Asking Customers for Google Reviews

Updated MON JUL 31 2023

One of the best marketing strategies for growing your business is to get customers to spread the word about your business and recommend your products and services at will aka word of mouth.  And it turns out that asking a customer for a Google Review while they are present is probably the best opportunity for you to receive a review from them. In order for this strategy to work, rehearse and tailor the phrases for asking customers for Google reviews below. Then use your customized "Asking Customers for Google Reviews" phrase when the moment is right. Making this simple adjustment to your Google Reviews marketing strategy, and making it a staple of your natural commentary with customers and clients can be extremely effective when adhered to.

Realistically speaking, customer review aggregation is no easy feat – without your prompting, a happy customer has no incentive to leave a positive review for prospective customers to see. Meanwhile, unsatisfied customers might leave a bad review, scaring off a potential customer.

Ideas for getting Google reviews from your customers

Asking at the right time is vital. Clients may rave about you in person, providing a natural momentum for you or your employees to ask:

"Do you mind taking a minute to share your feedback on Google reviews right now?"

"Will you help us offer the same service you received by leaving us a Google review online right now?"

"Since you had such a great experience, would you mind taking some time to leave us a review on Google? We've made it super easy for you. Just scan this QR code."

"Your opinion matters to us. Would you take a minute to review your experience during your visit? Just scan this QR code."

"We're glad to be of help. We strive to [what the customer is praising you for]. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback on Google reviews."

"How did we do? Review your experience with us at Google Reviews!"

Getting a customer review whenever they have already left?

Adding a post-purchase/post-transaction follow-up via email as part of the "Customer Review aggregation," which we can send to customers along with the "thank you for your business." All we need is the customer's email address.  

But you won't get more positive reviews unless you ask for them. However, a 2019 BrightLocal study indicated that 76% of consumers asked to leave feedback did it.

Mobile searches for "best" and "reviews" have increased by 80% and 35%, respectively, in the past few years. And according to recent research, asking for reviews produces higher average review scores of 4.34 out of 5. In contrast, unprompted reviews average 3.89 out of 5.

Prove to consumers that what you're offering is worth it.

Unless you're spending advertising dollars to tell consumers how great your brand is, people won't know if what you're offering is worth their time and money. Google reviews solve this problem because customers share their experiences for free, which according to our research, is very affordable.

Consumers' sudden reliance on online shopping coupled with a decrease in people's trust in advertising (83% don't trust advertisements) means brands can't afford to not be in control of their reviews and those reviews' value to marketing. Review data shows brands what consumers are saying in their own words, without lag time. Those insights directly and accurately inform marketers to craft a customized online environment tailored to engage consumers, raise conversions, and increase sales.

Customers regard brands as more than product or service providers: they form value-based and emotional relationships with each one. Customer feedback is an integral part of that relationship, with hundreds of thousands of customers sharing their thoughts in Google reviews, Facebook, Yelp, and other websites.

The FTC (The Federal Trade Commission) proposed a new rule to stop marketers from using illicit review and endorsement practices such as using fake reviews, suppressing honest negative reviews, and paying for positive reviews, which deceive consumers looking for real feedback on a product or service and undercut honest businesses. Examples of clearly deceptive practices involving consumer reviews and testimonials from its past cases, and noted the widespread emergence of generative AI, which is likely to make it easier for bad actors to write fake reviews.

Customers who post Google reviews don’t only talk about products, they talk about how these products fit into their lives. In essence, they talk about who they are—from simple likes and dislikes to lifestyle preferences.

Prepare your POS for asking customers for a Google Review, and stay on the forefront of technology with a QR Code table tent seen below.

• 91% of people regularly or occasionally read online reviews, while 84% trust reviews as much as a personal recommendation.

• Online reviews influence 95% of consumers for their purchases.

• 73% of consumers think written reviews are more important than star and number ratings.

Isn't it time to put your Google review skit into practice? You've likely perused Google reviews before you purchase, so it's logical to assume consumers do the same as you before buying.

Once you have accrued a few Google reviews, Oevae.com can help you integrate your reviews on your website, email, and other marketing communications like QR codes. 

Make a brand difference.™

References

Online Reviews Statistics and Trends: A 2022 Report by ReviewTrackers
https://www.reviewtrackers.com/reports/online-reviews-survey/

How Much Are Online Reviews Actually Worth?
https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2020/04/how-much-are-online-reviews-actually-worth/

Safety-Conscious Home Office for In-Person and Virtual Meetings

Many entrepreneurs need to host in-person and virtual meetings from their home offices. Since the pandemic is still a concern, using safety-conscious design choices is essential. If you want to know how to update your space correctly, here’s what you need to know.

Must-Follow Safety Best Practices for Client Meetings

If you’re hosting in-person client meetings, embracing safety-conscious best practices is a must. A few of the most important are:

• Have Everyone Wear Masks
• Open Windows for Ventilation
• Try UV for HVAC

Using technology – like invoicing apps and your website – can help you reduce contact, too. That way, you won’t have to handle items the other person touched, keeping everyone safer.

