Whether you’re a real estate or insurance agent or a provider of home services: client reviews are essential to the success of your business.
Well, now it’s time for the awkward part: asking your client for a review of your business that you can share online.
Asking clients for reviews can be a daunting task for any business owner, especially in the real estate, insurance, and home services industries. However, online reviews, such as Google and Yelp, are critical to the success of any business, and positive reviews can lead to increased trust, credibility, and ultimately, more business. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips and strategies for how real estate agents, insurance agents, and home services providers can ask their clients to write a review of their business.
Why ask for a review of your business?
Reviews are free marketing tools.
More customers are turning to online reviews as they make purchasing decisions. According to Global Newswire, 95% of customers read online reviews before making a decision, and more than half say they’re willing to pay more for a product or service based on good reviews alone. Additionally, according to Trustpilot, 89% of customers say online reviews are part of their buying journey.
Reviews help build trust
One of the most significant benefits of client reviews is that they help establish and build trust and authority with potential clients. When people are considering using your services or buying your products, they want to know what kind of experience they can expect. Positive reviews from previous clients can give potential customers the confidence they need to choose your business over competitors and inform them of important considerations they may not have thought of before reaching out.
Reviews can help improve your business
Reviews aren’t just helpful for attracting new clients; they can also provide valuable feedback that can help you improve your business. By listening to what your clients are saying in their reviews, you can identify areas where you need to make changes to better meet their needs. For example, if multiple clients mention that they had trouble with your website, you might want to consider making some improvements to the user experience. If a client, or homeowner had difficulty reaching you, or getting a timely reply to a question or concern, you may want to up your game when it comes to communication.
Reviews can help with search engine optimization (SEO)
Another benefit of client reviews is that they can help with your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. Search engines like Google take into account the number and quality of reviews when determining how to rank your business in search results. The more positive reviews you have, the more likely it is that your business will appear at the top of search results.
Reviews can help you stand out from competitors
Differentiate yourself from the competition by displaying updated and relevant reviews written by real customers. By displaying reviews prominently on your website and social media channels, you can show potential clients that your agency or business is professional, and treats its customers well. Positive reviews establish authority and build trust with potential clients, and the more up to date they are, the more credible they are.
Reviews can help you understand your audience
Finally, reviews can be a valuable source of information about your audience; their needs, their pain points, and how your clients prefer to do business. By reading through your reviews, you can get a better understanding of who your clients are and what they’re looking for. This can help you tailor your marketing efforts, improve your overall customer experience, and grow your business.
7 tips to consider when asking for client reviews
1.When asking for a review, timing is everything
The timing of when you ask for a review is crucial. You want to ask when your client is most satisfied with your services and ask explicit permission to share their review with the public for marketing and experience improvement purposes. For real estate agents, this could be after a successful closing, or when you have found the perfect home for your client. For insurance agents, this could be after they have helped a client file a claim and received a positive outcome, or after switching companies for a better rate. For home services providers, this could be after they have completed a job to the client’s satisfaction. Whatever the case, prompt follow-up after “the work is done” is crucial to getting a satisfactory review.
2. Keep it personal
When asking for a review, it’s essential to make it personal. Instead of sending a generic email or message asking for a review, take the time to craft a personalized message that shows that you value their opinion. Mention specific details about their home buying or selling experience with your business, and how their feedback can help improve your services. Ask for specific feedback about their experience switching insurance agencies, renewing their policy, or filing a claim after an unexpected disaster. When asking for home service reviews, be specific about the work that was performed and ask for feedback about every step of the process, from first communication to final walk-through of the services performed. The more personal and specific to the service provided, the more authentic and invested the client review will be.
3. Provide multiple platforms for reviews
Only some people use the same review platform, so it’s important to provide options. Some clients may prefer to leave a review on Google or Facebook, while others may prefer Yelp or Angie’s List. By providing multiple platforms for reviews, you can increase the chances of receiving more reviews. For real estate agents, real estate marketplace platforms like Zillow, are a great resource for homeowners to “shop” agents and read multiple reviews in one place.
4. Make it easy to review your business
Make it as easy as possible for clients to leave a review. Provide direct links to the review platforms and include step-by-step instructions on how to leave a review. If using a form or template, use open ended questions to prompt the customer to leave a narrative form review. Consider creating a review template that clients can use as a guide when writing their review. We’ve provided an example review form below to get you started!
- Why/ how did you contact *agent name*?
- What concerns did you have about the home buying/ selling process?
- How did *agent name* address your concerns?
- What did *agent name* do to go above and beyond while working with you?
- What could they have done differently?
- Is there anything you would like to add to your review?
5. Incentivize leaving a review
Offering an incentive can be a great way to encourage clients to leave a review. This could be a discount on their next service, a drawing, or a small gift like a gift card to a local coffee shop. Just be sure to disclose any incentives you offer to avoid any ethical issues. Simply recognizing the client for their positive review is another great way to incentivize reviews. A shout-on Facebook, or another social media platform highlighting their stellar review goes a long way.
6. Follow up and stay top of mind
If a client hasn’t left a review after a reasonable amount of time, follow up with a gentle reminder. Sometimes, clients just need a nudge to take action. It’s important to remember that not everyone will leave a review, and that’s okay. Don’t pressure clients into leaving a review if they are uncomfortable doing so. A gentle way to remind them to leave you a review is to reach out to connect and potentially offer additional help or support as needed. It doesn’t have to be formal, you can simply see how they’re doing since you last spoke, offer any help or assistance, or simply thank them again for working with you.
Here are some conversation starters:
- “How are you getting settled in your new home?”
- “Is your son liking his new school yet?”
- “Is there anything I can do for you?”
- “Thank you again for working with my team, if there is anything I can do for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out!”
7. Respond to reviews
When clients do leave a review, be sure to respond. Thank them for their feedback, address any concerns they may have mentioned, and show them that their review is read and their opinion is valued. Responding to reviews also shows potential clients that you are actively engaged with your customers and care about their satisfaction. Address specific items from their review, or specific details about the interaction, showing you remember working with them.
Review and response examples:
A good review should be specific to the service, and express pain points and how they were resolved.
We worked with Bradley to sell our home during a very stressful time- we had made a very quick decision to move closer to family and decided to build a new home. The sale of our home was time-sensitive in order to keep up with the build of the new one. Interest rates were starting to climb to numbers not seen in years. To say we were stressed is an understatement.
Bradley worked so hard to move the sale along, reassured us to be patient and not make any sudden, desperate decisions we would regret, and was super responsive and candid in his communication.
Bradley has kept in contact with us to check up on our family and the progress of our new home 🙂
I would absolutely recommend working with Bradley to my friends and family.
Thank you so much!
A good response from the business should add a personal touch that helps strengthen the relationship for future business and referrals.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of a huge chapter of your family’s lives. I hope you have a wonderful time in your new state – you two are making leaps and bounds for your family and I am sure great things will come to such people who are wonderfully kind and outwardly virtuous.
Best wishes – and thank you for supporting a young business.
-Bradley
Asking for reviews can be uncomfortable, but it’s necessary for the success of any business.
By following these tips and strategies, real estate agents, insurance agents, and home services providers can increase their chances of receiving more reviews and ultimately, more business. Remember to make it personal, provide multiple platforms for reviews, make it easy, incentivize, follow up, and respond to reviews.
Use these strategies to strengthen your online reputation and help grow your business, but remember to not rely on word of mouth alone to get new clients. A strong prospecting strategy will help take your business to the next level. If you’re having trouble getting started, a good place to begin is with a solid list of prospects. Using Cole’s custom search, you can focus on homeowners most likely to do business with you.
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