A Review is a positive or negative recount of an experience with your company on an independent 3rd party source that is usually accompanied by a rating system. Getting customers to review your business online is a great way to boost your search engine rankings and help prospects make a decision to buy from you.

Getting customers to review your business online is a great way to boost your search engine rankings and help prospects make a decision to buy from you.  Positive customer reviews and testimonials are one of the best marketing tools a business can ask for. And ask for them you should!

Don't be afraid or feel it's out of place to ask a satisfied customer to share their experience online via one of the many available review sites. Of course, written reviews are a plus for your website as well, and look for future post on video testimonials. For now let's get some basic information settled on the what, who, where and how to get customers to write good reviews for you.

Definitions
Review – A positive or negative recount of an experience with your company on an independent 3rd party source that
is usually accompanied by a rating system

Testimonial – A positive endorsement or recommendation of your company based on experience with your
product/service. Typically comes in written form (letter, email), or can be in video format

How To’s
Ask –
- Verbally ask each customer at the close of the transaction (good time to get video testimonials)
- Email customers after each transaction (provide links to the review sites)
- Snail Mail a review or testimonial request (provide links if a review, provide return envelope if testimonial)
- Provide a customer review card with the receipt (see snail mail above)
- Put signage at your location
- Mention at business meetings, networking events
- Post links on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn (which has a great endorsement feature as well)

Make it EASY –
- Offer links from your website, blog, social media, and emails to 3rd party review sites
- Offer postage paid reply cards for snail mail
- Set up a testimonial form on your website or social media page (custom Facebook tab)
- Include a QR code on mail outs, signage and other marketing that links right to a 3rd party review site

Offer an Incentive –
- Be CAREFUL with this, many sites frown upon it
- “Bring a copy of your review next trip in and receive _________________”
- Mail out coupons to be used with a copy of your review

Consistency & Constantly –
- A steady and consistent flow of reviews is more credible and better for SEO
- Continue the process with EVERY customer

Review Sites
City Search & Insider Pages –
- Syndicated sites
- Create a profile OR log in with your Facebook login

Yahoo Local & Google Maps –
- Yahoo is syndicated
- Google #1 button (new one click option) - http://www.google.com/+1/button/
- Log in with your Yahoo Mail or Gmail account

Vertical Sites –
- Specialty sites like Urban Spoon for restaurants and TripAdvisor for travel

So ask, facilitate and enjoy the results your business receives from positive customer ratings and reviews!