Whether it’s shopping for a new car or a new coffee maker, most of us use online reviews at some point in the decision-making process. In fact, survey results show that 91% of us read online reviews, which leads us to ask, “Who are these 9% of people who DON’T read reviews?!”
Installing solar panels is a major decision for anyone, so when homeowners are searching for solar installation companies in your area, it’s important to ensure they’re only seeing positive information about you. In this post, we’ll discuss ways to get positive reviews and improve your score if it needs a boost.
Search Engine Optimization
When a company has a robust presence on popular online review sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor, search engines like Google will favor that company in search results. Even if your company’s website doesn’t rank high for keywords like “Maine solar installation company” your Yelp review might, which ultimately helps get the name of your company in front of more people.
Build Credibility and Trust
Potential customers will likely search for your company online before deciding to go with your services. It helps to have at least a dozen positive reviews online that show your company is reputable and offers a high level of service. It’s even better if the reviews address different aspects of your service, such as if the work was done on time, on budget, and there was good communication.
Seeing real people talking about their experience and directly addressing concerns the potential customer might have are great ways to build trust.
Word-of-Mouth
We all know the power of word-of-mouth advertising. Having ample positive reviews not only helps your business rise to the top of search ranking, it’s a form of advertising on its own. According to a BrightLocal survey, 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations when considering a purchase.
How Do You Get Positive Reviews
“We definitely tried to encourage people to do reviews,” said Ecohouse Solar. “We made it easy for them by giving them links to review sites. If they didn’t submit a review, we’d follow up in a month to ask again.”
Soliciting reviews not only encourages people to share positive interactions with your company, but serves as a check on the quality of service you’re delivering.
“We want to make sure the customer had a really good experience,”
And don’t forget to respond to positive comments with a thank you and that you’re glad they liked your service.
Leveraging Positive Reviews
Once Ecohouse Solar had collected positive reviews, the company highlighted the feedback on the website and social media accounts.
Just like testimonials you see on so many sites today, online reviews open the window into what it’s like to work with you, helping encourage potential customers to reach out and ultimately go with your company for their solar installation.
When Reviews Run Awry
Having unanimous five-star ratings is great, but what if your reviews are lacking in some way. It’s OK. Customers can be cranky or fickle or get hung up on the smallest detail and use the internet to release their rage.
The important thing, if you get a bad review, is not to act defensive or rude. Look into the customer and get to the bottom of their issue. Then offer a polite response online before reaching out personally to resolve the matter. If it was a miss on your part, admitting that and pledging to do better next time goes a LONG way in rebuilding trust. People understand mistakes and bad days happen.
Remember, online reviews are a window into what it’s like to work with you, so it benefits you to treat this forum like a conversation. We encourage you to solicit from happy customers, show off your positive reviews, and be proud of the great work you’re doing. And potential customers will appreciate it too.
