesy.

Here are some tips for asking for online reviews.

1. Personalize Your Request

When asking for an online review, personalize your request. For example, avoid generic phrases like “Please leave us a review” instead of focusing on creating a personal connection with the customer.

For example, “We’re so happy you had a great experience with our product. Would you mind leaving us a review?”

2. Make it Easy For The Customer

Nothing is more frustrating than a complicated process. And for online reviews, you can easily dissuade customers if the process is too cumbersome. After all, they’re already taking the time to write a review; the least you can do is make it easy.

So how can you make online customer reviews easy? 

The best way to make it simple for customer reviews is to send a brief email or text shortly after they have made the purchase. This message should include a direct link to where they can leave their review and clear instructions on how to do so.

3. Timing is Everything

They say timing is everything, and nowhere is that more true than online reviews. Of course, any business owner knows the importance of online reviews, but many don’t realize that the timing of those reviews is just as important as the reviews themselves.

The best time to ask for an online review is after the customer has had a positive experience with your product or service. That’s when they’re most likely to be receptive to leaving a review, and their positive experiences are still fresh in their mind.

Conversely, asking for a review too soon or too late can cause a less enthusiastic response, so timing is everything regarding online customer reviews.

Why Online Reviews are Important for Customers & Businesses

Online reviews are essential for both customers and businesses. For customers, online reviews provide valuable insights into a business’s products or services. They can also help customers make informed purchasing decisions. And for businesses, online reviews can improve search engine rankings, boost website traffic, and increase conversion rates.

How Are You Going To Promote Great Customer Reviews for Your Business?

You know you need customer reviews, but getting them is hard. It’s frustrating knowing you have satisfied customers, but they don’t leave reviews. Even worse is watching your competitors’ reviews grow while yours remain stagnant. 

We get it. The truth is, reviews should be the easy part. That’s why we set out to discover and remove the roadblocks preventing you from getting the 5-star reviews necessary to rise about the crowd.

Let Us Prove Our Customer Review Procurement Works Before Your Spend a Dime

You may hesitate to invest in something you’re not sure will work for your business. We understand. After all, you don’t want to invest in something you’re unfamiliar with.

Because we’re so confident in our review management solution, we offer a 30-day free trial so that you can experience the benefits firsthand. Call (512) 994-2904 or send us a chat to get started.

What do you do to acquire positive customer reviews? Are you looking to add more in the future?