{"id":5340,"date":"2022-01-12T17:08:35","date_gmt":"2022-01-13T00:08:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/?p=5340"},"modified":"2024-01-18T16:25:06","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T23:25:06","slug":"how-to-encourage-customer-reviews-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/how-to-encourage-customer-reviews-online\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Encourage Customer Reviews Online"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every business owner understands that customer reviews are important \u2013 but do you <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">really <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">know just how valuable they can be? You might be surprised to learn just how impactful customer reviews can be, especially in our digitally-driven age.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Online reviews are a powerful tool that you can leverage to achieve an array of goals like gaining new customers, increasing foot traffic, and building a better brand reputation. And beyond that, they can even support higher search rankings, earn you a larger social media following, and so much more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simply put, your business needs customer reviews. But exactly what benefits can you look forward to, and perhaps more importantly, how do you get customers to write reviews in the first place? Your V Digital Services team is breaking down everything you need to know about customer reviews for businesses, including why they\u2019re so beneficial and how you can start accumulating them now.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Why Customer Reviews Matter So Much<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to data shared in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.searchenginejournal.com\/seo-guide\/seo-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Search Engine Journal<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, reviews have the power to make or break a business:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than <\/span><b>90% of consumers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reported that positive reviews make them more likely to use a specific business.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A staggering <\/span><b>82% of consumers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> check online reviews for local businesses.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The average consumer spends nearly <\/span><b>14 minutes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reading reviews before they make a decision about a business.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than <\/span><b>75% of consumers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> trust online reviews just as much as recommendations provided by their family and friends.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those numbers paint a pretty clear picture: reviews aren\u2019t just a plus; they\u2019re a necessity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to increasing your odds of gaining new customers and revenue, there\u2019s also a critical connection between online reviews and search rankings. Your SEO and online reviews are more closely related than you might think, with reviews counting for about <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.searchenginewatch.com\/2019\/06\/10\/online-reviews-powerful-seo-weapons\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of Google\u2019s criteria for SERPs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/local-seo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improving SEO is a priority<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for many business owners, so why not take advantage of the opportunity to accomplish that using reviews?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With online reviews, you can make sure that more of the right people are finding your business at the right time. And then, those same online reviews can contribute to their decision to purchase a product or service from you. That\u2019s two big wins!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/h3-Positive-vs.-negative-reviews_-Why-you-need-both_.jpg\" alt=\"Young guy wondering next to hands of businessman with dislike or disagree feedback vector\" width=\"1280\" height=\"520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/h3-Positive-vs.-negative-reviews_-Why-you-need-both_.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/h3-Positive-vs.-negative-reviews_-Why-you-need-both_-300x122.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/h3-Positive-vs.-negative-reviews_-Why-you-need-both_-1024x416.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/h3-Positive-vs.-negative-reviews_-Why-you-need-both_-768x312.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/b><\/h3>\n<h3><b>Positive vs. negative reviews: Why you need both?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s easy to assume that your primary goal should be to collect only positive reviews. After all, no business owner wants the public to have access to an unhappy customer\u2019s negative feedback, right?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But actually, both positive and negative reviews are useful in the long run. Here\u2019s how.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obviously, when customers leave a glowing review for your business, it is a great way to \u201cshow off\u201d all your strengths to potential customers. Satisfied customers serve as a form of proof that you are a business that can be trusted to deliver as promised.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Negative reviews are far less enjoyable to receive, but they are an inevitable part of owning and operating and business. And if you respond appropriately, they can be a chance to paint your business in a positive light.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, let\u2019s say you own a donut shop and receive a negative review from a customer that complains that their afternoon dozen were stale. Even though your knee-jerk reaction might be to get defensive, try to instead pause for a moment and put the feedback to good use. Ask yourself if there are any changes you can make that can prevent the issue from reoccurring?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some cases, there may be easy improvements you can consider; in others, it might simply be a disgruntled customer venting about a problem that doesn\u2019t actually exist. Either way, respond to the negative review politely and professionally. Thank the customer for the feedback, and then provide a succinct explanation of your plan to resolve the issue. That might look something like this: \u201c<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sally, thank you for your feedback. We apologize that you were unhappy with your donuts, but we would love to make it right. Please come visit us for a free, freshly-baked donut of your choice \u2013 and in the meantime, we\u2019ll take a closer look at our batch timing to make sure our donuts are always fabulously fresh and delicious!<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Negative reviews don\u2019t have to be a blow to your business. Rather, they can allow you to show your commitment to customer satisfaction, your willingness to adapt your approach, and other positive qualities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t forget to respond to positive reviews as well! Genuine interactions with customers are a wonderful tool for building trust, loyalty, and, as you\u2019ve learned, higher Google rankings.