Improve Your Digital Reputation with Customer Reviews

In a digitally driven world, improving your reputation in the online space is critical. In the past potential customers would often ask for references deeper in the decision making process. Today this can be done upfront in discovery process when their start their vendor selection process.

Not only do online customer reviews improve your digital reputation, they also improve your rankings within search engines or on any website in which they appear. Typically the most common space on the internet for business reviews is Google since this is where customers usually start their company discovery journey. Below, we discuss a few ways to help cultivate customer reviews for your company in the digital space.

Email Forms

Email is probably the most effective way to extract reviews from your customers. The biggest reason is that the entire process can be streamlined as it all takes place in one place. Using a service like Mailchimp, you can setup automated forms that send out after project completion that can walk customers through a step-by-step process of leaving a review for your business. While the design of your form can be customized to your liking, we suggest using a steps that look similar to this:

1. On your computer, open Google Maps and make sure you’re signed into your Google account.
2. Search for [Insert My Company] and click on the pin in the map area.
3. On the card that appears to the left, click “Write a Review” (at the bottom).
4. In the window that appears, click the stars to score and write a brief review.

Other ways to generate reviews

While email is a great option, you should look to other areas within your business where you can take advantage of informing the customer that reviews of your company are appreciated. Typically the best time to ask is at project close and there can be a number a ways to initiate the conversation including:

• Marketing materials that guide customers through the process.
• Field employees with tablets that can enable customer reviews on-site.
• Reminding customers at project close about reviewing your business.
• Follow-up calls or text messages checking in and asking for reviews.

The list can go on and on depending on the nature of your business and your relationship with your customers. Just remember not to be too pushy and that not everyone has the same level to technical savvy, so keep things simple and help guide your customers through the process.