To begin with, you might ask yourself, are customer reviews important to your business? Haven’t we convinced ourselves countless times that the impression of work is mostly individual, so different approaches and methods of work will suit different people? It is true that several clients could rate the same salon with completely different ratings, but the fact is that in the beauty world there is still an “oral tradition”, so you may choose a salon and service based on a friend’s recommendation. That’s exactly why client reviews are important – they give you insight into what clients notice, how they feel in your salon and how satisfied they are with the service. So the answer to the first question is definitely yes. Reviews and customer reviews are very important for your business.
Put yourself for a moment in the shoes of a client who comes to a salon for the first time. You want to be sure that the salon is verified, the staff is professional and the service is of high quality. It is also important for you that the atmosphere is pleasant, and that the price is within your budget that you have set for a particular service. Where and from who could you find out what you are interested in? Of course, you can check the price and business certificates directly on the salon’s website. But other things are more natural for you to hear from someone who is in the role of a client.
Written reviews of the work – whether on social networks, Google or directly on the salon’s website – are a form of communication that automatically seems authentic and acceptable to us. Someone took the time to write their experience, possible criticisms and overall impression of the work. It is because of this general feeling of honesty and truth that reviews are so important to business owners and promoters. It doesn’t have to mean that every review is honest and well-intentioned, but most reviews contain the essence of what potential future clients will learn and hear about your work.
And how do you get clients to leave reviews?
- The easiest way to leave reviews is through Google or Facebook – so we would definitely advise creating a website and opening a Facebook business account, so that you can leave your customers with the opportunity to write a review.
- Along with the web and Facebook, there is of course also Instagram – make sure that your Instagram profile is full of clear and professional photos and videos of your work. This will help you reach potential clients who might mention a rich portfolio in their review and lead new clients to your Instagram account.
- Request a review. The easiest way to get feedback from customers is to simply ask them. It can be stressful and a bit uncomfortable, but there’s no reason to feel bad, especially if you believe in your work. Don’t apologize or explain at length, be honest, direct and precise. After the treatment, say something like, “The eyebrows look great, and I’m glad you’re happy with the results, too.” It would help me a lot if you would leave an honest review on Google!” You can offer and send them a link to a page where they can leave a review.
- You want to make writing reviews as easy as possible. You can have a QR code in your salon in a visible place, with a direct link to Google reviews; send a message with a reminder to leave a review after the treatment or request a review via e-mail within a week or two. It is also a good idea to copy existing reviews from Google to your website or add a plug-in directly to the website that enables interaction with clients and leaving reviews.
BONUS TIP – WHAT NOT TO DO
Be careful not to be too aggressive when looking for reviews (it is enough to choose one way of reminding and looking for reviews). Also, don’t put yourself in a situation where you could influence someone’s review of your work (giving a discount or coupon as a “reward” for writing a review). It is in your interest that the reviews are honest and realistic.
In the end, don’t be afraid of criticism. Every review and comment is an opportunity to see how you present yourself to clients, what sticks in their memory the most after leaving your salon, and what you could improve. These are opportunities to improve the quality of work multiple times – don’t miss them!