Choosing the Area for a Home Office

Picking the right space for your home office is essential. If you want to be safety-conscious, a separate home office with its own exterior door is ideal. That way, visitors don’t have to cross through your house. Plus, you’ll be able to limit distractions and create a sense of privacy.

If selling your home soon is part of your plan, a full-fledged home office could increase your home’s appraisal value, too. Just make sure that you keep records of the improvements and take photos along the way, making it easier to justify a higher asking price.

Home Office Design for Client Visits

As you work on your home office layout, keep social distancing requirements in mind. If you make staying six feet apart simple, the odds that everyone will maintain that distance go up dramatically.

For example, make sure any visitor seating is at least six feet away from your chair. Positioning a table or desk between you and them can also help. However, if you want to ensure that clients don’t attempt to scoot the seat closer, opt for larger furniture pieces like couches instead of smaller chairs.

You can take a damaged couch you love and make it office-ready. By contacting a furniture upholstery service, you can get a sofa reupholstered for around $1,200 to $3,500, depending on the size, fabric, and other factors. Just make sure you search for “chair upholstery near me” and read company reviews before you get in contact. That way, you can find reputable businesses. Once you have a shortlist, call them to talk about your needs and request a quote.

Preparing for Video Conferences and Virtual Visits

Meeting with clients online is inherently safer than gathering in your home office. If you want to make sure your video conference calls go off without a hitch, start by investing in broadband internet and choose a hardline over a Wi-Fi connection.

When it comes to being seen clearly, use a combination of lighting approaches. Open curtains and blinds for natural light. Brighten dark spaces with desk or floor lamps. Then, add a ring light to illuminate your face.

Additionally, set up neutral but flattering background. Colors like beige and light blue can work well on camera, so either position yourself in front of a suitable wall or try a pulldown or foldable screen for a backdrop.

Bonus Tip: How to Protect Your Assets

Protecting your personal assets is essential if you’re going to operate a home-based small business. Thankfully, by using the proper business structure, you can safeguard your personal assets, ensuring company-related litigation doesn’t impact your personal life.

Often, going with an LLC is a smart choice. Along with reducing your liability, you can avoid hefty attorney fees by either filing yourself or using a formation service. Since rules regarding LLCs do vary by state, you’ll want to take a close look at local regulations before you begin. That way, you’ll handle the process correctly.

A Guide to the Importance of Branding for Your Business

Branding is the process of deciding on a message that your company will embody and letting that message inform all of the decisions you make. When used effectively, branding can make it so that people who have never personally interacted with your small business still recognize your imaging and marketing. Learn more about branding and how it can improve your business outcomes.

Building Brand Awareness

Brand awareness is the number of people who are familiar with your brand. According to research, the more often people see your brand, the more likely they are to become customers. This is called the mere exposure effect, and it is part of why branding is such a powerful tool for business owners. If your brand imagery and phrasing are consistent throughout your stores, products, and marketing, you are building brand awareness for your business among consumers.

Perfecting Brand Imagery and Text

Some aspects of branding you can manage on your own. Coming up with the original motto, ensuring that all branding efforts reflect the company values, and even designing the logo using an online designer tool are all within most business owners’ powers.

Other tasks require a professional touch. Copywriting should be done by someone who understands your target audience and how to reflect your branding in a way that is meaningful to them. Your website should be designed with professional knowledge of how to create website appeal and usability. Your marketing imagery should be created by someone who understands design and the desires of potential customers. You can find professionals to fulfill all these tasks and more on one of the many freelance job marketplaces online that allow you to read reviews and compare prices among freelancers to see which are best for your business.

You can and should still have a hand in how your branding is present throughout your business’s products, website and marketing, and you can communicate with your freelancers easily over email. If you need to share a number of image files with someone on your team, use a JPG-to-PDF converter that retains an image’s quality while minimizing the size so you won’t have to send multiple attachments to get your ideas across.

Keeping Current

What works today in branding may not work tomorrow, so it’s essential to know how to balance your marketing efforts so that you can tweak some of them when necessary without having to change them all at once. Business 2 Community recommends businesses consider marketing to be an extra communication channel used to create a connection between them and potential customers and to assess that connection regularly. Be on the watch for any signs a branding or marketing effort isn’t working so that you can make changes to your strategies before your company suffers monetarily.

To keep abreast of best business practices in everything from branding to accounting, consider going back to school to earn a bachelor’s degree. Regardless of how much education you have already, there are online options that you can complete at home on your own schedule so that you can still fulfill your work and family obligations. Make sure to check the accreditation status and reviews of any programs you are interested in before applying.

Branding can bring in big results for your business when done correctly. Develop a solid brand that you're proud to share with the world and watch how it can bring the world to you.

When you want to grow your business and boost your brand, get in touch with the marketing team at Oevae.com or Call 972-850-8823 today to schedule a Free 30-minute marketing consultation ($100 Value).