How does a new business get reviews? It’s easy for the established guys right? Businesses with years of experience and hundreds of customers. But how does someone starting out get their first reviews on Facebook, Google. TripAdvisor or Yell?
It might come as a surprise but remember that everyone was in your position once. We’ve been in business for many years now, more than we care to remember, and we’ve helped plenty of businesses market themselves and grab their first positive reviews, so here are a few tips from us.
Firstly, as early as possible, make sure you sign up for Google My Business, and grab a Facebook page too. If you want reviews, you need to give people somewhere to leave them.
Get along to business networking events where you’ll be able to speak to other businesses. They’ll be able to share tips and some of them may even become your early clients helping your new business get reviews. It is worth looking out for opinion formers at networking events, those people who obviously have an established network and are respected by others. An early review or recommendation from them will be a worth a lot, so see if there’s a way you can establish them as early customers.
Actively encourage your early customers to leave reviews. Make sure they know how to and where to leave you reviews. Make sure they have the link, make sure you explain why it is important to you and don’t be shy to remind them in a follow up message or Email. (A tip here would to always add the link to your review page you want people to visit.)
Once you have some positive reviews, use them to get more customers and more reviews. Publish them on your website, mention them to prospective customers. And then carry on and do the same throughout your business to gain more.
These are a few tips when you are starting out in business and getting your new business get reviews.