Displaying Online Reviews Increases Conversion By 270%.

Assume you’re in the market for a new computer, mattress, or even something as simple as a new brand of oat milk. What do you do before you swipe your card? If you stated you read online reviews, you’re certainly not alone. A whopping 90% of customers read internet reviews before visiting a business.

Creating reviews is one of the most significant parts of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). When search engines like Google or Bing notice that a company has a lot of favorable reviews, it boosts its reputation and rankings on search engine result pages. 

However, getting people to post reviews isn’t always straightforward. In this article, we’ll look at five simple techniques to get customers to leave online reviews for your business.

Why Are Customer Reviews Important?

People seek reliability while researching a new brand, product, or service. Today’s consumers are acutely aware of marketing lingo and practices. We’ve learned to disregard “the world’s greatest [insert product or service here].” Instead, we rely on other customers to validate firms’ statements.

Positive reviews, of course, increase the possibility of a purchase and build trust. However, both the quality and number of reviews have an impact. 56% of shoppers read two to six reviews before making a purchase, while only 3% read just one. 

Why? Take Amazon buying as an example. If you’re looking for a new hoover, you’re more likely to choose the one with 2,576 reviews and an average rating of 4.3 stars over the 5-star alternative with only one review. A lack of reviews is a red flag that a product is unappealing and may appear suspicious. So, by encouraging customers to submit reviews, you provide prospective customers with a significant quantity of third-party proof while studying your company.

Get Creative To Encourage Customer Reviews

However, encouraging your customers to leave online reviews can be challenging. Here are five creative ways to inspire customers to share their experiences and feedback.

1. Photo Contest

In the era of Instagram and Facebook, a photo contest is a brilliant way to engage customers. For instance, the business can create a thematic campaign around the photo contest, like “Coffee Moments,” where customers share how their daily lives intertwine with their favorite coffee. This campaign can be seasonal, tapping into various themes like summer iced coffees or cozy winter brews, keeping the content fresh and engaging. 

The user-generated content provides authentic visuals that the coffee shop can feature in its marketing materials, creating a more relatable brand image. The key here is to make participation seamless, providing clear instructions and incentives that resonate with the target audience.

 The winner could receive a month’s supply of free coffee or a barista workshop. This method not only garners authentic customer photos but also serves as user-generated content that can enhance the brand’s credibility. According to a survey by Olapic, 76% of consumers believe the content average people share is more honest than advertising from brands.

2. Secret Sauce

Imagine a local burger joint inviting customers to suggest a new burger recipe. This could be facilitated through monthly tasting events where top recipe contributors can sample and vote on new burger creations. By integrating customer feedback into the product development process, the business enhances customer satisfaction and fosters a strong brand-community bond. 

The winning recipe is featured as the “Burger of the Month,” and the creator receives a special dinner. This strategy not only involves the community in product development but also instills a sense of ownership among customers, likely increasing loyalty and advocacy. As reported by a Salesforce study, 91% of consumers are more likely to shop with brands that provide relevant offers and recommendations.

3. Unlock Rewards

A bookstore could implement a system where each review unlocks points towards a reward, such as a discount on the next purchase or a free book after a certain number of reviews. This gamified approach can significantly boost customer engagement.

This could be integrated with an app or a digital membership card that tracks points and rewards. Such a system encourages not just one-time online reviews but ongoing engagement with the brand. The bookstore could also host exclusive events for top reviewers, such as author meet-and-greets or early access to new releases, enhancing the sense of community and exclusivity. A study by Tapping revealed that gamification increases engagement by up to 60% and productivity by up to 50%.

4. Star Critic

A tech gadget retailer might designate a “Star Critic” monthly, featuring the most thorough online review on their website and social media. The retailer might also give the reviewer a special discount or an exclusive preview of new products. Highlighting customer reviews this way can enhance the perceived value of contributing feedback. 

Such a program generates regular, detailed reviews and establishes a panel of trusted advisors that potential customers can relate to and trust, enhancing the credibility and appeal of the brand. According to BrightLocal, 78% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, underscoring the influence of highlighted reviews.

5. Feedback Flash Mob

Consider a scenario where a fitness center hosts a “Review Day,” encouraging members to share their experiences and suggestions on various platforms. The Review Day can be accompanied by special classes, health workshops, or community wellness events, creating a holistic experience around the feedback initiative. This approach generates immediate reviews and builds a narrative of transformation and community support, reinforcing the center’s role in its members’ wellness journeys.

Such events create a sense of urgency and community, leading to a surge in feedback. A similar approach was taken by a retailer during “Customer Voice Week,” resulting in a 200% increase in online reviews collected compared to an average week.

4 Innovative Trends in Customer Reviews

The emerging trend is not just about collecting feedback; it’s about humanizing the experience, creating a deeper connection with customers, and fostering a community around a brand. 

1. Storytelling Through Online Reviews

Incorporating storytelling into reviews is a powerful way to humanize the feedback process. Encouraging customers to share their opinions, experiences, and stories adds a personal touch that resonates with potential customers. For example, a travel agency could encourage clients to share their travel stories and how their services enhanced their journey. These narrative-style reviews connect emotionally with readers, making the feedback more relatable and impactful.

2. Leveraging Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) revolutionizes how customers interact with products and share feedback. For instance, a furniture retailer could use AR to let customers visualize products in their own space and share their experiences through a review. This interactive approach provides valuable product feedback and a fun and engaging way for customers to connect with the brand.

3. AI-Driven Personalization in Reviews

Artificial intelligence (AI) enables businesses to offer personalized review prompts based on a customer’s purchase history or browsing behavior. This tailored approach encourages more detailed and relevant feedback, enhancing the value of the online reviews for the business and other customers. For example, an online bookstore could prompt customers to share how a particular book they purchased fits into their reading preferences or how it compares to a previously reviewed book.

4. Video Reviews

Video reviews are becoming a key trend with the rise of platforms like YouTube and TikTok. They offer a dynamic and engaging way for customers to share their feedback, showcasing the product in action and conveying emotions more effectively than text. Businesses can encourage this by hosting video review contests or featuring user-generated video reviews on their websites and social media channels.

Top Customer Review Sites Your Company Should Prioritize

You may include numerous potential review sites in your email when requesting reviews, but you definitely don’t want to provide links to each one. Instead, focus on the channels that your clients already use.

Top sites include:

• Google Business Profile: Create a free Business Profile to list your business on Google. Then, people can submit online reviews for everyone to see.
• Glassdoor: A website for job seekers and employers where current and past employees anonymously assess firms.
• Capterra: A free online marketplace that acts as an intermediary between buyers and technology companies in the software sector.
• LinkedIn: A social media website that focuses on business and jobs. By having people approve of your skills, you can enhance your brand while receiving reviews for your organization or yourself.
• Trustpilot: A digital platform that allows users to provide reviews for businesses from which they have purchased a product or service or contacted customer care.

Conclusion

None of these approaches will work unless you focus on one thing: creating an excellent product or service. In most circumstances, providing exceptional customer service is sufficient to entice your clients to leave an online review. If nothing else, they will undoubtedly spread the word around.