10 ways to get more customer reviews, plus examples

Making the most of customer reviews to boost your brand awareness, sales, and earning potential is key. It’s essential to not only gather this valuable feedback but also understand how to harness its power. In this blog post, we’ll teach you ways to request reviews, use them to attract more customers, and professionally handle any negative reviews.

Defining customer reviews

Reviews play a pivotal role in consumers’ decision-making process, with a staggering 93% being influenced by them. Customer reviews are genuine, user-generated evaluations of products, services, or experiences provided by a business. They often include a rating, detailed feedback, and sometimes photos or videos. Reviews serve as a resource for prospective customers to make informed decisions.

As you strive to grow your business, it’s crucial to understand the impact of customer reviews on potential buyers. In fact, 49% of consumers trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation. By using review monitoring tools like Google Alerts or Google Analytics, you can keep track of and analyze your customer reviews to optimize your offerings and reputation.

The importance of customer reviews

Reviews from customers play a crucial role in establishing social proof. This influence can extend across friends, family, colleagues, influencers, and even strangers on the internet. Social proof can tip the balance for customers uncertain about making a purchase. It nudges them toward buying your product or exploring alternatives. This is why customer reviews hold a special place in the decision-making process.

Think about the last time you tried a new restaurant or bought a household appliance, chances are, you searched for reviews online first. When evaluating a product, consumers seek first-hand experiences from individuals like themselves. 

Here are some of the key benefits customer reviews can provide:

Provides valuable insights

Customer reviews offer valuable insights that help you understand your customers’ preferences and needs. Actively managing your reviews on platforms like Google My Business demonstrates your commitment to exceptional customer service. Also, analyzing feedback lets you identify trends and areas for improvement, ensuring you’re constantly adapting to your customer’s needs and expectations.

Improves online visibility 

Boosting your online visibility is essential if you want to build trust, credibility, and loyalty. Customer reviews play a vital part in that process. Collecting more reviews on popular sites like Google, ConsumerReports, and Bing can boost your search engine rankings to increase brand awareness and attract new customers.

Helps build trust with customers

Consumers value the opinions of fellow shoppers, as reviews offer genuine insights into product performance, customer service, and overall satisfaction. In fact, 46% of consumers believe that online business reviews are just as trustworthy as personal recommendations from friends or family. By encouraging reviews and displaying them prominently, you can help strengthen customer trust in your business, driving more sales and loyalty.

Influences customer decisions

As we’ve established, customer reviews hold significant sway over consumer decisions. Shoppers increasingly rely on product reviews to evaluate the quality and functionality of items before committing to a purchase.

To make the most of this influence, showcase the positive experiences of others. This will increase the likelihood that new customers will make a purchase. By doing so, you create an environment where buyers feel confident in choosing your company.

Free advertisement

Customer reviews can also act as free advertisements. When satisfied customers leave positive reviews, they’re essentially giving their stamp of approval to your business. They’re like mini endorsements that you can share on your website, social media channels, emails, and more. This is especially useful if you want to promote new products or services.

5 customer review examples

As we’ve learned, customer reviews are a great way to understand customer preferences and needs while helping to build trust and credibility. But reviews come in different shapes and sizes. Here are 5 examples.

Review sites

Review sites, such as Google Reviews and Foursquare, offer a treasure trove of valuable customer insights. These platforms feature online reviews that shed light on what your customers love and dislike about their experiences with your company. 

To make the most of customer review sites, consider implementing these steps:

• Regularly monitor and respond to reviews, regardless of whether they are positive or negative, to demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction. Also, be sure to address any concerns promptly.
• Actively encourage your customers to leave reviews to increase the volume of positive feedback and boost your online visibility. More on this later.
• Develop and maintain a proactive reputation management strategy to mitigate the impact of negative reviews and ensure a favorable public image.

Social media

Social networks, particularly Instagram, have become increasingly influential in shaping consumer reviews and brand reputation. With a user base mostly consisting of Gen Z and Millennials, Instagram serves as an ideal platform for sharing customer reviews, reaching a wider audience in a short span of time.

And since the platform is visual in nature, reviews often include high-quality images and videos that showcase products and services – making them more engaging and appealing to users.

