Over the past decade, consumer perceptions of online reviews have drastically changed. People are no longer satisfied with a mere star rating – they’re looking for an authentic reflection of their experience, delivered with engaging language and attention to detail. As business owners, it is essential to respond appropriately to consumer behavior by providing high-quality services and promoting customers to leave honest reviews. Doing so can not only boost business credibility, but also yield higher search rankings and help capture more potential leads in the local territory.
Encouraging customers to leave a review of your business is an incredibly effective way for potential customers to make informed decisions about their purchase. As the online world becomes increasingly competitive, ensuring your emails stand out amongst all the digital noise is paramount if you want to raise your profile. Therefore, when sending out email enquiries to customers inviting them to leave a review, it’s important to take into consideration the tone and manner of your message. Try and give the impression that you truly appreciate any feedback they can provide so they understand how important their opinion is. Keep messages professional yet sincere – explaining how much you value their thoughts and opinions on the service you provided – and this will help remind them why they should be motivated enough in the first place to contribute to your reviews.
Studies have shown that:
- 76% of consumers “regularly” read online reviews
- 87% of consumers used Google to evaluate local businesses in 2022
Therefore, it is increasingly important for businesses to stand out from their competition and get reviews from customers. A well-reviewed business will not only build trust with current and potential customers, but also drive more revenue through organic search.