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24367\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/h2-How-to-Get-Customers-to-Leave-Reviews.jpg\" alt=\"close up on customer man hand pressing on smartphone screen with gold five star rating feedback icon\" width=\"1280\" height=\"520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/h2-How-to-Get-Customers-to-Leave-Reviews.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/h2-How-to-Get-Customers-to-Leave-Reviews-300x122.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/h2-How-to-Get-Customers-to-Leave-Reviews-1024x416.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/h2-How-to-Get-Customers-to-Leave-Reviews-768x312.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/b><\/h2>\n<h2><b>How to Get Customers to Leave Reviews<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With all of this in mind, you might be rethinking your perspective on online review sites like Yelp, Google, and Facebook \u2013 or maybe you were already well aware that customers\u2019 online reviews carry a significant amount of weight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regardless, there\u2019s no question that building a solid foundation of positive reviews is a top priority.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s talk about how to ask for a review, broken down into three basic steps:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 1: Time it properly.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Timing is one of the most critical factors in the review process, no matter how you plan to ask for reviews.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your request comes too early, customers might be put off that you\u2019re asking for feedback before they\u2019ve even had a chance to decide how they feel about your product or service. Wait too long, and the customer might have forgotten the key details needed for a high-quality review (or they may not be interested in making the effort so long after the fact).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A good rule of thumb is to wait 1-2 days before sending a review request, whether you\u2019re using email campaigns, text messaging, customer review landing pages, or another method. Mornings tend to be the best time frame for higher response rates, so plan accordingly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, you can also introduce the idea of reviews during your interaction with a customer. In that case, you should still plan to hold off for a couple of days before sending any follow-up.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 2: Remember, it\u2019s all in your approach.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Figuring out how to ask for customer reviews is somewhat of a balancing act. On one hand, you want to set up a system that inspires authentic, detailed responses. But at the same time, you don\u2019t want to make the process so complicated that it deters customers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aim for a happy medium. You can create a short, fairly simple set of questions that ask for a quick overview of the customer\u2019s experience, as well as the pros and cons they\u2019d like to highlight. The goal is for it to be open-ended enough to motivate the customer to be reasonably detailed without taking up too much of their time.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 3: Be persistent.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s a fine line between being pushy and giving customers a gentle nudge, and you\u2019ll need to walk it in order to earn as many reviews as possible. If customers don\u2019t respond to your requests for a review, you can send a follow-up a few days after. Be cognizant of your tone in the follow-up, so you don\u2019t overstep.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How to Encourage Customers to Write Reviews: Our Top 12 Tips<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ve given you a general idea of how to ask for Google reviews, Yelp reviews, and other customer feedback. Now, let\u2019s talk about actionable steps \u2013 because that\u2019s what you\u2019ll need to see real results.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are a dozen of our best tips for getting customer reviews, all of which are tried and true strategies our marketing team uses regularly.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>1. Just ask. (No, really \u2013 it can be that easy.)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Often, figuring out how to get more customer reviews can feel like a mystery that\u2019s impossible to solve. But actually, many business owners make it more complicated than it needs to be.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Start by just asking your customers to write reviews \u2013 don\u2019t be surprised to discover that many people are happy to share a few positive words about a good experience. Of course, you\u2019ll need to make sure that you\u2019ve already done the work of providing excellent customer service and quality products and\/or services.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are many different ways to request customer reviews, including:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Include a link to your preferred review platform in the signature of every email you send.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reach out to your social media followers with a friendly invitation to leave reviews.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create a QR code that connects customers directly with your review page, then add it to your business card, receipt, or another printed material.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>2. Set up a process.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s a lot to be said to seize every unexpected change to encourage customer reviews. But equally useful is developing a clear process for \u201cthe ask\u201d and then making sure you (and any employees) stick to it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, let\u2019s say you are a professional wedding planner. After a client\u2019s big day has come and gone, perhaps you send them a small memento (like a picture frame inscribed with their wedding date) as a thank you gift. You can include a small card that asks for a review in the gift package. This process can serve as a closing act of sorts for every client. Before long, it will be a virtually effortless method that produces a steady flow of reviews.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>3. Automate your \u201cask\u201d wherever possible.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are so many automation tools you can use to streamline your business operations, including options for automating the process of asking for customer reviews. With review automation, it becomes much easier to stay consistent through even the busiest periods of your business. As your business grows and expands, automated tools make it simple to scale your efforts as needed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are various ways to automate the review request process, including:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pop-up forms that appear after a customer makes a purchase on your website<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Automatic follow-up emails are sent after a customer completes their shopping experience<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Customer feedback request emails are sent at regular intervals (for example, monthly)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Online booking systems that feature automated messaging for scheduling future appointments and leaving feedback<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>4. Concentrate your efforts on satisfied customers.