Welcome to Part 5 of How To Get Word Of Mouth Exposure, a 5 part series that details how you can create a buzz-worthy business.
Last week, we discussed how to utilize social media to get great digital word of mouth.
Today, we’ll show you how engaging in online reviews can help show your business in its best light!
Build Trust With Reviews
Reviews about your business can be the key to new customers selecting your services over a competitor. Check to see what sites you could potentially be reviewed on. Yelp, Google Reviews, Yahoo, Amazon, Ebay, Angie’s List, etc.
If you aren’t currently listed, ask a regular customer to get you started. Of course, it is not okay to offer payment to a reviewer! But asking someone you know who is already a patron, and likely has good things to say, is an easy and positive way to get reviews going. It usually only takes a few minutes of someone’s time. And once you are listed and easy to find, other reviewers you don’t know will jump on board.
Stay active on social media outlets like Facebook. Occasionally remind your followers that you are available for review on different sites. If someone makes a great comment about your business, respond quickly with a big thank you. And be sure to save their quote for use later on your website or for a status update.
Don’t Be Afraid
It is easy to be leery of opening your company up for reviews. You might be thinking “What if someone has a negative comment? What if they point out a shortcoming that I don’t want to broadcast to the whole world?”
But something to keep in mind is no business can serve all their customers perfectly and to each individual’s standards 100% of the time.
Look at a negative comment as an opportunity to engage with your customers – Both the negative reviewer and potential customers reading the dialogue online.
Respond to negative comments as quickly as you can.
Don’t ignore the comments even if you don’t understand how they could have happened or if the specifics are inaccurate. You can save face simply by being polite and apologizing for any inconvenience.
Showing yourself as a business that is engaged in the community, online and off, gives validity to your brand. This exchange that happens in public makes trusting your company easier for a new customer checking you out. It also lets a disgruntled customer know that your business cares about what they think.
Works Like A Charm!
I personally saw how a dedicated company used word of mouth to promote their one-of-a-kind service and the difference was so fresh and exciting, I’m talking about it years later. A word of mouth strategy certainly takes to time to plan and execute. But by working to build up lip service for your shop, you are tapping into the immeasurable strength of human nature.
People trust and rely on those they know personally. Second to that, people will trust a total stranger’s opinion over a company’s marketing tactics.
Every type of business needs advertising to let customers know about their goods and services. Word of mouth is almost completely free and the most personal approach your business can take so get started!
Thanks for reading! If you found this series to be helpful, please let us know in the comments.
Read How To Get Word Of Mouth Exposure – Part 1: What’s The Buzz?
Read How To Get Word Of Mouth Exposure – Part 2: Find Your Niche!
Read How To Get Word Of Mouth Exposure – Part 3: Reach Out To The Community
Read How To Get Word Of Mouth Exposure – Part 4: Social Media
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