In a competitive business like landscaping, every online review counts. But if you’re busy scheduling projects or planting flowerbeds, it can be tricky to know where to start if you want to leverage the power of reviews and ratings to build profit. Here’s what you need to know to get better online reviews for your landscaping business.
Make customer care a priority.
Lay the groundwork for stellar reviews with a solid process focused less on your company and more on customer satisfaction. From the first phone call to the final invoice, lock down every touchpoint and process to maximize quality. For example, a productivity-booster like the RB3000 landscaper’s trailer can help skyrocket customer satisfaction. The self-propelled dump trailer easily operated by one person allows you to move and dump dirt, mulch, sand, and other materials virtually anywhere on a job site. As a result, the project gets done faster and with less mess and reduced property damage—a surefire way to please customers.
Ask for the review.
After you’ve made the customer happy, put that goodwill to work. One of the easiest ways to get better online reviews for landscaping is to have a system for asking.
Gathering client reviews isn’t a once-and-done effort. Around 40% of consumers consider reviews written within two weeks, according to a BrightLocal survey, making it important to continually refresh reviews.
Your review process might vary depending on what works best for your particular market, but it might include:
- Providing links to your profile on Facebook and review websites within emails and invoices.
- Attaching a note, postcard, or letter requesting a review when you send the final invoice or other end-of-project materials.
- Adding a review request to subsequent communications, such as thank-you notes.
Never force a customer to leave a review.
Don’t breed resentment by being overly pushy or forceful when it comes to leaving a review—customers won’t respond well. It’s also critical to ask for an unbiased review. Never offer rewards or incentives for a positive rating or review—it can get you in trouble with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). If you use incentives, such as a prize drawing for anyone submitting a review, it must be for unbiased comments. Get more information about staying compliant by checking out the FTC Guidelines.
Respond to positive reviews.
Your job doesn’t end when the landscaping customer leaves a review. Whenever a homeowner takes the time to leave a rating for your company, respond with a quick note thanking them for their time. It’s a small gesture that shows prospects on the review site you’ve heard the client and that what they say matters.
Respond to negative reviews, too.
That’s right—one of the most effective tactics for getting good reviews is to respond online to negative ones. For example, if a customer leaves a review on Yelp complaining about a messy job site at their house, respond politely with a brief apology. Then let the homeowner know you’ll be contacting them directly to help make the situation right.
Resolving that client’s complaint may help turn that bad review into a good one. And it shows prospects reading that review that when problems arise, you take care of them respectfully and promptly. Not sure how to handle a negative review? Check out our article for assistance with responding to bad online reviews.
Differentiating your landscape company from the competition by getting better online reviews is just one way to boost your business. Check out even more ways to increase sales now, and be sure to connect with Equipter on Facebook for other daily insights.