Reviews on Google

[MJD12]

I'm really struggling to get customer reviews. I've put about 1.5 hours aside over the past week to send 40 personal emails to customers asking for a review on Google. I've checked each POD photo and added details where appropriate, such as it looks like your delivery has been placed in "safe place".

I've got one review from a friend, but not a single one from an actual customer.

I've created the template below, which I don't think is too bad.

Does anyone have any other ideas, or thoughts how i can improve this?

.......................
Name,

Thank you for your order. I see that it has been delivered today and wanted to check in to ensure everything is OK. If you have any issues, please let me know—my contact details are below.

If you’re satisfied with your order, I would greatly appreciate it if you could leave us a review on Google (link). We're new to the online game, so your feedback would be incredibly helpful.

Thanks again for your order, and I hope to see your name on our order list again soon.

Review on Google (link)

Best regards,
Michael
(Contact info)

 

[DesignsOnline]

Apart from the obvious need to provide a genuinely 5 star service, (which should go without saying)
You really need to strike while the iron is hot, so the sooner that you can ask for a review once the service is provided the better your chances of getting them will be.

But it is always the case that not every customer will want to take the time to post a good review even if your service was fantastic. Don't give up, keep going, you will start to get some eventually as long as you keep up your standards of service.

Just don't be tempted to pay for reviews, Google knows when these fake review services are used and it will kill your trust in Google's eyes, not to mention that most customers can spot a fake review a mile off too...

 

[fisicx]

People buy stuff online all the time. They can’t be bothered to leave a review. You don’t say what you sell and on what platform but if I brought from eBay or even your own website I’d not be inclined to login to Google just to say a sheet of plasterboard arrived as expected.

 

[numbersrule]

One of my businesses ( not my bookkeeping ) tried to get Google Reviews and in the end only had one review, albeit a 5 stars.
We never got reviews from the companies working most closely with us and came to the conclusion that it was because they didn't want anybody else to find out about our great service.
Reviews are generally problematic things for all sorts of reasons.
I wouldn't get too hung up about it and just focus on providing a good service. If you tend to keep customers rather than lose them then you will always build sales by default irrespective of anything that reviews or indirect advertising will do for you.

 

[MJD12]

Thanks for the replies so far. My Business is a goods supplier.

The main reason I'm putting effort into this is I'm reading a lot about how Google reviews help with SEO / GMB / Google business Maps.

I have different types of customer but the one I'm trying to reach through Google is one off transactions from businesses.

Just don't be tempted to pay for reviews, Google knows when these fake review services are used and it will kill your trust in Google's eyes, not to mention that most customers can spot a fake review a mile off too

I did come across these buy review services this afternoon. I considered it for about 5 seconds.

I’d not be inclined to login to Google just to say a sheet of plasterboard arrived as expected.

I don't leave reviews either. Can't think of a single time I've left a review in a b2b transaction in my 10 years as a buyer. BUT obviously there are people out there who are willing to leave reviews. My question is, how can I effectively encourage these buyers to leave a review.

It'd be good to hear what the success rate is from businesses who get reviews. And if they do anything out of the box.

 

[NickGrogan]

Most businesses b2b and b2c get reviews by incentivising the customers - money off next order, or by getting the staff to ask during the sales process and telling the customer that they're performance is judged by the reviews they get.

Both are against Googles terms, but businesses do it anyway.

And of course most reviews are fake.

 

[Mark T Jones]

As @fisicx says, we are all bombarded with review requests.

personally i only bother to review where the service i receive is either exceptional or dire.

the idea of leaving a 5-star review because someone met my minimum expectations is absurd

 

[fisicx]

Thanks for the replies so far. My Business is a goods supplier.

The main reason I'm putting effort into this is I'm reading a lot about how Google reviews help with SEO / GMB / Google business Maps.

Reviews have a minimal effect on general SEO (because they can be brought). GBP is for local businesses so of little value to a general supplier.

Which means I wouldn’t bother trying to collect reviews unless you are offering vouchers or free gifts in exchange.

 

[cathservices]

Everyone here is making very valid points - it's tough to get reviews! There's no trick to it, or silver bullet, just keep plugging away. If 40 emails resulted in one review, then 400 emails will result in 10 etc.

