Say it’s a Friday night, and you just finished a movie at the local theater. You and your significant other are happy to be out of the stuffy, jam-packed flick and are now pining for a scoop of ice cream in a freshly made sugar cone. You quickly pull out your smart phone, hop on Yelp and start combing through reviews weighing out your best options.
You find that less than half a mile away, there is a cute, locally owned ice cream shop that has 4.5 stars and over 2000 yelp reviews. Before you make any hasty decisions, you verify this with their Google reviews, and you’re on your way. You get to your destination, and your evening comes to an end, once your sweet tooth is sufficiently satisfied.
If you are finding yourself thinking, “Over 2000 Yelp reviews on a local ice cream shop? No way!” We are here to tell you, yes way! Ici Ice Cream in Berkeley, California was able to do just that, and you can too.
In 2013, it is no secret that Yelp and Google reviews are gold when it comes to small businesses. Whether you’re a personal contractor trying to bring in new clients, or a personal trainer wanting to help people get in shape, positive Yelp and Google reviews will boost your business. Keep reading, and our six tips will get you up to speed and well on your way.
1. Add Special Offers to Your Yelp page
Yelp advertisements allow you to add special offers to your page such as deals, gift certificates and check-in offers. Adding these advertisements will bring customers to your yelp page, increase your chances of reviews, as well as drive traffic to your website.
2. Showcase Positive Reviews
Quote one or two positive reviews on your site and rotate new ones in frequently. Quoting your reviewers will express your gratitude and will show customers that writing a review for your business is worthwhile. It helps build trust and credibility too.
3. Receipts and Invoices
Add notes to your receipts and invoices asking people to share their experiences on Yelp and Google along with your custom domain name (website URL). When your customer reads this along side the items they’ve purchased, they will recall the experiences they’ve had and be more willing to share them.
4. Ask
You know who your top customers are and whom you’ve had the best interactions with. Ask these specific customers to share their exceptional experiences in a Yelp or Google review; they will appreciate that you have reached out to them personally.
5. Call-To-Action (CTA)
Gain the attention of your customers by placing an obvious and inviting CTA on your site linking to your Yelp and Google page. Your CTA will boost your click through rate more than your average link, creating a much larger potential for reviews.
6. Give Feedback
Responding to your reviews is key to showing your appreciation for your customers, as well as their opinion. Respond to positive feedback by thanking the customer for their review and expressing excitement for future business.
When handling negative feedback, be sure to apologize for unpleasant experience, and do your best to rectify the situation. In many cases, this will not only result in a repeat customer, but a positive updated review as well.
Gaining a large amount of Yelp and Google reviews may seem to be a difficult feat, but it is well worth the time and effort. Keep at it, and let us know how these work out for you!
Awesome post! I really like how these are very simple steps to improve the visibility of a business – easy wins are hard to come by, and I’ve got six right here!