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When a customer makes a positive remark during an interaction, don\u2019t let the opportunity pass you by. It can truly be as simple as thanking them, then asking if they would mind sharing their thoughts in a quick review.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another way to capitalize on these opportunities is by utilizing customer surveys. When a customer positively responds to a brief survey, you can then invite them to write a more detailed review.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surveys can also let you turn an unhappy customer into one that has nothing but great things to say about your business. If there\u2019s a customer who answers your survey with less-than-thrilled feedback, make an effort to ask how you can improve their experience. Take action whenever possible, going above and beyond to show that you\u2019re determined to do better. Then, if the customer is pleased by the results, encourage them to leave a review.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>5. Add a personalized touch.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Automation can be a handy tool, but you also don\u2019t want to make your customers feel like they\u2019re just another face in the crowd. Find ways to personalize the ask, and you\u2019re likely to see your success rate climb. And as an added bonus, you\u2019ll be building stronger, more lasting relationships with your customers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personalization can take many different forms, largely depending on the type of business you run. For example, a wealth management firm that has developed deep connections with its clients might make a personal phone call to ask for a review.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>6. Communicate why reviews matter so much.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many customers might not realize why reviews are so important, so educating them can make a big difference in their willingness to provide feedback. Explain that reviews help your business connect with customers just like them, specifically those who are searching for a quality experience \u2013 which you\u2019ve just proved you are capable of providing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A customer is more apt to take action once they understand that reviews don\u2019t just help your business but are actually incredibly beneficial for their fellow consumers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>7. Make the review process hassle-free.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019re a business owner, but you\u2019re also a consumer \u2013 so you already know that an overcomplicated review is one you\u2019re unlikely to complete. One of the fastest ways to lose reviews is by expecting customers to spend too much time or energy on the process. Your goal should be to get rid of any possible friction points that would discourage your customers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, this means you\u2019ll need to take a hard look at your process through the eyes of a customer. How can you streamline it? Here are a few suggestions:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you send a review request (email, text, or another medium), a link should take the customer directly to the platform or fillable form. Under no circumstances should the customer navigate the platform and then find your business.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep your requests short and to the point while still expressing your appreciation. Avoid too much \u201cfluff\u201d so that you don\u2019t lose customers\u2019 interest before getting that click.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If possible, find a review service that allows customers to skip the step of signing up for an account on your platform of choice.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>8. Provide an easy-to-use template to guide reviewers.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Given the choice between writing an entire review from scratch or working from a helpful template, what are you most likely to choose? If you can develop a template that outlines exactly what you\u2019d like the review to contain, it takes a lot of the guesswork out of the process for your customers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, your review request form can include a few ideas to get the customer started:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thank you so much for choosing Clarkdale Designs for your home renovation project. We would appreciate your feedback on your experience so that we can continue to provide the very best in interior design and remodeling services!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How did your personal design team go above and beyond to meet your needs?<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When did you realize you had made the right decision in working with us?<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How would you describe the experience to a friend?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A template can be advantageous in more ways than one. As you can see, the example above makes it much easier for the customer to share detailed feedback without having to think too hard. But in addition, it gently guides the customer to provide answers that will make for an outstanding review.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>9. Actively engage with new and existing reviews.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When customers see a business interact with online reviews, writing and submitting their own feedback can be a major motivator. Regardless of whether you\u2019re responding to positive or negative reviews, expressing your appreciation can go a long way. And when you show that you aren\u2019t just skimming over reviews but actually absorbing the feedback, that can be even more encouraging to customers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to responding to each individual review, another way to demonstrate your engagement is to share some reviews via social media. You might pull a few sentences to use as a quote for a single post or even collect several pieces of positive feedback centered on a specific product or service.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Customers want to know that the time and effort required for writing a review will be appreciated. More than likely, you genuinely are grateful for customer feedback \u2013 you just need to be sure to actually show it.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>10. Offer an incentive to sweeten the deal.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Providing an incentive to reward reviewers does <\/span><b>not <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mean bribing customers for good reviews. It\u2019s important that you carefully consider your approach to this tactic so that you don\u2019t come off as unethical in any way.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simply state that you\u2019re offering an incentive as a \u201cthank you\u201d for customers that choose to write a review for your business without putting pressure on the customer to say only positive things. You can certainly say something like, \u201cDid you have a great experience with one of our team members? We would love to hear about it! Take a few moments to write a review, and we\u2019ll send you a 15% off coupon to say thanks!