Skyrocket Your Restoration Business with Online Reviews

As a restoration contractor, online reviews can make or break your business. Potential customers often turn to review sites like Google and Yelp to gauge the quality of service they can expect from a business. That's why it's essential to have a strategy for collecting and managing online reviews. Here are a few tips on how to get and leverage online reviews to grow your restoration business.

#1 - Make it easy!

To ensure that your customers leave reviews, it's essential to make it easy for them. Provide a link to your business profile on popular review sites like Google and Yelp, and include a review request in your post-job follow-up emails. But, you may be wondering, how can you encourage your customers to actually take the time to write a review?

One effective method is to offer a small discount or incentive for leaving a review. You could offer a percentage off their next service or a gift card to a local restaurant. This not only encourages customers to leave a review, but it also shows that you appreciate their feedback and are committed to providing excellent service.

By making it easy for customers to leave reviews and offering incentives, you can build a positive online reputation for your restoration business. And with more positive reviews, potential customers will be more likely to choose your services over the competition.

#2 Respond to all reviews (Yes, even the bad ones.)

Responding to all reviews is essential in building trust and credibility with your customers. By responding to both positive and negative reviews, you show that you value their feedback and are committed to providing excellent service. When you receive a positive review, take the time to thank the customer and show your appreciation for their business. This simple gesture can go a long way in building a positive relationship with your customers.

On the other hand, negative reviews can be more challenging to handle. However, it's essential to address any concerns or issues raised in a negative review promptly. Ignoring negative feedback can damage your business's reputation, and potential customers may see that you are not willing to take responsibility or improve your service.

When responding to a negative review, always remain professional and avoid being defensive or confrontational. Apologize for any negative experience the customer may have had and offer a solution to rectify the situation. By addressing negative reviews in a calm and collected manner, you show that you take customer satisfaction seriously and are willing to go the extra mile to make things right.

#3 Let your reviews shine!

One of the most powerful ways to leverage online reviews is to showcase them on your website and social media pages. When potential customers visit your website or social media pages, they are looking for proof that your restoration business is trustworthy and reliable. By featuring your best reviews prominently, you can provide social proof that can help potential customers feel more confident in choosing your business.

To get the most out of this strategy, it's essential to choose the right reviews to showcase. Look for reviews that highlight your strengths, such as your expertise, responsiveness, or exceptional customer service. Make sure to include a mix of recent and older reviews to show that you have consistently provided excellent service over time.

Once you've chosen the reviews to showcase, consider where to feature them. A prominent spot on your homepage or social media profile is a good place to start. You can also create a dedicated page on your website to feature reviews or use a widget that displays your reviews dynamically.

By showcasing your best reviews, you can build trust with potential customers and increase the likelihood that they will choose your restoration business over your competitors.

#4: Automation: The Game Changer for Collecting Online Reviews

Automation is key in collecting online reviews. By using automated email campaigns or text messages, you can quickly and easily ask customers for reviews after a job is completed. This approach saves time and effort for both you and your customers. With automation, you can set up a series of follow-up messages that are triggered automatically, ensuring that every customer is given an opportunity to leave a review. This not only streamlines the process but also increases the likelihood of receiving more reviews overall. By leveraging automation, you can ensure that your business has a steady stream of online reviews to help attract new customers and grow your restoration business.

Investing in a job management software like Xcelerate can help you automate the process of asking customers for reviews. With this powerful tool, you can set up automated email campaigns that ask customers for reviews after a job is completed, saving you time and effort. This not only streamlines the review collection process but also ensures that you're consistently collecting feedback from your customers.

In conclusion, online reviews are a critical component of growing your restoration business. By making it easy for customers to leave reviews, responding to feedback, showcasing your best reviews, and leveraging job management software, you can build a positive online reputation and attract more customers to your restoration business.