A lot of elements go into a customer's choice of local businesses for products and services. For instance, before I choose a local business to outfit me with services, I usually approach my companions for suggestions and afterward conduct my research on the businesses that I’m interested in.

In the absence of trustworthy confidantes, customers more often than not rely on the recommendations of trusted review sites to help them make a pick. They rely on prominent search engines and review websites like Google, Yelp and so on, to help them make a pick.

Truth be told, a good reputation on the internet is probably one and the same as a giant billboard that points customers to your local business. This is in light of the fact that; consumers’ have more faith in the star ratings of the business they want to buy a product from. Since a business star rating is decided by its customers. When you get good reviews on the sites that have you listed, your star ratings improve. In the event that it is the other way round, your star ratings will drop. These days, star ratings are one and the same as society’s endorsement of your local business. This is how customers find your business in their nearby searches for restaurants, cleaners, doctors, etc. For this reason, it is imperative that you perpetually generate online reviews for your local business.

As a business owner, how will you generate online reviews for your brand?

1.    Use customer review software

If you want to generate reviews for your local business, Customer review software is probably the quickest and easiest way to achieve it. A customer review software or review generation software helps business owners manage customers’ perception of their business on the sites that they are listed on. This review generation software collates real-time customer’s feedback as well as contact info from the sites where the business is listed, in this way, helping business owners to monitor and control how customers feel about their business. A customer review software’s efficacy is even more apparent, in the event that a customer posts damaging comments concerning your local business. This review generation software will send notifications to the business owner, about the threatening review. In this manner, the business owner will be able to react to the negative review promptly and halt the spread on the internet. Since one of its many abilities is to upload customers’ contact info as well, business owners can easily request for reviews from customers. This will not only generate online reviews for their business, but it’ll also boost their star ratings. These star ratings are displayed as part of business info when customers make nearby searches for your business. Which implies that you have better chances of being found in your local area search on search engines. 

2.    Use local bloggers

A well-known local blogger’s recommendation is probably one and the same as a family member’s recommendation when it comes to picking your local business over other business in your area. To generate online reviews, you need to contract a well-respected blogger in your local area with a large number of aficionados on social media. For optimal results, make sure you choose bloggers that focus on uploading contents that are related to your business or industry. Next, give them a sample of what you’re offering (that is if you are selling tangible products) and tell them to help you review it. Since customers read contents posted by this blogger on a daily basis, it is almost expected that they’ll take his or her words about your product as the gospel truth. Much the same as, having a priest recommend your business to customers in church.

3.    Respond to every review

The mistake that most business owners out there make is ignoring negative reviews, probably because they feel it will only generate more negative reviews. That is just wrong thinking. As a business owner, you have to confront any negativity as it poses a threat to your brand’s reputation. It is understandable that you can’t be everywhere on the internet, hoping that someone somewhere will post a negative comment. But then again, you can put systems in place to stay aware of all the positive and negative reviews posted about your business online. How? Use customer review software for your business. With Customer review software, you’ll never miss a comment, either good or bad on the sites you are listed on. Which implies that you can reply appropriately the instant a review goes live. What’s more, by providing timely and appropriate replies to customers’ reviews online, you’ll be able to portray your company as a brand focused on satisfying its customers. Ultimately, you’ll boost your star ratings and increase your chances of being found with nearby searches for your business.  

4.    Include a review page or widget in your site

Okay, you’ve succeeded in directing a customer to your website through your digital marketing or SEO endeavor. So, for what reason will you let them leave your site to conduct research on your business elsewhere? No! That is simply unacceptable. As you friend, I won't let you throw away an opportunity to convert a visitor to a loyal customer – odds are, they'll stumble on another site in your local area that offers your kind of services while looking for information about your business. That is why I’m going to tell you this; give them what they want before they even think to ask. Use the space on your Site’s dashboard to your advantage, by fitting a review widget on the page. In this manner, you’ll be able to show clients that you are a transparent and trustworthy brand. Also, fulfilled customers would be able to drop good comments about your products any time they visit your site.   

5.    Ask your customers

In spite of the fact that this approach may seem old-fashioned or awkward, it is one of the easiest ways to generate online reviews. Customer review software aggregates reviews from more than 70 review listing sites and has an ability to upload customer’s contact info. Which implies that you can without much of a stretch request for customers’ reviews.