One extra thing to consider is to have your Google review link on all correspondence, not just that one off email. Also, try using mail merge or an online email system as this will make sending out those emails far, far quicker.

 

[Ozzy]

One extra thing to consider is to have your Google review link on all correspondence, not just that one off email. Also, try using mail merge or an online email system as this will make sending out those emails far, far quicker.

Using my daughters business as an example, she automatically asks for a review after each lesson booking date...usually within a few hours of the person having had their riding lessons. She must send hundreds of emails a month but only gets 1-2 reviews a month.

So exactly as @cathservices says, keep plugging away because people generally cannot 'be bothered' to leave a review unless they feel they must. This is usually as @Mark T Jones says, the service was exceptional and worthy of a 5 star, or dire and worthy of a public flogging.

 

[fisicx]

One extra thing to consider is to have your Google review link on all correspondence, not just that one off email.

Is this working for you? If you asked me to write a review on every email (including the response to my initial enquiry) I'd not bother engaging your services.

 

[DontAsk]

When we were in the school playground there was one guy who would often have a bag of sweets (he was very popular).

He would sometimes hand them out to friends but If asked for one his response was "those who ask don't get, those who don't ask don't want."

It's the same with reviews. Asking directly for reviews smacks of desperation to me, and I will refuse to leave one. A note on the website along the lines of "if you liked the service/product/whatever, please leave a review" is more likely to get a response from me.

 

[MJD12]

She must send hundreds of emails a month but only gets 1-2 reviews a month.

Thanks for this. I thought my/her conversion rate would have been slightly higher than this, which is what led me to open this post, but based on what I've read this morning it's probably about right.

I've been sending review requests on the evening the delivery has been made.

One extra thing to consider is to have your Google review link on all correspondence, not just that one off email

Not sure I agree with this. If you mean having a link in your email signature then I'd imagine it'd become invisible to the majority of people. Surely an email like mine, or an automated email would have better reviewer success?

Asking directly for reviews smacks of desperation to me, and I will refuse to leave one

In my case I am desperate - and I'm pretty open about that in my email template above. I agree I can't use this method forever.

I have now received my first real review! Woohoo!

 

[fisicx]

@MJD12 - As I said above, reviews won't help your ranking and unless you only supply locally a GBP won't be of any use.

You don't tell what or who you supply but if it's just generic goods then there is no incentive for anyone to leave a review. Reviews work better for services.

 

[Ozzy]

In my case I am desperate - and I'm pretty open about that in my email template above. I agree I can't use this method forever.

I disagree with @DontAsk and using their username as a reference, if you don't ask you don't get . I would simply come from a position of if you liked our service/product we'd appreciate a review on Google style. Then expect one in a hundred to leave on.

My daughter isn't desperate for them, but we do like to use them on her website and for them to appear in the search results. The equestrian industry is technically quite in the dark ages, so she has had an advantage with a Dad who can build a basic website and use tech

 

[NickGrogan]

In my case I am desperate - and I'm pretty open about that in my email template above. I agree I can't use this method forever.

Why are you desperate for reviews? What do you think they are going to achieve?

If you want some buy some - either direct fake ones or offer customers a discount on the next order for leaving a review.

 

[MJD12]

Why are you desperate for reviews? What do you think they are going to achieve?

If you want some buy some - either direct fake ones or offer customers a discount on the next order for leaving a review.

I was replying to DontAsk. I'm not really desperate, but I can see how the above email could come across as desperate to some customers.

As already pointed out I don't think fake reviews is worth the risk.

 

[fisicx]

I ask again: why do you think reviews will help your business? The reasons you gave are incorrect, it’s not going to help your ranking and a GBP is only relevant for local businesses.

 

[MJD12]

I am a local business. Its not just from SEO perspective. If you're looking at Google maps at two competitors, one has no reviews and other has 100, everyone is clicking the ad with 100.

 

[MJD12]

I was replying to DontAsk. I'm not really desperate, but I can see how the above email could come across as desperate to some customers

Reading this back, I did say I was desperate. Strong word, I'm not willing to buy reviews as you suggest.

Having said this, I've just had an email from Dominos to say they'll put me into a prize draw after I leave a review. There's no t&c I can see on their email or landing page. I still wouldn't review them myself but I feel like this would be one of the better methods of obtaining reviews? I could start this and set a prize draw roughly 100 years in the future (Jokes)

 

[fisicx]

I am a local business. Its not just from SEO perspective. If you're looking at Google maps at two competitors, one has no reviews and other has 100, everyone is clicking the ad with 100.