Here are some tips to maximize the potential of Instagram for customer reviews:

• Create and maintain a strong presence on Instagram, consistently sharing high-quality visual content that resonates with your target audience.
• Encourage satisfied customers to post reviews, tag your business, and use relevant hashtags to increase visibility.
• Actively engage with your audience, responding to customer reviews timely.
• Collaborate with influencers and industry experts to further amplify your brand’s reach and credibility.

Quotes

Customer testimonials, in the form of quotes, are a powerful method for generating new business and fostering customer loyalty. Typically featured on your website or social media channels, quotes highlight positive experiences from satisfied customers.

To fully realize the potential of customer quotes, here are a few key tips:

• Identify satisfied customers who have enjoyed a positive experience with your company and request a testimonial.
• Display these testimonials prominently on your website or social media platforms.
• Use eye-catching designs to make the quotes visually appealing. This will increase the likelihood that visitors will read and engage with the content.
• Rotate and refresh the quotes regularly to maintain relevance.

Video testimonials

This type of content has emerged as a highly effective form of customer reviews. Happy customers can share their experiences through video platforms like YouTube or TikTok. This will reach a wider audience and provide valuable insights for potential buyers.

To make the most of video testimonials, consider these tips:

• Encourage satisfied customers to create video testimonials showcasing the benefits of your products or services from a real user’s perspective.
• Promote these testimonials on your website and social media platforms to attract new customers. 
• Offer guidelines or prompts to help customers structure their testimonials, ensuring that they provide valuable and relevant information for prospective buyers.
• Analyze video testimonials to identify trends and areas for improvement, using this information to refine your offerings and enhance customer satisfaction.

With their potential to go viral quickly, video testimonials have the power to significantly boost your online visibility and credibility. This can contribute to long-term business growth.

Brand ambassadors

Leveraging brand ambassadors for customer reviews can significantly impact your online reputation and attract new customers. To effectively use brand ambassadors, consider the following:

• Identify potential brand ambassadors who genuinely love your products and services. Their enthusiasm will come across naturally in their customer testimonials and resonate with their followers.
• Ensure your brand ambassadors have a strong, trusting relationship with their audience, increasing the likelihood of their recommendations being taken seriously.
• Encourage them to create engaging and informative content, highlighting the unique features and benefits of your offerings.
• Collaborate on special promotions or exclusive deals, driving traffic to your product page and boosting sales.

By carefully selecting brand ambassadors who align with your target audience and values, you can create more customer reviews that’ll enhance your brand’s image with potential customers.

Blog posts

Blog posts featuring customer reviews can provide a powerful way to promote your business and attract new customers. When crafting blog posts around customer reviews, focus on the following:

• Identify the most relevant customer reviews to feature in each post – these should be authentic, balanced, and demonstrate the value of your product or service.
• Highlight any unique features or benefits that set you apart from competitors.
• Link directly to customer profiles or social media accounts where possible, driving traffic back to original content sources.
• Include quality visual content that resonates with your target audience and captures their attention.

By creating engaging blog posts around customer reviews, you can draw in potential customers and increase the reach of your brand. With these tips in mind, it’s easy to see why customer reviews are essential for any business looking to grow its online presence.

10 ways to get more customer reviews

1. Excellent customer service and experience 

You and your staff play a crucial role in creating a memorable experience that can lead to more positive reviews. When you go above and beyond, customers feel compelled to share their experiences on review platforms. This can significantly increase the likelihood of a review request being accepted.

2. Claim your Google My Business profile

Claiming your Google My Business (GMB) profile, now known as Google Business Profile, is a crucial step in obtaining more customer reviews. As the most widely used platform, GMB offers a valuable opportunity to showcase your business and attract potential customers. By taking control of your profile, you can actively engage with customer reviews, demonstrating your commitment to customer satisfaction.

3. Include links in emails, texts, and newsletters 

Including links in your emails, texts, and newsletters is a good strategy to boost your reviews on customer review sites. By making it simple for customers to share their feedback,  you can easily increase the number of reviews. Additionally, customers will appreciate your effort to make it easy for them to provide their opinion.

4. Respond to customer reviews 

Responding to customer reviews is an essential practice that showcases your commitment to valuing customer feedback. Engaging with both positive and negative comments demonstrates your dedication to continuously improving your products or services. A well-crafted response to an online review can even turn a dissatisfied customer into a brand advocate.

