How to Get Online Reviews for Your Business (2024 Guide)

Online reviews are an important part of any business. They provide customers with valuable insight into the quality of a product or service and can even impact how potential customers view your brand. Reviews are one of the most effective forms of marketing out there, and they can help you attract more customers and grow your business.

In this guide, we’ll discuss why online reviews are so important and give you some tips on how to get more of them. The ways to respond to negative reviews and turn them into positives for your business will also be points of focus later in this blog. 

It is no secret that online reviews are important for businesses. Potential customers are more likely to consult online reviews before purchasing than to ask for recommendations from friends or family.

There are several reasons why online reviews are so important for businesses. 

• First and foremost, reviews give customers a way to voice their opinions about your product or service. Whether they had a positive or negative experience, customers will appreciate being able to share their thoughts on your business. 
• Online reviews provide valuable feedback that you can use to improve your business. If you see that a lot of customers are unhappy with a particular aspect of your product or service, you can take steps to fix the issue. 
• Online reviews can help you attract new customers. Potential customers who see positive reviews will be more likely to do business with you than those who see no or only negative reviews.

If you’re not already monitoring and responding to online reviews, now is the time to start. With the help of online reviews, you can make your business better and attract more customers.

Internet is full of multiple distractions – and the run for the small businesses is a matter of attention. Most of us, while shopping online, rely heavily on the reviews of previous products as they provide authentic and reliable product recommendations.

1. Ease for Customers to Leave Reviews

The first step to getting more online reviews is to make it easy for customers to leave them. You should have a system on your website or online platform where they can quickly and easily write a review.

Customers will leave a review if asked directly and given a clear pathway, such as a link via email or a button on the business website. You can also choose any of the below given two options for quick reviews from the purchasers.

• Add links in emails: Send post-purchase emails with clear calls to action (CTA) and direct links to review platforms (Google, Yelp, or your website).
• Use QR Codes: Place QR codes on receipts or packaging to directly lead customers to your review page.

2. Incentivize Customers to Leave Reviews

Incentivizing customers to leave reviews can be a great way to increase the number of online reviews you get. You could do this by offering discounts or coupons for those who write reviews or even entering them into a prize draw. This will encourage customers to leave reviews after a purchase.

3. Follow up With Customers After Purchase

Following up with customers after they have made a purchase is another great way to encourage them to leave an online review. Data from Oberlo suggests that 74% of people who make online purchases leave reviews when prompted by follow-up emails or messages.

Here’s a simple step-by-step of what follow-up should look like:

• Time your message well: Send follow-up messages 2–3 days after the purchase or service completion.
• Use personalized messages: Personalized emails asking for feedback have a higher conversion rate (up to 50% higher response rates than generic requests).

4. Use of Social Media

Social media platforms can be a great way to increase the number of online reviews you get. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow you to reach a larger audience and promote your business. Social media offers a large reach, and sharing reviews can go viral or bring in more responses.

Effective Tactics:

• Influencer collaboration: Partner with influencers who can help generate authentic reviews through their audience. This is also referred to as influencer marketing.
• Social media campaigns: Use hashtags and prompts to encourage users to leave feedback or reviews.

5. Monitor You Compititors

It’s essential to keep an eye on your competition regarding online reviews. You need to ensure that you get more reviews than them to stay ahead in the search engines.

Businesses that monitor competitors’ reviews tend to respond 20% faster and proactively address similar issues. Regular monitoring can reveal areas for improvement or opportunities to outperform your rivals in customer service or product quality.

6. Third-Party Review Sites

While your website should have a space for reviews, many customers trust third-party review platforms like Google Reviews, Yelp, Trustpilot, and TripAdvisor. Businesses listed on multiple review platforms see a higher volume of reviews, and customers see third-party platforms as more neutral for trust in the reviews.

• Google Reviews impact SEO: Positive reviews on Google increases local search rankings.
• Yelp or TripAdvisor: Restaurants and travel businesses benefit significantly from these platforms.

7. Use Review Management Software

Automating the review process through software solutions like BirdEye, Podium, or Trustpilot can make collecting reviews seamless. Through these tools businesses can:

• Send automated follow-up requests after a transaction, improving response rates.
• Track and analyze reviews to identify patterns and areas for improvement.

8. Engage Employees to Request Reviews

Your employees can be great advocates in encouraging customers to leave reviews. Companies where staff ask for reviews in person see a higher response rate overall. Employees directly interacting with customers should:

• Politely request reviews after a successful service.
• Spread little cards or fliers with review instructions to make the process as simple as feasible.

When you’re running a business, getting as much customer feedback as possible from your customers is important. Online reviews can be a great way to understand what people think of your business.

Here are a few ways that you can use online reviews to improve your business:

• Take a look at the most common complaints and see if there’s anything you can do to fix them.
• Use positive reviews as testimonials on your website or social media pages.
• Respond to both positive and negative reviews in a professional manner. This shows that you care about what people think of your business.
• Use reviews as an opportunity to learn more about what your customers want and need.
• Encourage customers to leave reviews by offering incentives like discounts or coupons.

One of the best ways to find out what people think about your company and receive their opinion is to look for reviews online. In addition to increasing your company’s internet presence, they can bring in new clients.

It is critical to know how to react correctly to reviews, but keep in mind that not all reviews will be favorable. Consider incentivizing consumers to leave evaluations and use the input to enhance your company. Following these steps will help guarantee that customers have a favorable impression of your company when reviewing it online.