Local Search Engine Optimization in Kansas City, Leawood, and Overland Park
One of the most challenging things we’ve had to deal with at Web Force KC while working with our clients over the years is online reviews. In fact, after many years of trying to communicate how vital getting online reviews are to our clients, we eventually crafted a clever reminder that we tend to tell at least one of them once a week: The only review that you’ll get that you don’t ask for is usually one that you don’t want. What’s odd about online marketing and its effect on consumers’ buying decisions is that the days of 2 neighbors chatting at their fence line asking, “who does your lawn care?” are rare, if not nonexistent. What’s even more interesting is that we now use the internet to find products and/or services we want or need and base our buying decisions on the opinions (i.e.reviews) of people we don’t even know. Of course, word of mouth and referrals still exist, but as a marketing agency, our job is to generate leads and customers solely through a carefully woven web of our client’s online presence and let the companies we promote deliver their goods and services the way they see fit.
That’s why getting solid reviews and maintaining a quality rating is imperative to the success of any business using the web as a tool to generate business. In the case of Web Force KC, we primarily work with small, locally owned, and operated businesses that, more often than not, have big corporate competition that can be tough but not impossible to beat in the SEO arena. With online reviews, we’ve found that larger corporate entities that offer similar services to our clients often struggle to get and maintain good reviews for whatever reason, which is why keeping and growing our client’s online reputation is a big part of what we do. The dilemma is not so easily solved by merely asking customers to write beaming reviews because most will say a resounding “YES” but soon forget or blow it off. This is why we took the initiative to make getting and asking for reviews simple and streamlined using the fact that most everyone has a smartphone in their pocket or purse that can be used to help get our client’s customers onto their review pages and leave feedback that helps win even more business. We’re not going to get into details as to how we are creating seamless avenues to get more reviews or even social media followers, but chances are you’ve seen how and what we do in nearly every business, particularly since COVID-19 hit the US last year. (Hint: it has something to do with a phone’s camera.)
For some industries we work with, it is incredibly challenging to get consistent reviews as many of our clients are in what some would consider taboo industries. We’ve found that many of their customers don’t necessarily want to advertise publicly that they shop there for whatever reason. That’s why when you see that breakthrough moment with a customer that digs what you do or sell, you make it a point to say something along the lines of, “I’m glad we could help. We’d appreciate it if you could write a review for us so that other people know that we’re the real deal.” That sounds a bit canned, but you get the point. You and your staff should ask for reviews from every customer you know is satisfied with what you do or did every day. Of course, you can’t make everyone happy, and it’s safe to assume that most people online know that, which is why the occasional bat-shit crazy review from someone that you could never satisfy isn’t going to hurt a business that has countless 5-star reviews and 1 or 2 bad ones.
We get that you get busy, overwhelmed with the details of running a business, and can easily forget to ask for reviews. Still, the fact is that you likely already have customers that can and will write a stellar recommendation for what you sell or do, but they don’t know how and where to do it. Ask and show them.
Call Web Force KC at (816) 462-9128 for Kansas City web design and online marketing.
