Users are now more powerful than ever and user generated content takes up a large portion of all web content we see today. But one area where user generated content is especially powerful is when it comes to customer reviews. Gone are the days when regular word of mouth was all that was needed. Online reviews have taken this concept to the extreme, with whole new implications for business owners. They can literally make or break a business and are essential when it comes to building brand awareness and consumer confidence. But how exactly can you generate more reviews from your customers?

Follow Up with Them

If you did business with them, you have to make sure that you collect their information somewhere in the process. And this isn’t solely for online purchases. One way you could do this is by implementing a loyalty program that will allow you to get your clients’ information and contact them for a follow up. You can then simply ask them to rate your service; most of those who were satisfied will be more than happy to. But make sure that you make the process as simple as possible so you don’t lose them mid way through.

Make sure you are Listed in Local Directories

How are people going to leave reviews if you aren’t even listed locally? The first thing you should do is set up your Google My Business page and make sure that your information is consistent across the board. Next, you have to make sure that you sign up for a few dedicated review sites as well. Doing so will increase your presence on networks your clients may already be frequenting, which will make it easier for them to leave reviews.

Make Reviews Visible

In order to encourage more reviews, your clients have to actually know that they can leave them. Make sure you make customer ratings a central part of your business and make sure that they are clearly visible to your clients.

Reviews have a huge influence on buyers’ decisions, so make sure that your star ratings and links to reviews are placed above the fold in a way that makes them unavoidable. Ideally, your star ratings should be an integral part of your product description, so make sure you include a call to action as well.

Provide Incentives

This one can be tricky, since you don’t want to undermine your whole review system by making it seem like you’re incentivizing good reviews. You have to find a way to reward all reviewers, not just those who provide positive ones. One of the ways you could do that is by running a monthly raffle for people who leave reviews. You don’t need to make this obvious though, just mentioning it on a flyer somewhere in your product packaging or in your follow up emails will be enough.

Conclusion

As you can see, encouraging your clients to leave more reviews isn’t that difficult when you have the proper strategy in place. But more importantly, focus first and foremost on providing your clients with the best user experience possible if you ultimately want to generate positive feedback.