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Positive reviews are essential for attracting new customers, but did you know that motivating your employees is key to collecting them? Here’s how to boost your review count through effective employee motivation.
Establish trust with your employees
Employees are more likely to embrace new software if they trust your judgment in selecting tools that genuinely benefit the business and make their jobs easier. However, if the technology is complicated or requires extensive training, getting employees to adopt it can be challenging.
Provide incentives
Money is a powerful motivator. To encourage your employees to gather reviews, consider offering incentives.
There are various activities you can incentivise, but it's important not to offer incentives to customers for leaving reviews, as this can violate the terms of service of many review sites and make the reviews appear less genuine. Here are three activities to consider incentivising:
Incentivise based on the number of reviews received
Getting reviews is often about numbers. The more customers you ask, the more reviews you’ll receive. You might like to incentivise your employees based on the number of reviews they receive from customers or jobs that they've managed or taken part in.
For example, if you're a workshop and your business receives a glowing review from someone named "Allan Johnson", you can quickly check your customer records to see which of your team members serviced Allan's car.
If there's a common trend of one of your staff members generating more reviews from their customers, you can award them with an incentive.
Use a “script” to take the guesswork out review requests
While you don’t want your team to sound robotic, providing them with a template for requesting reviews can be very helpful. Share examples of successful interactions without forcing them to role-play, which can feel uncomfortable.
For instance, you could suggest something as simple as:
“Hey [Name], thanks so much! I've got a cheeky favour, if it wouldn't be too much. As a small business, online reviews are really important for us to be found by new customers. Would you mind writing us a review on Google?”
Customise this script to fit your business and customer base (e.g. if you're a lawyer, it might not be the right tone to ask for a "cheeky favour"). But, the overarching idea here is that by offering your employees some opening dialogue, you'll make the process of asking for reviews a whole lot easier and more natural for them.
A few ideas for employee incentives
Here are some great staff incentives that you might like to consider for your team.
Cash bonuses
Monetary rewards are an obvious choice for employee incentive. If you go down this route, be sure that you set clear and achievable goals for the number of reviews they'll need to acquire in order to qualify for the payout.
Gift cards
Gift cards to popular stores or restaurants can be an appealing incentive. They offer flexibility and a tangible reward for employees' efforts.
Annual leave
Offering additional vacation days or personal days as a reward for achieving review goals can be highly motivating for employees seeking more work-life balance, and shows your commitment to ensuring they enjoy life outside of work, too.
Recognition and awards
This is a great way to encourage a bit of friendly competition amongst your team members! Public recognition, such as an “Employee of the Month” award, certificates, or a mention in company newsletters, can boost morale and encourage healthy competition.
Team outings or events
Organise team-building activities, such as dinners, movie nights, or outdoor adventures, for teams that meet their review targets.Wellness benefits
Provide wellness-related rewards like gym memberships, spa vouchers, or fitness equipment for employees who hit their review goals.
Gifts and gadgets
Items such as electronics, company-branded merchandise, or even home appliances can serve as exciting incentives.Lunch on the house
Offering a lunch be a fun, budget-friendly reward to motivate your employees. Set a certain budget and get them to put together an expense claim for it. Easy!
Conclusion
Motivating your employees to collect reviews is crucial for attracting new customers and enhancing your business’s reputation. By establishing trust, offering thoughtful incentives, and providing guidance on how to request reviews, you can significantly boost your review count.
Remember to choose incentives that align with your team’s interests and goals. Whether it’s through cash bonuses, gift cards, extra vacation days, or team outings, recognising and rewarding your employees’ efforts will create a positive and productive work environment. Additionally, providing a script can simplify the review request process, making it more comfortable and natural for your team.
Implementing these strategies not only helps in gathering valuable customer feedback but also fosters a motivated and engaged workforce. As you build a culture of appreciation and recognition, you’ll find that your employees are more enthusiastic and effective in driving your business forward.