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some ideas for customer incentives for reviews are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discounts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Store credits<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Account upgrades<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Free product or service<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charitable donation made on their behalf<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Publicity via a social media share<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Free content, such as an ebook relevant to the products\/services you provide<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>11. Use review request emails, but with impeccable timing.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We already discussed the general guidelines for when to send review requests so that you can use that as a starting point. But in terms of the big picture, when is the best time to ask for a review?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the most part, your timing is going to depend largely on the type of business you have, as well as the sort of products and\/or services you offer. If you are a personal fitness trainer and nutrition coach, you probably aren\u2019t going to ask for feedback after a client\u2019s first week of working with you. Rather, you would have much better luck timing your request after achieving a major milestone or successfully completing a full program.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to product reviews, try to reach out to the customer while you\u2019re still fresh in their mind <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">they\u2019ve had ample time to actually use the product in question. The type of product will affect this timeframe, so take that into consideration.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Service reviews are typically best requested at the completion of the service. So, once you wrap up the project or job, you can ask for the review as a part of the payment process. Or, if you work with customers on an ongoing basis, use key milestones as a \u201ctrigger event\u201d for a review request.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>12. Don\u2019t forget to follow up.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our last tip is also one of the most important and one that many businesses don\u2019t use. Asking for reviews can be slightly awkward (at least at first), largely because many business owners perceive it as a \u201cbother\u201d to their customers. So, the prospect of following up and asking <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">again <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is something that plenty of business owners would rather just avoid.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But remember, you\u2019ve already set up a system that makes it easy, fast, and possibly even rewarding for your customers to write a review. It\u2019s true that they are being extremely helpful and generous in submitting a review, but you\u2019ve been very careful to take a friendly, non-pushy approach to begin with. That means that if you don\u2019t receive a response after a certain period of time, you can feel completely comfortable sending a gentle reminder.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We all have things on our to-do lists that we forget about or put off until later, and your customers are no different. So, a subtle nudge might just be what they need to get it done.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24374\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/h2-Build-a-Five-Star-Digital-Marketing-Strategy-with-V-Digital-Services.jpg\" alt=\"Opened Hand of Client giving a Five Star Rating\" width=\"1280\" height=\"520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/h2-Build-a-Five-Star-Digital-Marketing-Strategy-with-V-Digital-Services.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/h2-Build-a-Five-Star-Digital-Marketing-Strategy-with-V-Digital-Services-300x122.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/h2-Build-a-Five-Star-Digital-Marketing-Strategy-with-V-Digital-Services-1024x416.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/h2-Build-a-Five-Star-Digital-Marketing-Strategy-with-V-Digital-Services-768x312.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/b><\/h2>\n<h2><b>Build a Five-Star Digital Marketing Strategy with V Digital Services<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you had to review your own approach to digital marketing, how many stars would you give it? Unless you can confidently say that you\u2019re achieving next-level results with a fantastic marketing plan, it\u2019s probably time to make a change.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">V Digital Services<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is here to serve as your experienced partner in online marketing, helping you tackle everything from your digital reputation and social media to paid advertising and content creation. Our team can provide as much (or as little) support as you need to begin seeing measurable progress towards your business goals. And because every business is unique, we take a strategic approach to tailoring our tactics according to your needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Customer reviews can be an invaluable asset for your business, but there\u2019s also so much more that goes into mastering marketing in the digital landscape. Learn more about how to use online advertising to your advantage when you connect with the V Digital Services team today!<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"button gradient-button\" href=\"\/contact-us\/\">Contact Us<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Image Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/sunniwa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span class=\"s2\">sunniwa<\/span><\/a> , <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Papuripyoko\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span class=\"s2\">Victoruler<\/span><\/a> , <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Roman+Samborskyi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span class=\"s2\">Roman Samborskyi<\/span><\/a> , <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/chainarong06\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">chainarong06<\/a> , <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/BlackSalmon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span class=\"s3\">Black Salmon<\/span><\/a> \/ Shutterstock<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every business owner understands that customer reviews are important \u2013 but do you really know just how valuable they can be? You might be surprised to learn just how impactful customer reviews can be, especially in our digitally-driven age. Online reviews are a powerful tool that you can leverage to achieve an array of goals [&#8230;] <a class=\"moretag red\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/how-to-encourage-customer-reviews-online\/\">KEEP READING<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":26229,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,92,11],"tags":[89],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5340"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5340"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5340\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5340"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5340"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5340"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}