Reviews: A Key Tool for Enhancing Your Credibility
Do you ever feel like you have too much to do and not enough time? Take a look at these Houzz tips to help you hone your time management skills and increase projects productivity. Houzz Pro, the all-in-one marketing and management solution, allows you to save time and increase efficiency.
Getting reviews on your profile can take time, but they’re worth they're worth the effort. Reviews are your best tool for closing new business by showing that you met or exceeded the expectations of past clients. The more reviews you have, the more likely potential clients are to see your business as credible and trustworthy, giving them confidence to contact you when they’re ready to start their project.
Personalise your requests
The best way to get a review from a recent project is a personalised message requesting the review. Include your client’s first name and project type in the subject line to stand out and signify that your message is intended for them rather than being a generic mass email.
Other things to remember to include:
- A personalised greeting with the client’s name and a thank you for their business
- An explanation about how reviews can help attract new clients
- A link to your Houzz profile where they can leave a review
Make reviews a part of your process
It’s common to think about mentioning reviews after the project is completed, but bringing them up from the start and throughout the project can keep reviews top of mind.
A study asked consumers what they pay attention to when they are reading reviews. The top responses? 58% said recency and 57% said quality, beating quantity and length. So by consistently collecting reviews, you can be sure to always have recent reviews, and impress those potential clients checking out your profile.
In addition, reviews put you in the running for the annual Best of Houzz: Service awards. Winners of those awards collect new reviews each year and maintain a high average star rating, and it is a point of distinction. Making reviews part of your process can pay off if you win this award!
One way to make gathering reviews easier and more time efficient is to send out requests in batches. With the “Get Reviews” tool on your profile, add the client’s email address and a personalised note and Houzz will send the client directions to fill out the review. Once it’s approved, it will show up on your profile.
Once you receive a review, always make sure to respond and thank the client for taking time to fill out the review. You can also add in any extra details about the project if desired.
Tap into your professional network
To increase the number and scope of your reviews, you can reach out to your professional network as well. On Houzz, members of the professional community can fill out reviews as “Colleagues.” These reviews from your industry peers will provide a different angle of your business, which will impress not only potential clients, but also other professionals who may be looking to include you on a job.
Respond to negative reviews
Negative reviews are just as important to acknowledge and can actually be a positive marketing opportunity. Offering your side of the story or perhaps how you might improve the situation will allow potential clients to see how you handle situations that aren’t ideal.
If you’d like assistance with getting new reviews, ensuring your profile is looking its best and simplifying your business management processes, Houzz Pro can help your business. Get in touch with the Houzz Team at ukprocommunity@houzz.com for more information on our comprehensive business growth and management system.
You can download these useful tips as a PDF document by clicking here.
