Surefire Ways to Get Clients to Review Your Business
Homeowner recommendations can help you win new business. Get tips for encouraging people to share the love
When homeowners look for a design and remodeling pro, there are a few key factors that influence their decision. Images of your past projects are important, as is, perhaps, the price you quote, but one of the main ways to inspire confidence is through client reviews. If you’re unsure of how to prompt customers to leave a glowing testimonial, read on for some tried and tested tips from professionals on Houzz.
Be Upfront
The professionals recommend being open with your clients about reviews ahead of time. “We try to explain to the client the benefits of leaving feedback at the very start of the project,” Swati Sunder of Smart House Extension says.
“It doesn’t hurt to point out that a great review will really help your small business to grow,” Jessica Spencer of My Bespoke Room says. “There’s no need to lay it on thick, but if you’ve struck up a good relationship with someone, they’ll most likely want to help you flourish.”
How to Earn a Best of Houzz Badge
The professionals recommend being open with your clients about reviews ahead of time. “We try to explain to the client the benefits of leaving feedback at the very start of the project,” Swati Sunder of Smart House Extension says.
“It doesn’t hurt to point out that a great review will really help your small business to grow,” Jessica Spencer of My Bespoke Room says. “There’s no need to lay it on thick, but if you’ve struck up a good relationship with someone, they’ll most likely want to help you flourish.”
How to Earn a Best of Houzz Badge
Time It Right
It makes sense to ask if a client would like to leave a review straight after a project has finished. However, the key to success is to be polite and time it correctly.
“I always follow up the end of a project with a thank you email,” Burton says. “I end it by asking clients to leave me a review and explaining the benefits to me and my business of the reviews.”
Timing is everything here, Spencer advises. “Give them enough time to digest the results and ask any questions prior to requesting a review,” she says. “Equally, don’t leave it too long. You want to catch them at that point when they’re ecstatic about the results and it’s fresh in their minds.”
How to Turn a Client Into a Long-Term Customer
It makes sense to ask if a client would like to leave a review straight after a project has finished. However, the key to success is to be polite and time it correctly.
“I always follow up the end of a project with a thank you email,” Burton says. “I end it by asking clients to leave me a review and explaining the benefits to me and my business of the reviews.”
Timing is everything here, Spencer advises. “Give them enough time to digest the results and ask any questions prior to requesting a review,” she says. “Equally, don’t leave it too long. You want to catch them at that point when they’re ecstatic about the results and it’s fresh in their minds.”
How to Turn a Client Into a Long-Term Customer
Give Them a Nudge
Don’t be afraid to ask again if your client doesn’t immediately get the chance to review you. “We follow up every Monday morning for the next three weeks if the feedback is still not left,” Sunder says. “Monday seems to get us the best results.”
Burton’s policy is to follow up two weeks after the first request. “If clients don’t leave a review, I do chase them a couple of weeks later and kindly mention that, if they have time, it would greatly benefit me and give confidence to future potential clients,” she says.
Learn more about Houzz Pro software
Don’t be afraid to ask again if your client doesn’t immediately get the chance to review you. “We follow up every Monday morning for the next three weeks if the feedback is still not left,” Sunder says. “Monday seems to get us the best results.”
Burton’s policy is to follow up two weeks after the first request. “If clients don’t leave a review, I do chase them a couple of weeks later and kindly mention that, if they have time, it would greatly benefit me and give confidence to future potential clients,” she says.
Learn more about Houzz Pro software
Trust Your Work
The professionals advise focusing on client relationships and doing a good job, as this should hopefully help incentivize reviews. “I think most of the time, the clients are happy enough with our services to leave feedback,” Sunder says.
“You don’t have to ask everyone for a review. Quality not quantity is key,” Spencer says. “Ask for reviews from people you have a strong relationship with and are confident will shout loudly about how much they love your service.” The person who has the most contact with the client should be the person who asks for the review.
To give your clients a great experience from end to end, consider using Houzz Pro. You can share proposals, products, mood boards and even 3D floor plans with them at all stages of the project.
Houzz Adds New Kitchen Features to Its Houzz Pro 3D Floor Planner
The professionals advise focusing on client relationships and doing a good job, as this should hopefully help incentivize reviews. “I think most of the time, the clients are happy enough with our services to leave feedback,” Sunder says.
“You don’t have to ask everyone for a review. Quality not quantity is key,” Spencer says. “Ask for reviews from people you have a strong relationship with and are confident will shout loudly about how much they love your service.” The person who has the most contact with the client should be the person who asks for the review.
To give your clients a great experience from end to end, consider using Houzz Pro. You can share proposals, products, mood boards and even 3D floor plans with them at all stages of the project.
Houzz Adds New Kitchen Features to Its Houzz Pro 3D Floor Planner
Make It Easy
“It should be as frictionless as possible. Clients won’t take the time to leave you a review if you don’t make it straightforward,” Spencer says. “If you need to create a special link so they can click and drop their thoughts, make that happen.”
“I use Houzz to send the links to the clients for the reviews,” Burton says. “This is quick and easy to do and goes straight to their inbox.”
Use this link to help your clients leave a review on Houzz.
“It should be as frictionless as possible. Clients won’t take the time to leave you a review if you don’t make it straightforward,” Spencer says. “If you need to create a special link so they can click and drop their thoughts, make that happen.”
“I use Houzz to send the links to the clients for the reviews,” Burton says. “This is quick and easy to do and goes straight to their inbox.”
Use this link to help your clients leave a review on Houzz.
Tell us: How do you encourage clients to leave reviews, and how important do you feel they are to your business? Share your thoughts and tips in the Comments.
More for Pros on Houzz
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More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Learn about Houzz Pro software
Talk with your peers in the Pro-to-Pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
Wondering whether it’s worth pursuing clients for a testimonial? The overwhelming answer from the pros we interviewed is yes!
“As consumers, we’re all looking at reviews of products, and services are no different,” interior designer Natasha Burton of NB Interiors UK says. “Reviews help to give confidence to potential new clients, as they show you’ve established a great working relationship, and that’s so important to emphasize. I’ve gained work specifically down to the reviews I’ve received, and also my replies to the clients.”
“During the appointment stage, people want to know how we’ve worked before with clients and want to learn more about their experience,” Omar Bhatti of Space Shack says. “A positive review can often be even more powerful than an amazing design. It’s an opportunity for clients to find out important aspects that can’t be displayed in images, such as how good you are at your job and your ability to listen.”
With a Houzz Pro subscription, you can display your best reviews prominently on your profile and in your directory listing.