How To Get More Reviews for Your Small Business

Reviews are an integral part of reputation building for any business. Some companies seem to come by them easier than others, but it’s hardly a matter of chance. The businesses that are getting the most (and best) reviews are the ones doing all the right things. 

But what are those “things” and how can you make them work for you? You might be surprised at just how easy some of them can be. What about the location of the reviews? That’s up to you – Google reviews get noticed and help boost your local SEO, while reviews and testimonials on your website are easy for people to find when they’re browsing around. 

Ideally, you’ll want an even mix of both for the best chances of success. Plus, reviews on third-party websites can add even more to your credibility. Regardless of where they’re being posted, there are some great ways that you can go about getting more reviews from your customers. 

Just ask 

Believe it or not, this is the best way to get online reviews for your small business. The chances are good that your customers would be happy to share their experience. Those who haven’t either just didn’t think about it, or they didn’t realize how valuable it could be. 

There are tons of ways that you can ask, but the secret is to keep it simple. Make it a part of every customer interaction. Train your employees to do the same. You can easily add it to your closing remarks:

“Thanks for trusting us with your business! Would you be so kind as to leave us a review on Google?” 

“Did we address all of your concerns today? Great! Please leave a review online to share your satisfaction.”

You can also:

• Ask in marketing materials
• Include it in your email signature
• Send a follow-up text or email asking for a review after an interaction

You’d be surprised how many of your customers are more than willing to put in a good word if only you would ask. 

Use social media 

Social media is the perfect platform for engaging your customers and getting more reviews. You can hold contests, share existing reviews (more on that in a later tip), and even just ask people to tell you how you’re doing. Get creative. Use TikTok and YouTube to create viral content that gets noticed if you really want to do it well—people love brands that know how to maximize their social media presence. 

Create a custom URL or QR code 

People love things that are easy. If you generate a QR code or a short URL that allows people to visit Google or your website in a single click, you’ll get a lot more reviews just because it’s so simple. As mentioned, you can choose whether to lead people to your website or your Google Business Profile, and you can share the code online, in your physical business, and anywhere else you’d like. 

Offer something in return

An incentive is always a good tool. Sure, people could leave a review just because they had a good experience. But if you tell them that they’ll also save 15% next time, or that they will get entered into a drawing for some big prize, you’re going to entice them to do it before they forget. This will also get more people to chime in because everyone loves getting something for nothing. 

While leaving an online review certainly isn’t “nothing,” it only takes a matter of seconds, so it doesn’t seem like a lot of effort to your customers. 

Improve customer service

This one might seem like a no-brainer, but it bears mentioning. If you want more reviews, give customers more to talk about. Find ways to improve your customer service and train everyone on how to deliver the best customer interactions. When your customer service starts to get better, you’ll be able to get more reviews organically and might not even have to ask as often. 

Of course, there are tons of other perks that come from improving your customer service, so that should be an ongoing effort for your small business. 

Share your best reviews 

People are interesting creatures. If you share the best reviews that you’ve gotten, it will encourage others to leave their own reviews. Social proof is a great tool because most people look to others’ actions to figure out how to act correctly. You can share reviews on social media, your website, or even in your physical business, and watch even more reviews start rolling in. 

Reply to all reviews 

Some will tell you that you only need to respond to negative reviews, or they will at least focus on that aspect. However, you really need to reply to each and every review that you get if you want to improve your reputation and get more reviews in the future. Replies will show your customers that you care and that you’re engaged with your audience. It will also reassure people that they will be able to reach you if they need to, which is a big part of their decision on whom to do business with. 

With more reviews come more prospects—is your team ready?

Your small business is going to see an influx of business once you boost your reviews and build a strong customer base. If you’re not prepared for that, it could end up creating more chaos than good. Fortunately, you can partner with the virtual receptionists at Smith.ai so that you’re ready to handle whatever comes your way. 

We can act as your 24/7 answering service to guarantee that you don’t miss a single lead, along with supporting your outreach campaigns to get those leads in the first place. Plus, we can even assist with lead intake and appointment scheduling, freeing up your time to spend where it matters: with the customer.

To learn more, schedule a consultation or reach out to hello@smith.ai.

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