The best way to get more plumbing reviews is to use a tool like DataPins to automate review requests via text and email.
While technology can help plumbers get more reviews, it works best when combined with a more personal approach, such as asking for reviews in person. You must do both.
Key Takeaway
Getting more plumbing reviews requires a combination of utilizing reputation management software and asking your customers in person.
Why Plumbers Need More Reviews
Let’s take a look at the facts. Nine out of ten consumers read online reviews before making a purchasing decision.
62% of consumers report that they will not buy a product or patronize a service without reading an online review first.
Did you know that three out of every four consumers say that they trust online reviews as much as word-of-mouth recommendations from their friends and family?
The statistics validate the importance of reviews for plumbing companies, and trying to get more should be part of every plumber’s marketing strategy.
Tips to Get More Online Plumbing Reviews
Still, the question remains: how do you get more plumbing reviews for your business? It’s a question with which lots of contractors and plumbing business owners struggle.
Today, Plumbing Webmasters will outline the most effective tips for getting more plumbing reviews.
1) Claim Profiles on Industry Review Sites
Of course, everyone is familiar with Yelp. It’s one of the largest online review platforms.
As a plumber, you certainly need to claim your listings or profiles on the extensive review sites, but you can’t forget about the industry-specific sites as well.
Many people in the plumbing business are unaware of some of these sites.
Take a look at some of the home-service-oriented review sites that offer listings:
- Houzz: Houzz is a site that helps homeowners get ideas for remodeling and renovating, introduces them to products that can help, and connects them with home-service professionals in their area. It also allows patrons of home service providers to leave reviews.
- Nextdoor: Nextdoor operates like a social network site for people in your neighborhood. It allows them to discuss local businesses and provides a forum for them to recommend home-service professionals to their neighbors. They can leave comments and reviews about your business if it is listed. You can also see a map that indicates Nextdoor users who have recommended your company to others.
- Angi’: Angi’ started explicitly to help people find and review local contractors. They have over 5 million unique users, making them one of the most popular contractor review sites on the internet.
2) Register your Business on Google Business Profile
Google Business Profile is excellent for attracting more reviews, but it also makes those reviews more visible.
GBP is one of the most viewed review platforms on the internet simply by merit of being a Google service.
Since Google owns the lion’s share of the search engine market, more people see Google My Business listings and read Google reviews than most other platforms.
If you have not already claimed your business on GBP, you should claim your business ASAP.
To help you get more GMB reviews, make sure you retrieve your Google review short link and include it in your email correspondence with customers.
Include it on your website and social media posts as well. Visible links will make it easier and more likely that people will leave a review.
Google My Business, AKA Google Business Profile, is the best platform to collect customer reviews for plumbing companies.
3) Reply to Reviews
People will be more responsive to companies that value their input and feedback. To get more plumbing reviews, be sure to respond to the ones you already have.
Responses will help gain the trust of more new customers, generate leads, and earn new customers who can, in turn, provide your company with more reviews.
Don’t just reply to the positive reviews, either. Responding to negative reviews is as, if not more, important. Keep it professional.
4) Use Online Reputation Management Software
Replying to reviews from multiple platforms can be a burden. That’s why online reputation management software can help get more plumbing reviews.
When you can effectively manage your reviews and leverage them to generate more leads, you can earn more business and more reviews.
An excellent online reputation management software suite, like DataPins, can help you manage and display reviews from multiple websites, and even showcase them on your own website.
It makes it easier for you to garner more reviews and leverage them for search engine optimization.
5) Ask Outright
Our last tip is the simplest and possibly, most effective. You have to ask your customers to leave a review.
There are effective ways to go about this, though:
- Ask in Person: If you feel that you have a satisfied customer on your hand, don’t leave until you have asked them face-to-face for a review. It’s best to ask for a review as soon as you complete a job.
- Follow Up: You won’t always have face-to-face contact with your customers – especially if you do commercial work. If you can’t physically speak to your customer after completing the job, be sure to follow up with them in an email. Follow-ups not only demonstrate that you care about their experience, but they also provide an opportunity to ask for a review while your service is still fresh in their minds. Be sure to follow up within two days at the latest.
- Mention the Importance of Their Reviews: Whether you can ask in an email, text, or in person, it helps to let the customer know how much their review means to your business. People like to know that their input is valued, so let your customers know that their reviews are essential to your business.
Get More Plumbing Reviews
To get more plumbing reviews, you have to increase your online visibility. That’s something we have extended expertise in here at Plumbing Webmasters.
Our digital marketing and reputation management services will not only help you get more plumbing reviews, but they will also help you land more business.
Call us for more reviews and more customers!
