INSIGHT #14 | Online strategy for florists - using reviews
Numerous stats and studies say that nearly two thirds of customers read online reviews before making a purchase decision. What's more, according to iPerceptions, 63% of customers are more likely to make a purchase from a site which has user reviews.
It's therefore easy to see why customer reviews are excellent online sales tools – and why they are essential to your online strategy. But how do you get your customers to share those all-important reviews and how do you maximise the potential?
D2F Florist Manager & D2F APP - an automated review system
The easiest way to request reviews from your customers is by email. But once you've received them, what do you do with them? How do you ensure you're using those reviews to the max? And how do you ensure those reviews are as visible as possible?
D2F's software & app makes it as easy as 1, 2, 3 to obtain reviews for all your local orders and make it as visible as possible:
- publishes reviews to your own website (if provided by D2F)
- publishes reviews to Google Search results
- publishes reviews to your listing on D2F
- if its a FEEFO review its published on Feefo too
Just 2 simple steps to make it happen automatically
Step 1 - Ask for your customer's email. When you're taking an order for local delivery simply ask for their email. "May I take your email address so I can send a receipt?"
Step 2 - Once delivered, tag the order "as delivered" and the system sends the review request. Send A Photo Too! If you use the D2F App (for iPhone or Android) you'll get the option to send a photo of the flowers too!
Search "D2F" in the Play Store or App Store to find the app.
More reviews=More Business
Mark Gatt and Team at The Flower Shop in Malta have received OVER 1,000 customer reviews via D2F, all of which are included in Google search results. Confidence breeds confidence and as a result The Flower Shop Malta goes from strength to strength – as of 11th April 2017 Mark's sales through D2F have exceeded 4,000 online orders!!!!
Mark says: The reviews have had an amazing effect on our online business. Thank you D2F for making this possible.
See Mark's 1000 reviews here
Frightened of negative reviews?
There's no need to be afraid of negative reviews. In fact, they can be turned into a big positive if they are dealt with correctly.
Richard Hanscott, CEO of Yell.com says: Quite a lot of small businesses are frightened of using review systems, scared of that one bad review. But you need to know how to deal with it. For most of us, if you see a bad review and it's handled well it's not such a bad thing.
By sending a positive, proactive, helpful and balanced reply that focuses on finding a solution, it's possible to turn a negative into a positive. Timing is key. The faster a negative review is addressed, the more manageable the discussion. We have seen many examples of a negative review quickly being turned around with a quick response.
Would you like to get started gaining online reviews?
FREE 20 min tuition on how to receive reviews from your customers using D2Fs easy to use software.
Find out more by Phone or Email
Simon Stirling and the Direct2Florist Team