Incentivize your Customers to Leave Online Reviews
It’s Christmas time and people are in the mood to give gifts and tips. Money is likely tight this year. Why not ask them to leave a review of your business online instead? Rather than a 1-time thing, this can create leads for your business for years to come!
This applies to the place you get your hair cut (be sure to leave your favorite stylist’s name), where you take your car in to be repaired, and many other local businesses you patronize.
This works even if the business doesn’t have a web site. You can help them get at the top of the list when someone goes to Google searching for a business like theirs. Research shows that people are using search engines sooner and more often than they use the Yellow Pages to find a local business.
First, their local business should be on Google Local. Google Local lists small businesses and is connected with Google Maps. My friend Matt says: “This almost guarantees a first page ranking for your most targeted local keyword.” That means a keyword with a location attached such as “Palaski, New York auto repair shop”.
If you add your business to Google Local it will show up in the list of results for auto repair shops that are close to Palaski New York. It will list your address and phone number and show reviews. You can click, “add review” next to the reviews, and leave your review of the business.
Google Local pulls reviews from other sites. Consider offering an incentive such as $5 off for anyone who completes a review for your business and emails you the link. You can email customers, thanking them for their business and asking them to leave a review. You can also leave reviews on some of the sites I’ve listed below.
Places to leave reviews (these are sites that Google Local pulls reviews from)
TripAdvisor.com
Judysbook.com
InsiderPages.com
Citysearch.com
Virtual Tourist.com
http://wcities.com
Outside.in
Fodors.com
Zagat.com
Goyot.com
Fommers.com
6 Responses to “Incentivize your Customers to Leave Online Reviews”
Leave a Reply
December 9th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Thanks for the mention Janet - I am amazing how the easy steps are often the most missed out on opportunities for traffic. This is a great resource list of sites that you have provided too - some of which I had not heard of and will be visiting! Thanks again Janet!
December 9th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Great post. The incentives never hurt but getting people in the giving mood is a great idea.
December 9th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
I can’t speak for other review sites, but the guidelines at TripAdvisor are clear. Owners may not incentivize guests to leave reviews. We love it when owners ask their guests/customers to leave a review, but paying for one is against our rules.
Steve Kaufer. CEO, TripAdvisor
December 9th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Steve,
Good to know. Just to be clear you can’t offer $5 off the next time they come in if they leave a review? If that’s not cool, I’ll update the post so it will say ask your customers to leave an online review.
Thanks
Janet
December 11th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Nice tip!
December 12th, 2008 at 12:15 am
Janet,
Right, $5 off is an incentive, so we won’t allow it. We can’t stop owners from only asking the ‘happy’ guests to write a review, but our rule is no payment/incentive, including a future discount.
Steve