5. Ask customers 

Asking customers for reviews can be a game-changer. This simple action can increase the number of your reviews and help you create trust with potential customers.

When a customer seems satisfied, encourage your staff to request a review – making sure they aren’t too pushy. Remember, this applies to both in-store staff and online and phone support.

6. Use social media

Utilize social media to spread awareness about your product or service. Use platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to post engaging questions related to your business’s performance. For example, if you run a restaurant, ask if they miss an old menu item and encourage them to “vote” for its return by mentioning it in their review. This approach not only empowers customers to share enjoyable stories but also boosts your brand’s social media engagement.

7. Reach out to influencers 

Reaching out to influencers can be a highly effective way to boost your brand. Influencers, with their established following and credibility, can generate valuable reviews that resonate with potential customers.

Begin by identifying influencers in your niche whose audience aligns with your target market. Reach out to them professionally, detailing the benefits of your offerings and explaining how it will interest their followers. By partnering with the right influencers, you’ll not only gain influential reviews but also expand your brand’s reach and credibility.

8. Post QR codes 

Make it even easier for customers to leave reviews by posting QR codes at the register. This will help streamline the process of requesting reviews from satisfied customers. 

By scanning the QR code, customers are directed straight to your preferred  review sites, saving them time and effort. This seamless approach encourages more customers to share their thoughts and helps you generate more organic reviews.

9 . Website feedback forms 

Adding feedback forms on your website or blog posts makes it convenient for customers to leave reviews. This user-friendly approach encourages customers to share their experiences without having to search for the appropriate platform.

10. Post reviews on your website 

Showcasing positive reviews on your website is a fantastic way to leverage social proof and establish credibility. Feature these reviews on your homepage or reviews page, making it easy for visitors to see the real-life experiences of satisfied customers. 

By doing so, you’ll create a sense of trust and reassurance, demonstrating that your business consistently delivers on its promises. More than that, however, you’re also encouraging new customers to share their thoughts.

Responding to negative reviews (and why it’s important)

Responding to negative customer reviews is a crucial aspect of managing your business’s online reputation. While it may seem counterintuitive, embracing negative feedback can actually be beneficial to your brand. 

Critical feedback gives credibility to your reviews, making the positive ones stand out even more. Here are more reasons why addressing negative reviews is essential:

• Commitment to customer satisfaction: By responding to negative feedback, you show potential customers that you care about their experience and are dedicated to resolving any issues that arise.
• Learn from customer feedback: Negative reviews offer valuable insights into areas where your business can improve. Analyze the feedback and use it as an opportunity to refine your products or services.
• Turn unhappy customers into loyal ones: A thoughtful, prompt response to a negative review can sometimes change a dissatisfied customer’s opinion. By addressing their worries and offering solutions, you may be able to turn a negative review into a positive one.
• Enhance brand credibility: Responding to negative reviews demonstrates transparency, proving to potential customers that your business is genuine and trustworthy.
• Support open communication: Engaging with negative reviews can help establish a dialogue with your customers, allowing you to better understand their needs and expectations.

Here are some tips to help you respond to a negative review:

• Respond promptly and professionally: Avoid getting defensive and acknowledge the customer’s concerns.
• Offer a genuine apology: Express empathy and understanding for any inconveniences the customer may have experienced.
• Provide a solution: Offer a resolution to address the issue, whether it’s a refund, replacement, or another remedy.
• Follow-up: Make sure that the problem is resolved and the customer is satisfied with the outcome.
• Regularly monitor customer feedback: This helps you stay on top of any issues that might arise and possibly avoid a negative customer experience before it happens.
• Create response templates: To make the process more efficient, create response templates for common scenarios. That way, you can customize the template to fit each individual situation without wasting much time.

Frequently asked questions about customer reviews

Customer reviews are the building blocks for your success

As a business owner, customer reviews are vital for your growth and success. They act as social proof and provide valuable insights and opportunities for improvement. Encourage honest, specific experiences to showcase your value and foster trust with potential clients.

Remember to respond to both positive and negative reviews in order to show customers that you take their feedback seriously. Finally, actively invite feedback and learn from customer experiences to create a customer-centric business that outshines competitors.