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Satisfaction shows in client review

Why You Should Ask Clients to Leave a Review

What to know a secret?

Satisfaction shows in client reviewI have discovered something that is super helpful in content marketing. To get to the heart of what makes a business tick, I read the reviews left by their clients. In just a few sentences, I learn what sets them apart from their competition.

My husband and I never book a resort without reading the reviews. People read reviews before purchasing all sorts of products and services. Everyone knows the power of word-of-mouth advertising, and an online review is word-of-mouth on a colossal scale. Reviews carry more credibility that advertisements because the reviewers are not on the payroll.

How is your business positioned?

Your best qualities come out in a review. Pretend you run a lawn care business. There are only so many ways to cut a lawn and apply fertilizer and weed killer. When your clients leave reviews saying you work fast and are affordable, you start to see why people like working with you. Price is important to these clients. When others say you’re reliable and answer their questions, then you know they appreciate your customer service.

In the world of marketing, this is known as positioning. The market perceives your business as a cheaper alternative to other lawn care services and perceives your staff as more approachable and quicker than others.
Sometimes your worst qualities come out in a review and knock you down, but bad reviews can provide valuable, albeit painful, feedback.

How can a review surprise you?

Reviews sometimes tell you what you don’t know about yourself. One of the reviewers said Writer to the Rescue cut through the clutter of the information he provided. I didn’t recognize this as one of my strengths. Now it has become a selling point.

Testimonials are useful because they can identify gaps in your branding. These gaps show up in reviews that leave you thinking: “That’s what they like about me? I really want them to like this instead!”

How can reviews improve your SEO?

When writing website content, I like to read through reviews to become familiar with the jargon of the industry. It is a great way to learn the keywords people use and can be worked into the content. These keywords are important to improving your Google ranking, otherwise known as Search Engine Optimization (SEO). The robots that index the internet pick these key words to add to their database. When someone types these keywords into a search bar, relevant websites rank higher on search results pages.

How should I ask for a review?

The best way to ask for a review is to email customers, thank them for their business, ask for a review, and provide a link to your Google account. It’s as simple as that.

So now you know one of my secrets to content writing. After reading reviews, I know the features that distinguish my clients from the competition and promote these features to their target market. Contact me to find out how to use this secret to your advantage. As the Wonder Writer at Writer to the Rescue, I write website content, blogs, news releases, and a wide range of marketing materials.

 

 

Packerland Newsletter with strong headlines

Lions, Tigers, and Headlines, Oh My! Increasing Opens on Newsletters

Packerland Newsletter with strong headlinesDo you remember this memorable phrase from The Wizard of Oz: “Lions, Tigers, and Bears, Oh My!” My husband, Bill, borrowed the jingle for the headline of the Packerland Websites‘ E-newsletter. In the subject line was “Photography, Robo Calls, and ADA Compliance, OH MY!” It was his way of linking together three unrelated topics.

We recorded a 51% open rate on the newsletter, far outpacing the industry average of 11%. Getting people’s attention is the first step to enticing them to read an article, so it pays to write strong subject lines and headlines.

Here are 10 tips for writing “click bait” subject lines and headlines.

1. Use Numbers: Make your content easy to scan by creating a list and writing headlines like these: 5 Must-dos…, 10 Tips for…, and 3 Steps to…

2. Keep it Conversational: Avoid long words or industry jargon your audience might not understand. Know your audience’s level of familiarity with your subject, and don’t write something so technical it will be a turn-off to readers.

3. Touch a Nerve: What are people unsure about? Headlines can draw people into an article by taking advantage of their discomfort. For example, start your headlines with phrases like: What you need to know about… and Be Wary of…

4. Tantalize: Everyone wants to know the latest gossip, so headlines should reflect that craving. Start with words like: The secret to… or The latest in…

5. Make it Snappy: Spend time brainstorming and playing with words. The way Bill recycled the Wizard of Oz jingle of Lions, Tigers, and Bears is a good example of a catchy subject line.

6. Ask a Question: Pique the interest of the reader with a question that is answered in the article.

7. Tell How It’s Done: “How To” articles are wildly popular, so topping these articles with a headline that begins “How to…” is a sure way to invite the reader to learn more.

8. Be trendy: Writing about current trends or future predictions can set you apart as a thought leader in your industry. Highlight these articles with headlines that begin with Why 2018 is the year of… or The Latest Trends in…

9. Match the Headline to the Space: How your headline appears is something to consider. Font color, style and size should appeal to the reader. The length of the headline should fill the space available. In the case of an E-newsletter, the largest, boldest headlines should be at the top of the page, with smaller, lighter headlines in secondary stories.

10. Spell Check: Do you remember the time the local newspaper misspelled Chicago in a Green Bay Packers/Chicago Bears article? It’s easy to mistype a word. That’s why proofreading and spell checking are so important.

Bonus Tip: Trust a professional. Over my 10 years as a journalist, I wrote thousands of headlines and articles. Contact me to help with your next writing assignment.