People find everything online these days, including their real estate agents. If you don’t have an online presence, it makes people wonder what you’re really capable of when it comes to helping them buy or sell a home.
While being findable online and having an engaging website and social media accounts is essential, nothing can improve your connection to your community or gain more clients quite like positive reviews.
People always refer to reviews when looking for a product or service, and when it comes to your real estate business, you want to ensure that you not only have some readily available but that they’re positive enough to drum up new business.
Building Trust and Credibility
Trust and credibility are king when trying to grow your client list, and online reviews can do a number on those two aspects of your business. If people see that others had good experiences with you, they are more likely to see you as a viable option when they’re searching for the right REALTOR®️ for them. They want to be confident that you’re the right person for the job, and positive reviews will get them there.
Creating Transparency and Accountability
Investing in real estate can be a stressful process, and considering the sheer cost associated with home buying or selling, it’s likely to be the biggest financial transaction of most people’s lives. That’s why having good transparency and accountability are vital aspects of your business.
Potential clients want to know that you have their back in all the ways that matter and that you’ll be held accountable for the advice and services you give them. Online reviews that show you in a positive light will help people see that you put your money where your mouth is.
Improving Visibility
Visibility is essential online because, as mentioned above, that’s where most people go to research products and services they’re interested in. Businesses with public and easily accessible reviews from real people are more likely to rank better or have better visibility online simply because reviews offer an online boost. Since many sellers or buyers choose the first agent they contact, it’s best to be at the top of the list, and reviews can help you get there.
How to Encourage Online Reviews in Your Favour
The best way to get good online reviews is to give your clients a pleasant experience. That means knowing what advice to give, showing them properties that are within their budget and include their needs, and addressing any issues head-on with grace and tact.
Not everyone will leave a review of their own volition, so judging the experience and asking for a testimonial when the client is most happy with your service is important. This could be on closing day, when they’re moving into their new home, or just after getting an accepted offer. Regardless, if your client is happy with your services, they will likely write good things about you—all you have to do is ask.
Once you have a few good reviews, you can start highlighting them on your social channels, marketing campaigns, and website so they’re easily seen by others. Asking for Google reviews is another good approach since they are public and help you rank higher on Google’s search engine results page (SERP).
Getting and leveraging good reviews can help your real estate business soar, but if you aren’t sure how to approach the subject, contact us today. We can help you determine the best way to gain more reviews so you can show the world how good you are through people who have had positive experiences with you.