Today, in the age of instant access to information, potential customers want to do business only with professionals with proven track records, backed by encouraging reviews from past customers.
Positive reviews are especially important to service providers such as consultants, since there’s no way to physically check the quality of their offerings, like you can with a standard physical product.
Prospects rely on customer reviews to evaluate your reputation, as well as the quality of your services.
The following tips will help you to quickly earn a few positive reviews:
- Set Up Profiles on Major Review, Search Engine, and Social Media Sites
There are dozens of review sites and directories where you can create an account, set up a profile, and enable clients to leave reviews and comments about your business. The following sites are recommended if you want your reviews to be seen by the greatest number of people:
- Angie’s List
- Google My Business
- Yahoo Small Business
- Ask Satisfied Customers to Post Reviews
While having positive reviews is highly important for your business, most customers need to be asked or encouraged to write and post reviews.
A good time to ask for reviews is when a customer seems happy with the results they are getting from working with you, since they are more likely to leave a positive review.
- Encourage Customers to Post Reviews
A proven way to get customer reviews online is to offer incentives such as gift cards, or discounts on services and products.
Financial incentives are especially useful to startup businesses that need a way to quickly build up a good reputation in order to attract more potential customers.
Since most customers are aren’t going to take the time to visit review sites and share their experiences of doing business with you, you have to make the process as easy as possible for the handful of people who wish to post a review online:
- Include links on your web pages, emails, and social media pages that take customers to the review sites where you’re registered
- Allow customers to post reviews using their existing logins from sites like Google, Facebook, or Amazon
- Reward Customers Who Post Reviews
Customers who leave positive reviews about your business should receive special discounts or personalized treatment, since they essentially are helping you to promote your business free of charge.
Sending thank you notes, along with copies of articles or links to useful information, shows how much you value their business, and increases the likelihood of them referring you to their colleagues and friends.
Online Reviews Can Rapidly Boost Your Reputation
Online reviews are essential for service businesses such as consulting, where potential clients are reluctant to enter into relationships with consultants who don’t have an established reputation.
Your consulting practice can rapidly establish itself once it gets a handful of customer reviews online or testimonials from satisfied clients.
All it takes is for you to register your business on a few review or directory sites, and set up a simple process that allows clients to write and post their reviews.
Get More Advice to Help Your Service Business Succeed
If you would like to learn the most effective techniques for promoting and growing your service-based business, please read the following book:
How to Succeed as an Independent Marketing Consultant – by Robert W. Bly
Bob Bly is one of the top copywriters and marketing consultants in the country. His books provide practical advice related to marketing, sales, and small business opportunities.
About the Author
Mark Bellini is a freelance copywriter and marketing consultant who focuses on creating marketing funnels (sequences) for small service-based businesses and internet marketers.
To learn why marketing funnels are the most recommended marketing strategy for small businesses, please visit www.writingconversions.com/downloads/
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