Many businesses struggle with asking for testimonials. But the power of positive mortgage reviews cannot be overstated. Online ratings, reviews, and testimonials lend credibility and build trust. But they also help your business rank higher on the search engines and drive conversions. By some estimates, around 82% of Americans seek recommendations from family members and friends when considering a purchase. And a whopping 93% of consumers said their purchases are influenced by online reviews.
Just ask
One of the simplest ways to drive referrals is asking for them. Tell the customers with whom you’ve worked that the best compliment they can give you is a referral to a friend or family member. Ask past customers if they would mind leaving you an online review and send them the link to do so. Perhaps also offer an incentive such as a giveaway drawing for all customers who give a review in a specific month or quarter.
Be grateful
When someone sends you a referral, remember to recognize them. A simple phone call, email or note in the mail is a great way to express appreciation as well as encourage additional referrals.
Focus
When collecting online reviews, it is best to focus on a specific platform. With multiple platforms available for reviews, efforts are best-served when concentrated in one place. Possible platforms include:
- Zillow
- Social Survey
- Yelp
- Trulia
- Realtor.com
- Angie’s List
At the end of the day, providing a positive experience is the best way to ensure your past customers and business partners speak positively about you to their peers. Word of mouth is dependent on loyalty, which must be earned. Be sure to go above and beyond for your customers and business partners by posting favorably about them on social media, citing them in your online blog content, and being a resource on whom they can count.
