Did you know that 73% of consumers would trust a fitness business more if it had positive reviews? And that 85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as a friend or family member?
The power of a positive review is wonderful in its own right. Optimising great customer feedback even further can turn this feedback into a valuable commodity. So here are my top 10 ways to get more positive reviews and maximise the ones you have.
1. Share them on your social platforms.
A simple and easy option is to share the review on your social media platforms. You can create a cool graphic with the text to highlight it or share it as it is. Be sure to thank your happy customer and only share their name or handle (social profile our username) with their permission.
2. Add them to your website landing pages.
With so many customers heading to your website before making a decision, it makes sense to add any stellar reviews to your web site or landing pages. You can add a single review to your home page (and switch this out semi-regularly) or create a landing page purely dedicated to great feedback from happy clients.
3. Ask in person for reviews
If you are looking for more reviews, don’t be afraid to just directly ask for a one. Maybe they had a great training session or lost some weight – that is the perfect time to ask for a review. Nine times out of 10, they will say yes!
4. Create a promotional giveaway or contest.
The goal here is not to enrol reviewers in a contest. Instead, it is to generate attention for your brand by using a contest or giveaway. Promote the contest as you normally would, encouraging your members to engage, sign up, or whatever you usually do. Contests and giveaways tend to attract a lot of attention, so using them as a platform to funnel users to your local profiles is a solid strategy.
5. Respond – with a small reward.
A lot of places tend to forget about a client once they have signed up but following up with positive reinforcement can do wonders on many levels. Can you offer this happy client a small reward, such as a discount on their next purchase, a voucher or a freebie?
Respond to their feedback and make a public offer of a small reward – either by responding directly to the review or via your website or social media. Not only will your members feel cherished but other clients will see your response as well, and may be encouraged to leave a glowing review. Or this may even lead to some additional leads!
6. Respond to the negative reviews too.
Nobody’s perfect and mistakes sometimes happen that result in a someone leaving a scathing one-star review on your website, on Facebook or Google.
When you get a one-star review though, make sure to take the time to respond thoughtfully, without being defensive, to come to a resolution. It could actually help your business in the long run.
7. Reward your staff who get good reviews for you
Make it part of your work culture for your staff to solicit reviews from your members and clients. Consider implementing an incentive program where your trainers and instructors receive a cash bonus for any reviews gathered. Positive reviews can help boost your bottom line significantly.
8. Put on your marketing hat
You’ve already found a very happy client, so it won’t take a data analyst to tell you that they’re more likely to sign up with you again – or refer their friends and family members to you.
Reply to their comment with a hint of marketing. You could suggest a similar product they might like, tell them you’d love it if they told their friends and family, or suggest signing up to a newsletter so they don’t miss out on any specials. Tailor it to their review and don’t overdo the sales pitch to keep it sincere and thankful.
9. Ask for even more feedback
Happy members with positive attitudes who are willing to give great feedback are rare so don’t miss your opportunity to ask for more of their thoughts. Let them know you’re happy they enjoy training with you and took the time to leave a positive review, then ask if they have any suggestions for how your services could be even better. Constructive feedback may help you find new ways to improve the client experience that no one might have bothered to mention. This is a great way to maximise positive reviews that may have been made a while ago.
10. Optimise it for search.
Looking to pick up your search engine optimisation (SEO) game? Respond to the review with a few basic keywords as naturally as possible. For example, you can thank them for their feedback, then mention your business name and how you certainly think you offer the best [personal training] in [city/town] and you’re glad they agree. A positive review, presumably with a keyword or two already thrown in, coupled with a targeted keyword or two of your own, could really help your rankings.