Google Local Reviews

Could create an online survey to give out to both current and previous customers (optional incentive) and within the survey would be direct links to where you can leave a review.

Either collect emails to send survey, or have a call to action on receipts/signs in the store.

I have a report called The Referral Magnet, and that's a part of it.

What type of business are you?

You could give out leaflets/business cards to everyone who comes to your business, offering a prize to someone picked at random from the Google reviews at the end of the month.

Ideally you could give something related to your business (free photo-shoot if you're a photographer, free shirt if you sell clothes etc.). Alternatively offer a gift card for your business, or at the very least, a cash incentive.

That way as well, even though you'll say it's picked at random, I doubt someone would leave a negative review in the hope of winning something, for fear they won't be included in the draw.

Don't over-think this. With a new client of mine we sent out an email asking the current patients to leave a review for the practice on their Google Page. We sent them detailed instructions and it generated 33 new reviews in about 1 week.

I also provide each client of mine a step-by-step PDF to leave in their office which has detailed instructions on how to leave a review.

If the clients is providing quality service and the customers/clients/patients appreciate them... simply ask them to leave a review and most will be glad to help.

Assuming your client is using e-Mail marketing; add a link in every mail that goes out, asking for a review. Maybe also consider asking for a review (with a link) on the clients website (in footer/sidebar).

With regards to asking for a review in return for a 'bribe', I'd check Google's T&C's first. Facebook has recently stopped marketers/businesses from using bribes to get more 'page likes', so I don't know what Google's policy is on this - So, check!

I'm in South Africa, so YELP doesn't affect us (we have our own demon; a site that publishes bad reviews and one has to pay to reply). However, I would also suggest that you get your client listed on as many local directories as possible, as these provide many benefits. examples:

1. You get more links to the clients website
2. The clients physical address on a directory, provides relevance data for Google My Business (Google Places) *
3. Most directories provide links to the businesses social media pages & Google+ link is another link to the review page
4. its also, simply more exposure

* When adding address to directory websites (even the clients own website), check Google Maps to see how the address is formatted - use the same format across all platforms.

Getting reviews isn't that tough. Set up their Google page, and then start advertising it in a brochure or flyer to the new customers that walk in to add in a review for a nice discount. They could redeem the discount on their next visit. It's a simple technique that a lot of people here know about, but it's really good to try because you can get reviews on any kind of site whether it's for yelp or any other Review page

I feel one of the best ways is to ask your customers to give you a positive review... whether you do that at time of service (think ipad in restaurants), a thank you email sent that offers the link to leave a positive review, a survey with incentive that then gives the option to leave a review as well...

Additionally, with this do not forget the power of the testimonial... On surveys be sure to leave a spot (and ask permission for use) of any other feedback, testimonial, review, etc. If you have any fanatical customers that are outgoing and really meet your target market consider asking them to do a video testimonial...

Ask really good clients to if they wouldn't mind leaving some feedback, Ones that had bad experienced try to make right and if you do make it right ask them for there feedback as well. Don't go crazy asking a bunch of people at once or it will look un-natural when you have 20 come in within a week. Try to get a couple a month and you will be ahead of the competition.

Yes you are rite @Noteolsen this is a best way to collecting positive review from the happy clients.

It took me 3 years to build up my reviews and I wound up surpassing my #1 competitor by having 5 times the amount of reviews he had. Nobody in my industry could come close to us and we were stealing everyones G local traffic.

But then pigeon came out and removed 90% of the local packs for all our keywords. Traffic plummeted and that put our business in a very bad situation.

Till this day they still haven't brought the 7 packs back. Not even 3 packs.

So if you do rank in G local, make sure you're well diversified and prepared for the worst. Because Google can and will do w/e the hell they want and many businesses have been seriously hurt by their useless updates.

-RS

I manage a hotel. Trip Advisor reviews are best for my business. Then reviews on the travel sites such as hotels.com, Expedia, and Booking.com. Yelp is not used very much in my area. When you Google my business name and reviews - Yelp is below the fold.

I have casual conversations with my customers - often about marketing or about their visit.
At some point I ask them to review and I suggest that they use Trip Advisor.

I also have a flyer from Trip Advisor that has the Trip Advisor logo and tripadvisor.com/reviewit.
I sometimes have those on the counter in the lobby or hand them out. I might do the same for Google.
it reminds them and providing the exact url is helpful.

So, what I'm saying is pick the best review sites for your clients location and type of business and coach them to target those review sites via conversations and flyers.

Let the reviews build actively and naturally. Incentives are not needed and do violate the TOSsss.

Coach the client to deliver his product or service well and listen and improve. It's worth it to watch revenues increase via repeat and referral business without much capital investment.

Most importantly, coach the client to respond to most or all of the reviews. Good or bad. Realistic, quality prospects or customers are able to separate the wheat from the chaff. I often get told that people picked my hotel because I responded to all the reviews.

Responding shows the public that the owner or manager cares. It is also another chance to get the message out, explain policies and procedures, and the best ways for customers to use the business and select offerings. (In my case, it's a variety of 33 rooms.)

One thing I always have to do is let future customers know I don't bite and will happily take care of any issue. Some people have had bad experiences with hotel managers or owners and are afraid to complain, ask for a different room, or ask to have a noisy neighbor quieted down... Responding to reviews lets people know how we operate.

Your client has to be prepared to respond to reviews. Themselves. Via an employee, or via you.
And by actions.

Dan

There's nothing wrong with asking for reviews. Just develop a simple system for the business owner like stapling a card to their receipt requesting feedback.

The likely-hood of getting a flood of reviews that spark suspicion is very low to non-existent. Especially if the reviews are posted across various sites. Why? Because even with a good system in place, a small percentage of people are actually going to follow through on leaving feedback. It's just how this works.

There's also no reason to incentivize the review process. If you develop a plan and stick to it, the business will get a nice flow of natural reviews.




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I use a service called Reputation Bug that automates the review getting process. The business owner just enters the customer's email (with their permission) in the system and they get an automated email requesting their feedback on their visit. This feedback can then be converted into a review as the customer goes through the system. It is pretty slick and not too intrusive to either the business owner or customer.

Try something new that the people must add reviews on your website. Tell your valuable clients to add reviews on your website. Start a quiz in which tell your existing customers to add reviews on your business. The person who submit best reviews will be awarded.
Add the link of your Google+ page on your business cards, email signature which will generate more viewers on your Google+ profile.

Make it as easy as possible for customers to be able to review your website. Make sure you give them every opportunity to leave a review - place review site logos on the home page, in blogs, newsletters, remind them on the receipt, etc. People are lazy by nature - but if they like you they will help. Getting more reviews comes down to giving your customers more opportunities to do so.