Ok I understand now. What do you sell and to whom do you sell it?

 

[fisicx]

You also need to be aware that you can only leave a review if logged in to Google. Which may be another reason why you aren’t having much luck.

 

[Mark T Jones]

Reading this back, I did say I was desperate. Strong word, I'm not willing to buy reviews as you suggest.

Having said this, I've just had an email from Dominos to say they'll put me into a prize draw after I leave a review. There's no t&c I can see on their email or landing page. I still wouldn't review them myself but I feel like this would be one of the better methods of obtaining reviews? I could start this and set a prize draw roughly 100 years in the future (Jokes)

I wonder what percentage of people would bother to review mediocre serves from a large American corp on the vague off-chance of winning a raffle?

If there is an inter-personal aspect to your service, a little explanation is very compelling. 'I'm new to to Google Business; I just need a few reviews to get noticed'. Assure them it's a brief review and give them pointers to what they should comment on. I'd even suggest writing it for them, except it will look obvious.


As an aside, I recently had to call Microsoft 365 support. I was genuinely impressed with their efficiency and thoroughness - it might have earned them a 5 star rating. Except the operative stayed on screen to guide me towards the 5 star, so I gave them 4.

 

[UKSBD]

My business shouldn't really have a maps/places listing as it's not a service/location based business, it does though, and has 480+ reviews.

I would think 95% of them didn't come from the initial service or contact, but from providing additional help afterwards (editing/updating/upgrading/explaining)

When I want more reviews, I just add a single line to emails I send out after providing the extra service.

"Like the service I provide? Please leave a review on Google at **** Remember: It will probably take you less time to leave a review than it takes me to update your listing "

I can almost guarantee it will generate reviews, whereas, if I send the same message to people initially registering, it will get a lot less.

 

[Paul Carmen]

You also need to be aware that you can only leave a review if logged in to Google. Which may be another reason why you aren’t having much luck.

This is all true, you tend to get a better response rate on lots of platforms that you can leave anonymous reviews on, than in Google. Even here the responses rate is usually between 5-15%, so 40 reviews sent should get you between 2 and 6 reviews.

I'd suggest you cut down your email length. Thanking them and "contact us if there are any problems" is good, but get rid of the "new to the game", "hope to see you again soon" stuff. People are generally time poor, and don't read long text. Make the email short and sweet, and make the review link stand out really clearly.

Unless you're trying to rank your Google listing locally, these have no impact on SEO. You can run product/service reviews via the Google approved review platforms, these can be displayed in organic search results, if you mark them up properly. This does have a big impact on click through rate, which is a ranking metric, and usually improves organic ranking as a consequence.

 

[tooling.intelx]

Offer an incentive to leave a review such as a voucher giveaway or 10% off next order

 

[fisicx]

Offer an incentive to leave a review such as a voucher giveaway or 10% off next order

That’s only an incentive if it’s a product or service suitable for repeat custom.

For example, if it’s a drain unblocking service it could be years before you need them again.

 

[MJD12]

I'd suggest you cut down your email length. Thanking them and "contact us if there are any problems" is good, but get rid of the "new to the game", "hope to see you again soon" stuff. People are generally time poor, and don't read long text. Make the email short and sweet, and make the review link stand out really clearly.

Good advice - I've tried this last couple of days and people are responding more.

 

[cathservices]

Is this working for you? If you asked me to write a review on every email (including the response to my initial enquiry) I'd not bother engaging your services.

I'd not be in your face about it else it would just be annoying, but this can be done under a signature e.g. P.S. Your feedback means the world to us! If you have a moment, we’d love to hear your thoughts in a review.

 

[fisicx]

I buy cat food every week. You are now sending me an email with every order that has a request for a review. I'm probably not even going to read the email as I've got the food and the cats are sitting in the box.

As a builder you would be sending me a personalised thank you letter on completion (for support, tea, biscuits etc) and a QR code to leave a review. That makes me feel warm and fuzzy so I would probably do just that.

But if you sent me an email every time you cleaned my windows it would get annoying no matter where you asked for a review.