Introducing The Best 3 Ways To Ask For Reviews
Customer reviews do miracles for your business. When asking for testimonials, there are three basic ways to obtain them.
Expanding your business’s visibility and trustworthiness becomes exponentially easier with customer reviews. They not only enhance your company’s credibility but also fortify your brand reputation. Significantly, these testimonies act as powerful social proof, influencing consumer decisions in your favor. With 95% of customers reading online reviews before buying a product, you owe it to them and your business to get more reviews.
Understanding the art of soliciting reviews or testimonials is crucial. Let’s explore three fundamental, yet effective approaches to encourage customers to share their experiences and help propel your business to new heights.
At the Point of Sale
Engaging with customers at the point of sale provides a unique opportunity to request feedback. This direct approach, when implemented just after a purchase or service, taps into their immediate experience. It’s a moment when their interaction with your product or service is freshest in their minds. This can potentially lead to more genuine and detailed testimony. Encouraging customers to share their thoughts right then can be highly effective. Whether it’s through a friendly verbal request, a prompt on a digital receipt, or a follow-up text or email, this strategy aims to gather real-time, authentic testimonials that reflect the quality and impact of your offerings.
You can also capture their information beforehand and ask for a review via email. Email should be at the top of your list of channels for requesting feedback if you’re just getting started with review generation. According to research, approximately 80 percent of reviews come from post-transactional review request emails. Personalize your email by putting careful thought into your request in a way that individually acknowledges each recipient. Keep the message and survey short. Customers will be more likely to complete the request if it takes less than a couple of minutes.
Text Messages
Another way to capture customer experiences is through SMS messages. Fifty-six percent of all online reviews are posted from mobile devices, so if you send customers a survey or a review request via text message, they’re most likely to click on that link. Text messages have a 98 percent open rate and are typically read within three minutes, whereas email typically has a 40 to 50 percent open rate.
Get Reviews
Ultimately, the foundation for garnering positive reviews lies in delivering exceptional customer experiences. When your business consistently exceeds expectations, glowing testimonials and five-star ratings often follow organically. Customers naturally tend to share their satisfaction when they experience exceptional service or products. However, even with this level of excellence, actively seeking feedback can be beneficial.
Proactively asking for reviews not only demonstrates your commitment to customer satisfaction but also provides valuable insights for continuous improvement. Remember, while your stellar service might inspire spontaneous praise, a gentle nudge for feedback can reinforce and amplify your reputation.
How to Leave a Review
By Leslie Radford
**Updated February 2024
