This is a guest post from Ester Brierley
Digital technologies are an integral part of every modern business. Every company has a website and account on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media. Companies launch carefully planned email campaigns and use artificial intelligence to attract customers. However, there is also one traditional method that has always demonstrated the best results, it’s word of mouth. Although it may seem like word-of-mouth marketing has nothing to do with online communication, the truth is that the internet creates a perfect environment for such marketing tactics.
Online reviews can have a great impact on your profits. According to statistics, as much as 90% of buyers make their purchase decisions based on online reviews, and more than 84% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Reviews increase the credibility of your brand. In fact, you can later repurpose these customer reviews in your content marketing efforts. However, what should you do if your customers don’t leave enough reviews? The answer is simple: just ask them to write one.
How to Ask for a Review
One of the most obvious and effective ways to ask for a review is to send an email. If you use it properly, this method will allow you to quickly collect the necessary feedback. Make your emails personal, using your customer’s name. Make sure that your customers won’t need to waste their time. Your goal is to make a transition from an email to a review as quick and simple as possible. Therefore, provide a link to a review form or just ask them to reply to the email. Your emails should have a clear call to action and explain how important your customers’ reviews are for you. In addition, we suggest that you consider the following recommendations.
- You don’t need bad reviews because they will damage your reputation. Therefore, ask for a review when your customers are happiest.
- Choose the right moment. We recommend that you ask for a review immediately after a purchase or another interaction because your customers are most excited at this moment and their memories are fresh. To react quickly, we suggest that you choose the right email automation tools.
- Ask for feedback if your customers are not satisfied with their experience. A request for feedback sounds less intimidating than a request for a review. In addition, you don’t need a poor review. Consider your customers’ feedback, help them solve any problems, and then you’ll have more chances to receive a good review.
Email Tactics to Get Reviews and Feedback
1. The casual approach
If your customers receive emails from your team frequently, we recommend that you stick with a casual approach. Thank your customers for choosing your brand and using your product or service. Emphasize the importance of their opinion for you. After this, provide them with a link to a submission form or the necessary page. Encourage your customers to share any suggestions and to indicate what improvements they would like to see in the future.
2. The professional approach
If your customer base is used to professional communication, for example, if your customers are other businesses, this approach might be a better choice. For instance, a nice solution is to have the CEO send a personalized email with a request for feedback, written in a formal style. Explain that you would like to share your customer’s thoughts with others and provide a link to examples of previous testimonials.
3. Include the name of your company
Be specific so that the recipients can understand what exactly they should do. If somebody has purchased your product, it doesn’t mean that it’s the only product they’ve purchased lately. If you include the name of your company in the topic of your email, your customers will be more likely to leave a review.
4. Post-sale emails
“First, when you ask customers for a review right after they’ve made a purchase, it’s the perfect moment to obtain valuable feedback. Secondly, such an approach allows you to create a completely automated review collection process,” explains Customer Service Executive at College Writers. Don’t forget to include your customer’s name and the date of the purchase. If a customer doesn’t write a review, you may also send follow-up emails in two or three days, but don’t be too pushy.
5. Ask a question in the subject line
Get straight to the point and clearly indicate what you want your customers to do. Try such subject lines as “What do you think of our service/product?” or “How was your purchase?” Questions are more engaging than phrases like “We want to know your opinion.” In addition, open-ended questions can help you evaluate the customers’ level of satisfaction before asking them for a review.
Conclusion
Many people make their purchase decisions based on other people’s experience. They read online reviews, and they trust online recommendations. Therefore, customer reviews can be a powerful marketing tool. The only thing you should do is to ask them at the right time. The simplest, and the most effective way to ask for a review is to send an email, and we hope that our tips will help you collect valuable feedback that will attract new customers, increasing your profits.
About the author: Ester Brierley is a QA Engineer, and she had found herself as a virtual assistant and a seasoned content creator for College Writers. In her spare time, Ester takes online courses to improve her marketing skills. Follow her on Twitter.