Don’t realise the importance of Online Reviews? Studies show 81% of Australian Car Buyers base their buying decision on a dealership’s online reviews. To be successful buying and selling cars in Australia you need to gain online reviews.
Getting more online reviews for your dealership is easier said than done. To get more online reviews you need to implement the right systems that simplify the process and save time for your customers.
Here’s how to get more online reviews for your dealership in 2022.
1. Send Customer Review Links
The reason why many customers don’t leave reviews is because the process is quite time consuming if you are doing it on your own. To get more online reviews for your dealership you need to simplify the process for customers. The best way to simplify the reviews process is by sending customers a customer review link after the time of purchase.
The benefit of sending customers a review link by SMS is it makes the review process easy. All customers need to do is click on the link, write their comment, add their name and press submit, Fast, easy simple.
What makes sending a customer review links so great for dealerships is it’s the quickest and most reliable way to reach customers. 94% of Australians open a text message within 5 minutes of it being received, so you are almost certain that the customer will see your request.
The easier the reviews process is for customers the more online reviews you will get, it’s that straightforward.
To learn how to create a customer review link to send to customers click here.
2. Offer Reviews on Multiple Platforms
Many believe that Google is the only avenue that businesses can gain customer reviews and have an impact. However there are many other platforms your dealership can use to collect customer reviews and build customer trust.
Popular Online Reviews Platforms that your dealership can implement is Facebook, Bing, Yahoo, and your website. Some customers may not use Google as their favoured browser, to get the best results you need to have a dealer listing on all the key reviews platforms to give customers the ability to leave a review. Remember the more reviews you have online, the more customers you will convert.
3. Timing is the Key
When it comes to Online Reviews timing is the key. If you ask too early the customer won’t have experienced the full benefits of your service and on the flip side if you ask too late there is a high chance they will forget and not do it. To maximise your dealerships online reviews, you need to find the sweet spot between the two.
What has found to be the best time to ask for a review is in the first week preceding the vehicle sale. This way the customer has experienced enough of your offering, had a bit of time to drive the car and has had the time to collect their thoughts. In the days preceding the sale, send your review link to the customer by SMS. The majority of customers who had a good experience would be more enticed to write something. Some customers might not want to leave a review and that’s okay it’s about getting the right reviews that make a difference.
4. Offer an Incentive
Some customers may need a little more convincing to leave your dealership an Online Review. A great way to get around this is by offering an incentive to customers. Incentives could be as simple as a small gift, a saving on any add on's you may be selling or anything of your choosing.
If a customer knows they will get a reward for doing something simple, there is a high chance they will go through and leave a review. Sure, this may cost you some money, but as the research shows, Online Reviews are so valuable for Motor Dealerships in Australia.
5. Follow Up with Past Customers
If a customer doesn’t want to leave an online review in the weeks preceding the sale that’s okay, but it doesn’t mean you need to give up. A great way to build your online reviews and show the customer that you are looking out for their best interests is by following up with them in 3-6 months.
Following up with a customer at a later date to see how the car is performing shows the customer that you are looking out for them, doing something as simple as a quick follow up can be all it takes for a customer to leave a positive review about the service you provide.
Following up with customers is relatively quick process; all you need to do is set a reminder in your calendar and have a quick 2 minute catch up call. The more you look out for your customer the higher the chance you have of getting more online reviews.
Related Article: Top Strategies to improve Customer Service at your Dealership.
Final Word,
Online Reviews should always be one of your dealership’s top priorities. Maximising Online Reviews is one of the best lead generating tools for all businesses in 2022. To get more online reviews for your dealership you need to offer a simple process, ask at the right time, and offer a service that is second to none.
We hope you enjoyed reading this article. To read more articles like this visit the EasyCars latest news section here.
About EasyCars
EasyCars by Jeal is an Australian, web-based dealer management system that automates the daily tasks of running a motor dealership in Australia. Using the latest technologies, EasyCars removes frustrations experienced at the dealership and opens your doors for greater growth.
EasyCars features include Stock Management, Automated Advertising, Integrated Accounting, Government Compliance, Business Reporting, Reviews Management, Dealership Websites and more in the one central application.
To learn more about EasyCars Dealer Management System and to arrange a no-obligation free demo, contact us today on 1300 473 744 or submit the form below.