Tips to get customers to leave reviews on your garden center’s Google My Business profile
What gets people interested in a garden center versus what gets them raving about it? Earning awesome customer reviews can make all the difference.
Reviews are how businesses earn social proof, which is evidence that you’re a good and trustworthy business. Social proof can help consumers to trust you sooner, improve your reputation, and contribute to the growth of your garden center. One of the best ways to earn social proof is by optimizing your Google My Business profile.
What is Google My Business?
Google My Business (GMB) is a business directory listing on Google. Your GMB profile has your garden center’s name, address, phone number, website URL, and business category. Further, it places your garden center on Google maps so that customers can find you.
Customers can add reviews and pictures to your GMB profile. They can also ask and answer questions about your garden center.
The problem is that not all of your GMB profile’s information may be correct.
Also, you do not automatically control your GMB’s profile. Rather, you need to set up a GMB account. Then, you have to link your GMB account to your GMB profile. Next, verify your garden center’s details, enhance your GMB profile, and interact with customers on your GMB profile.
Why Garden Centers Should Care About Reviews
Customer reviews on your GMB profile can greatly benefit your business by improving your online reputation and attracting more potential customers. GMB reviews can also improve your brand visibility, get more people in the door, and boost your monthly revenue. But why?
People like to see that a business is “legitimate” and trustworthy before they interact with the business. Good customer reviews provide that legitimacy. In fact, 93% of customers read reviews of a product or business before deciding to purchase something or visit a business. So, it’s critical for you to encourage your customers to leave reviews on your GMB profile.
How to Get Customers to Leave Reviews
So, how do you get customers to leave reviews on your garden center’s GMB profile? Here are eight tips for getting positive reviews.
1. Give incredible customer service.
Positive reviews always start at the same place—businesses having incredible customer service. It’s only after you exceed expectations that people will want to go out of their way to leave a raving review on your GMB profile.
2. Ask for reviews in person.
Train your staff to ask customers for reviews during their interactions. Personal requests can be highly effective in encouraging customers to take the time to write a review.
3. Send follow-up emails.
After completing a purchase or providing a service, send a follow-up email thanking the customer and politely ask them to leave a review. Include a direct link to your GMB profile to make it easy for them.
Your garden center may also benefit from having a regular newsletter. Check out our blog post and video on why every garden center needs a consistent newsletter and why newsletters are the most cost-effective marketing tactic for garden centers.
4. Display signage or stickers.
Place signs or stickers at your physical location. Place them at the point of sale and the entrance door to invite customers to leave a review.
Make sure to mention that their feedback is valuable and appreciated. People love feeling valued and appreciated! People also love stickers!
5. Use social media.
Regularly engage with your customers on social media platforms and encourage them to leave reviews on Google. Share positive reviews from your GMB profile on your social media to raise awareness and motivate others to leave reviews.
Spotlighting positive reviews on your social media will foster a sense of community and loyalty among your customer base. Remember, people love feeling valued and appreciated!
If you need support with your social media or don’t have time for social media, then reach out to us. We help garden centers with this and have over thirty years of experience with marketing for garden centers!
6. Offer an incentive.
Offer customers an incentive for leaving a review on your GMB profile. Just be cautious and comply with Google’s guidelines on review incentives.
7. Respond to existing reviews.
Show your appreciation for customers who have already left reviews by responding to them promptly and professionally. When potential customers see that you actively engage with reviews, it can encourage them to leave their own feedback.
Furthermore, responding to reviews can build loyalty with your customers and create a sense of community with them.
Responding to reviews also helps your garden center rank higher in Google’s search results.
8. Include a review request on receipts, gift cards, and coupons.
Add a brief note on your receipts or invoices thanking customers for their business and requesting them to leave a review. Provide clear instructions on how to find your GMB profile and leave a review.
You may even include a QR code on receipts, gift cards, and coupons that leads your customers to your GMB profile. This will make writing a review even easier for your customers.
What Not to Do
It’s important to maintain ethical practices when it comes to reviews. Don’t try to manipulate the system. Google can tell the difference between fake and real reviews, and buying Google reviews is illegal.
So, it’s best to earn positive customer reviews the old-fashioned ways—through awesome customer service and terrific products. Focus on those two elements and genuine, positive reviews will follow.
Get Excited About Reviews
Getting reviews on your GMB profile is exciting because you can truly turn your neighbors into your fans. You get a chance to build a community, appreciate your customers, and build loyalty among your customers. Also, great reviews make for easy and free ways to warmly welcome potential customers to your garden center.
Need Google My Business Optimization or Help with Customer Reviews? Reach Out to McCusker’s Marketing for Garden Centers!
Contact McCusker’s Marketing for Garden Centers if you need help with garden center marketing, reviews, or your Google My Business profile. You can reach us via phone, text message, or email.
McCusker’s Marketing for Garden Centers provides high-quality, custom marketing to family-owned, independent garden centers. We specialize in getting our garden centers more foot traffic, helping them to compete with big box stores, and telling our garden centers’ unique stories.
We at McCusker’s Marketing for Garden Centers love garden centers, we love making America more beautiful by uplifting local garden centers, and we’d love to help you in your garden center marketing journey. We can’t wait to meet you!
Phone: 440-822-9260
