Google Reviews play a crucial role in the consumer journey, especially in the consideration and purchase stages.
For local businesses, reviews can serve as a cheaper and more trustworthy alternative to usual marketing channels.
Nearly 70% of consumers will read up to 6 reviews before making a purchase, and less than 10% do not look at reviews before buying from you. So, ideally, just having a great consumer experience should address the need for good reviews, right?
This is where it gets more complicated.
Only 52% of users aged between 25 and 34 have left a review for a product they have used. This figure sees a sharp decline as the age of the consumer rises. Also, consumers will almost always leave a negative review when they have a bad experience. However, the same does not hold true for great experiences and good reviews.
This essentially causes a misrepresentation of your brand’s performance, as problems are highlighted more than delightful experiences. One way to fix this is by encouraging more consumers to leave a review.
Interestingly, Google is the most popular source of reviews by a wide margin. More than 7 out of 10 online reviews on the internet are being posted on Google business listings!
Now, no one likes being continuously bothered for reviews — the trick to getting good reviews is blending into the background and not being pushy!
This article will discuss strategies that can help your local businessencourage happy consumers to leave reviews without being pushy.
Strategies to Encourage Google Reviews Without Being Pushy
Many consumers don’t leave reviews because they forget, find it time-consuming, or don’t know how.
Some may also feel that their review won’t make a difference.
Local businesses face another persistent issue in this regard. Even when consumers research your brand online, the purchase often takes place in-store. Following this, they generally don’t want to make the extra effort of navigating to you business listing and leaving a review.
The following tips for getting reviews will help you get reviews without being intrusive.
Make it easy to leave a review
You can encourage Google reviews by adding a direct link to your Google Business profile in your email signatures, post-purchase emails, and receipts. For physical businesses, consider using QR codes that lead directly to your review page.
Also, add a section on your location pages requesting consumers to leave a review if they had a good experience with your brand. A humble request can go a long way, especially in at a time when people are increasingly looking to support local businesses.
Time your request strategically
Ask for reviews shortly after a positive interaction or successful purchase, when the experience is fresh in the consumer’s mind.
For services, this might be right after a project is completed. For products, wait until the consumer has had time to use and appreciate the item. This can help you get more Google reviews from consumers without multiple reminders.
Personalize your approach
Address consumers by their first name in review requests to create a more personal connection. Reference specific details: Mention particular aspects of their purchase or interaction to add a more personal touch and differentiate yourself from competitors.
You can also have the employee who directly interacted with the consumer send the review request. This personal touch can increase the likelihood of a response. You can use product offerings such as SingleInterface to automate much of this process.
Leverage social proof
Highlight existing reviews to showcase positive consumer experiences on your website, in your store, or in marketing materials. This shows potential reviewers that others are actively engaging with your brand and helps you increase Google reviews.
You can use encouraging language, such as “Join over 1,000 satisfied consumers who have shared their experience,” to motivate others to contribute their own reviews.
Use subtle reminders in communications
You can use the following types of reminders in communication to get more Google reviews:
Email signatures: Add a small, unobtrusive line to email signatures like “Love our service? Leave us a review on Google!”
Packaging inserts: Local businesses offering deliveries can include a small card in packages with a QR code or short URL to leave a review.
Receipts: Print a short message and QR code on receipts for easy access to your review page.
Wrapping Up
Encouraging happy consumers to leave Google reviews can significantly boost your brand’s reputation. By making the process easy, timing your requests well, personalizing your approach, and leveraging social proof, you can effectively gather positive feedback without being intrusive. Focus on seamless, genuine engagement to inspire more satisfied consumers to share their experiences.
