How Can My Roofing Business Benefit from Online Reviews?
Did you know that 72% of customers say that seeing a positive review helps improve their trust in a local business?
As a local business, word-of-mouth advertising is one of the most valuable assets for your company. You want to make sure every customer has an experience worth talking about and, ultimately, sharing with others.
Growing online reviews can benefit roofing contractors greatly! Here are the benefits to know:
- Customers trust online reviews: 88% of customers trust online reviews on the same level as personal recommendations. This level of trust is sure to reap benefits for you in the form of higher sales.
- Provides a direct communication channel to your customer base: Reviews can be a great way to find out what customers really think about your company and services. Find out where you are doing well and which areas need improvement through reviews so that every customer feels appreciated for their input in the future!
- Supports your business’s customer retention: By encouraging customer reviews on online platforms, you can maintain a positive relationship among your existing customers and boost your reputation as a roofer.
- Can help your business increase sales and number of leads: Studies have shown that online reviews can drive an average of 18% uplift in sales. Showcasing your awesome customer service through online reviews can directly impact your bottom line!
In this article, learn how to encourage more 5-star ratings on your reviews by doing an excellent job for your clients!
Signpost is used by thousands of small service businesses to build a trusted reputation online with reviews. Let us show you how our review software works.
How and Where to Gain More Positive Online Reviews
Local roofers today can carry out a stellar roofing service and end the relationship there. But why stop there? It’s time to get those reviews rolling in! Here’s how you can get started:
- Perfect your business’s customer service experience: Providing a fantastic customer service experience doesn’t end with roofing repair on an old roof, nailing the first time interaction with a potential client, or using high-quality materials. You also have to show good workmanship by maintaining professionalism with homeowners, clearly answering a client’s questions, and being thorough with your roofing process and projects.
- Claim your business page across all online review platforms: Leave no stone unturned when it comes to making your business accessible online. Listing your business on popular review sites will allow customers to determine what people think about your services with one click of a button. Claim your pages across all major platforms (Yelp, Facebook, Google My Business, and more) so customers have their choice of where they want to leave feedback!
- Follow up with all customers and kindly request an online review: Your after-sale service plays an integral role in attracting reviews. The best roofers don’t stop work once they’re down on the ground again; they keep customers engaged through follow-ups to ensure they’re satisfied with the quality of their services. And if the customer is satisfied, the best roofers will take the opportunity to ask for a review!
- Boost your positive online reviews by sharing them on social media: It’s crucial for you to share your reviews. Many consumers are looking online for social proof before they make an actual purchase decision!
- Respond to all online reviews, including the negative ones: When you respond to negative reviews, you show your customers that you take all their opinions into account, not just the ones that reflect positively on your business. It showcases your accountability. Provide dissatisfied customers with contact information to help find a solution that works for them, and better yet, give them a reason to stick around.
- Place a Call to Action (CTA) on all invoices: This can help you encourage happy customers to share the good word, so be sure to include a review-specific CTA on your invoices.
- Place review badges/links on your business website: Customers that are exploring your website can quickly gain access to positive testimonials. It also tempts your existing clients into writing a review about how you helped satisfy their needs.
- Leverage an online review management service: You can work together with an online review service like Signpost to engage with positive reviews, handle the negative ones professionally, and attract more positive word-of-mouth!
Now that you know the “how” of attracting more reviews, here’s the “where” you need to consider:
1. Facebook
What is it?
Facebook is the world’s largest social network, with over 2.7 billion monthly active users! With this many people on Facebook, it’s essential for businesses to start taking advantage of its opportunities and potential—especially if they want to stay competitive.
How does it work?
You can set up a Facebook Business Page, giving your customers on the platform all the information they need about your business. Customers can also directly engage with your business by posting their reviews (in Facebook’s case, “recommendations”), uploading pictures of your work, and sharing your Page’s posts on their own feeds.
2. Google My Business
What is it?
Google is the world’s most powerful search engine. Google My Business (GMB) is a platform that businesses can use to grow their digital footprint by providing essential information on their activities. GMB is also essential in getting local businesses more visibility through search engine optimization (SEO). Through its innovative algorithm, GMB gives your business’s website more site visibility to users who search for relevant information and related keywords.
How does it work?
Through Google, customers can see how well your business is rated. The GMB platform, which requires verification first, allows users to look at reviews written by other people to glimpse into the quality of service they can expect when visiting your business for roof repairs, roof replacements, or any other service.
3. Yelp
What is it?
Yelp is a review website for consumers, giving them access to a directory of local businesses that they can publish reviews about and rate on a five-star scale.
How does it work?
Yelp can help your business promote your offerings as a professional roofer on a more local scale by focusing on customers in nearby neighborhoods and the vicinity of your roofing business.
You can claim your business listing for free, monitor reviews from your customers, and engage with them directly. Claim your business on Yelp if you haven’t already. There might even be existing reviews for your business on Yelp already!
4. Nextdoor
What is it?
Nextdoor is a digital hub where users can share ideas and recommendations with one another about local businesses. The platform focuses on connecting people in their community; it’s the perfect place to find out what your customers are up to and even see if they need a new roof fixed or have any other roofing projects!
How does it work?
Through Nextdoor, you can connect with local residents in the area who may require your services, but are unaware of your business. If your roofing business is focused on local neighborhoods, Nextdoor is one of the best platforms to leverage and showcase your roofing work. On Nextdoor, every “neighbor” has to be verified, ensuring the quality of the user reviews and recommendations that businesses receive.
5. HomeAdvisor
What is it?
HomeAdvisor shows rank-based listings of home service businesses and other providers in the homeowner’s vicinity. Whether it’s for a roof leak or even an entirely new roof installation, homeowners can find you (and your competitors) on the platform!
How does it work?
HomeAdvisor is a free website that helps homeowners find the right professional for their home repairs. Homeowners can search by service type and geographic location—from their roofing needs to plumbing and electrical work or even HVAC contractors.
Customers leave reviews based on their experience, and businesses can also respond to these reviews. This provides future customers an opportunity to read about what other people thought before deciding whether your company would be best suited for them, too.
Service businesses of all sizes use Signpost to win more business, communicate with customers, and drive loyalty. Start your demo today.
How Signpost Can Help Your Roofing Business
There are many ways your roofing business can benefit from online reviews. With some strategic planning and execution, it’s not difficult to begin growing a strong online reputation for your company while simultaneously increasing sales!
At Signpost, we work with businesses like yours every day to help them succeed in their respective markets by leveraging the power of digital marketing.
Whether you have an established presence online or it has yet to grow, we will create a review strategy tailored specifically for your roofing business and execute any necessary tactics.
Sounds exciting? Contact us today!