The concept of social proof has always been the key to driving or influencing action from people based on the belief that a familiar voice holds are direct correlation with popular and perceived proper behaviour.
This concept is best symbolised by an oft-ignored ingredient- client reviews when it comes to real estate.
Client reviews serve as the key to unlocking people’s expectations of your brand when they choose to work with you and through the eyes of those who provide a positive review of your work as a real estate agent.
Potential clients rely on client reviews so they can paint a picture of you and how you can fit in with their preferences and trust you to provide beneficial solutions to their real estate issues, concerns, and needs.
But how do you get started in getting those client reviews?
Soliciting client reviews effectively
With the number of social media platforms, web resources, and real estate portals, one can assume that people will always leave the right word about their experience working with you.
However, this is not often the case, or worse, you can get frustrated when those reviews do not come in.
But there are ways that you can strategise this and motivate people to churn out those client reviews.
Don’t be reluctant to ask
People who often miss out on leaving you a review don’t usually do it intentionally. Instead, it just got stashed in favour of other life concerns or issues that got in the way.
You might have given them an outstanding buy or sell experience and asked them to provide you with a five-star review, but somehow did not happen.
Please don’t fret. You can always schedule an email reminder by saying hello and asking them to rate their experience working with you as their real estate agent.
You can solicit it by being creative such as asking them how you did as their real estate agent to get their house sold or bought.
Don’t make it complicated
Please take advantage of quick links to simplify the process of giving you a review, such as directing them to a feedback or review page where they can also see other studies that could inspire them to provide you with the right word, as well.
Make every effort to acknowledge and respond to reviewers
Take the time to acknowledge and respond to client reviews in a timely and respectful fashion. Online reviews are now more of a spectacle that inspires people to leave a word when they know that their statements are appreciated and read.
How to strategise getting more client reviews
Here are several tips from industry experts in getting those much-desired client reviews
Make client reviews visible on your website
There’s no denying that real estate agents need to have their websites, and it pays a lot to promote positive client reviews to give you the best social proof that your real estate business needs.
While people can often find it boring to read testimonials and reviews jampacked in a single web page, it would be good to have one or two positive reviews distributed throughout the different pages of your website. This would also be an excellent way to remind website visitors regarding your professional performance and what the positive reviews say when going from one page to another.
Incorporate reviews in your email dispatch or signature
Never underestimate the power of your email signature or dispatch when people ask for a referral or have signed up for one of your open house events.
Your email signature is a great and powerful way to incorporate your brand elements without integrating them into the body of your email message.
You can choose from among the best client reviews that you received and use the quote underneath your profile or name, which can also work well by putting links to video testimonials from clients for people to see and be inspired.
Include client reviews in your paid ads and social strategies
With the growing popularity of video on social media and across online platforms, posting long-form video testimonials can resonate effectively with your target audiences.
You can also use these reviews as a focal point throughout your online and social media marketing campaigns and help you get moving on your sales funnel- both on social media and mainstream online channels.