Automotive

Online reviews are crucial for your car dealership's reputation and attracting new customers. With 98% of people reading reviews before buying, local dealerships need to focus on generating and managing these reviews effectively. Online reviews greatly influence customer choices. A 2024 study by BrightLocal found that 88% of people prefer businesses that respond to their reviews, compared to only 47% who would consider a company that doesn't respond. Here are some proven strategies to boost your automotive online review ratings.

‍Easy Ways to Encourage Reviews In-Store

Remind customers to leave a review using eye-catching "Leave a Review" signs near exits and design them to match your brand. Utilize custom QR codes that link directly to review sites when scanned. It’s recommended to display them in waiting areas, on packaging, or on stands. Also, include simple reminders on receipts and invoices.

Empower Your Team

Encourage happy customers to share their experiences by training staff to spot satisfied customers through positive interactions. While offering rewards for positive feedback should be avoided, staff can politely mention the importance of reviews. Timing is key—ask for reviews after positive experiences or successful transactions. Follow up within 24-48 hours with calls or automatic text reminders, and send personalized 'thank you' emails with links to review sites.

Other Methods to Encourage Reviews

Personalize emails asking for reviews, keeping them short and friendly with direct links to review platforms. Use a friendly approach in follow-up calls and offer help if needed. Send brief text messages with easy-to-click review links. Adding links to review sites to leverage staff email signatures and rotate different platform links. You may also include subtle reminders about leaving reviews in service-related emails and promotional offers. Use your website effectively by placing noticeable banners linking to review platforms and creating a "Reviews" page showcasing existing reviews and linking to various platforms, if possible.

You can also show off your best reviews by using attractive graphics featuring top reviews and sharing them regularly on social media. Run in-store contests to encourage visits and reviews that observe platform guidelines. Finally, sharing photos of happy customers or dedicated staff with gentle reminders about leaving reviews in an engaging social caption encourages engagement, especially if you respond to comments under the posts.

‍The Importance of Building a Culture of Feedback

Maintaining your dealership's integrity is essential. Discourage your staff from posting fake reviews or offering incentives for positive feedback to comply with platform rules. Focus on building authentic interactions, quickly respond to customer feedback, and watch your review ratings rise!

To build a strong online reputation, empower your staff to ask for reviews at the correct times, use different methods (emails, texts, calls), integrate in-store and online reminder touchpoints, use email signatures and your website for visibility, and highlight reviews on social media when possible. Using these strategies, your local dealership can increase its online ratings across various platforms, thus attracting more potential customers. To learn more about how The Moran Group can help boost your dealership's online reputation, contact us today!

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Sources:

1. Murphy, R. (2023, May 31). Local Consumer Review Survey 2020. BrightLocal. https://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey-2020/
2. Paget, S. (2024, March 6). Local consumer review survey 2024: Trends, behaviors, and platforms explored. BrightLocal. https://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey/
3. St. Pierre, J. (2024, December 2). What are two-way conversations, and how can they benefit your business?. Vonage. https://www.vonage.com/resources/articles/two-way-communication/‍