Trending: Google Reviews

know what your clients are saying

Lenny is the son of Leonard Ventimiglia III, president of Apollo Image Enhancement Center, and grandson of Leonard Ventimiglia II, former president of Total Concepts. Lenny is the third generation in the hair industry but specializes in digital marketing, PPC and SEO. By Lenny Ventimiglia, President, Atlas Digital

There has never been a more important time to focus on your company’s online presence than now. As we move further into the digital age, hair restoration companies -- and the rest of the business world -- are shifting the focus of their marketing and advertising campaigns from traditional media to the internet.

By using the internet to find a hair restoration solution, potential clients can sift through a seemingly unlimited number of options and do as much research as they want before making a decision on a service or product. When it comes to improving or maintaining a personal image, people want to do business with someone they can trust, and online reviews help establish a level of trust before they walk in our door for the first time.

Why Reviews Are Important

That 1-5 star rating system next to your company name on Google represents one thing -- your credibility. Are you changing people’s lives? Was your customer service unacceptable?

You can build your credibility by building your Google reviews. Many people glance through reviews to give them a reason to buy a service or product. Having a good review rating can help sway a potential client who is on the fence about giving you their business. Your goal is to do everything you can to win that person over, and building your reviews can be one of the easiest ways to do that.

How To Build Your Google Reviews: Just Ask

The most important thing you can do to build your reviews is to ask your clients to leave one for you. Send out an email to your client base and ask them to take a free minute and write a review. Make it easy for them by including a clickable link to your company’s Google reviews.

You could even use a dedicated device in your waiting area where clients can fill out a review while they wait. I’ve even seen a company create business cards with step-by-step instructions on how to leave a review.

Incentivize

This might be as important as asking for the review itself. You are more likely to get something if you are willing to give something in return. When asking for a review, offer a client a small discount on a service, a free product, or whatever you feel makes the most sense. For example, I’ve worked with a client that offered a free bottle of shampoo or conditioner in return for a Google review. That company increased its total number of reviews 5x in less than two weeks. While this might cost you a little bit of money to build your reviews up, it will more than pay for itself down the road with new clients.

How To Handle A Poor Review

Nobody likes to see a poor review. Sometimes the review isn’t accurate or it came from somebody that never did business with you. The good thing

about Google reviews is that it allows you to address your negative reviews and improve your first impression. You can respond directly to each review, which you should always do whether the review is good or bad. A simple thank you can go a long way when responding to a positive review. When somebody gives negative feedback, respond to it in a professional manner that shows potential new clients that you have good customer service and are willing to make things right if there are any issues. If you receive a poor review, don’t freak out. This is an opportunity to not only improve your image online but also to get feedback on your services and products and make improvements.

Google reviews are one of the best ways to help you separate yourself from your competitors online. Having clients share their experiences and stories with how you’ve impacted their lives is stronger than anything you will say about yourself on your website or in your ads.

Take the time to ask for reviews regularly and make it easy for people to leave a review and they will build up. You may be surprised at how much of an impact something as simple as a review may have in your sales process.