How to get more reviews and boost your credibility online

Your clients are an important asset when it comes to promoting your business. In fact, about 95% of customers read reviews before making a purchase online. Delivering credible first-hand accounts of the services they have received, online reviews are just as (if not more) important than traditional word-of-mouth. 

This form of feedback can influence a potential client's opinion in an instant. So, accumulating positive reviews should be central to any marketing strategy. With the right reviews in place, you can start turning more browsers into bookers.

We’ve put together a few ideas to help you secure more positive reviews for your business and build customer trust and loyalty.

Set up your client notifications

In order to get great reviews, you want to make it as easy as possible for clients to leave them. If it’s too hard to find where on your website they’re meant to leave a review, or they aren’t prompted to leave one, they might not take the time. 

Use your online booking platform to send fully-automated client notifications to your clients as soon as their appointment is over, asking them to rate their experience. Plus, if they’ve been kind enough to tip, send a second reminder via email and text message, just in case they didn’t get to it the first time.

Get listed on Google

Facebook reviews look great on your business page, but they’re unlikely to do a lot for your sales. Google reviews, on the other hand, will actively contribute to your salon moving up in search rankings. And that means more bookings.

If you’re not appearing near the top of the first page when a potential client searches for services in your area, chances are they’re never going to find you. Your reviews will automatically give you the upper hand against your competitors, and the more you have, the higher up in search results you'll appear. 

By claiming your Google My Business listing and generating your individual Google review link, you can start asking your clients to leave feedback on their experience. As soon as you start receiving reviews on Google (especially those four and five star ones), you’ll rank higher in local searches. Then when someone Googles “salons near me” to find someone local, you’ll be near or at the top of the results page, too. This isn’t the only thing that affects your ranking on Google (there are over 200 other things that determine this), but it’s definitely a great place to start.

Offer staff incentives for great reviews

Offering staff performance-based incentives is a great way to energise your workforce and secure rave reviews from your happy clients.

Try telling your staff that the person who secures the most five-star reviews on Fresha or Google will receive extra commission or a special prize at the end of the month. Your staff will be motivated to ask for feedback, and your clients will receive the best service possible. It’s a win-win!

If you’re looking for more positive reviews, consider joining the Fresha marketplace. Every day, millions of people use the platform to find new treatments, so create your profile now, attract new clients and get amazing reviews on the world’s biggest beauty and wellness platform.