Positive reviews from happy clients can make all the difference in the world. According to a 2019 study by Qualtrics, 97% of people read reviews of local businesses before making a purchasing decision, and 90% of those people said positive reviews directly influenced their purchase or hiring decisions.
We’ve talked about customer loyalty and why it matters – how “promoters” (those who’d rate their experience a 9 or 10 out of 10) and even “passives” (those who’d rate their experience a 7 or 8) can have a direct, positive effect on our bottom line, but how do you get there? First, you’ve got to ask the right questions!
Simply asking “How likely are you to recommend our company/product/service to a friend?” or “How would you rate your experience working with us?” is a great place to start. But to get actual written reviews with positive feedback that can be shared on your website and marketing materials, validate your work and reassure potential new clients, you’ve got to put in a little more work. Trust us though; it’s worth it!
Try these strategies to garner more glowing reviews for your wedding business.
Steps to Getting Glowing Reviews
First things first: focus on clients you know are satisfied. A few glowing reviews beats dozens of mediocre ones. Think about the couples you’ve served who already rave about you to their friends, unprompted. Think about the couples whose parents went on and on about how wonderful your work is or about how easy you were to work with.
Follow up shortly after their wedding with a short personal email (not the time for a template email – you want to make sure this email is tailored to them specifically) and request a review. Something simple at the end of your email like “If you were satisfied with your experience, would you mind leaving a review? Positive reviews really help me out and allow me to serve more wonderful couples like you!” can suffice.
Go ahead and include a link to your review site of choice before your email signature and prompt them to share what made their experience awesome. If a certain positive interaction between the two of you stands out, it’s ok to jog their memory, but never ask them to say anything verbatim. Let their voice be heard!
After they’ve left the review (this is key – doing anything beforehand is not only unethical but in certain instances, could be illegal), reward them with a coupon or small token of appreciation. Maybe you have a coupon you can send them for a floral arrangement, a dessert or a percentage off their wedding photography album. If a follow-up purchase doesn’t make sense for your business, an unrelated small gift might be appropriate (a gift card to a local coffee shop or a small personalized present). You definitely don’t need to spend a lot of money. If anything, and in all circumstances, a handwritten thank you note is always appropriate.
Getting Positive Reviews: The Takeaways
So, what can we take away from this?
Positive reviews can truly bolster your financial bottom line and aid you in booking even more satisfied clients, but in order to get really great reviews that reflect well on your wedding business, you’ll need to do more than send a simple survey.
Follow up personally, promptly and professionally with wedding clients you know are satisfied. Guide them to the right website (make it easy for them) and prompt them with an idea of what you’d like them to talk about (but never suggesting exactly what to say). Give them time to follow through, and thank them, regardless.
Share their reviews strategically and let your happy clients’ words do the work. Positive reviews should shine on multiple places on your website and marketing materials. Don’t just stick 15 lengthy reviews on a Testimonials web page and call it a day. Wherever a potential client might be making a purchasing decision (your About page! your Services page! your Instagram story!) is a great place for a positive, relevant review).
We hope these steps can help you gain better reviews and more business! Good luck!
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Written by Kaitlyn Bullard
