These days it’s essential for home bakeries to have a thriving online presence to have a thriving real-world business! Customer reviews are an incredible tool for attracting new clients and promoting your baked goods.
Nearly all consumers (97%) now use online media when researching products or services in their local area. Online reviews are here to stay.
The challenge is often getting the reviews. A customer may be delighted with their order but might not think to leave you a positive review. This article will guide you through the proper process of how to make that request.
Why Are Reviews Critical?
An overwhelming amount of people turn to reviews to influence their purchasing decisions. A business with a high rating will get much more click-through than a business with three stars or less.
A positive review can add the following value to your home bakery business:
- Provide valuable social proof
- Report back on the fantastic quality of your products
- Describe how helpful and interactive customer service was
- Inspire others with ideas for custom orders
- Provide a trustworthy source of information
Time to start raking in those positive reviews. Let’s get started with the steps below!
How to Ask for Reviews
Maybe a few clients have already reached out to tell you how much they loved their cakes and cookies. Now is the perfect time to engage in a review request. Most customers are more than happy to spread the love!
There are a few different ways you can ask for online testimonials:
- Ask directly
- Setup a Reviews and Testimonials page on your website
- Ask for reviews on social media
- Through your email newsletter
Let’s cover some examples of the following methods.
Ask Directly
First up, direct conversations in person or through phone, text, or email. Once you establish that the customer received the order and they’re happy with it, try throwing in a mention about reviews like this:
Thank you so much for the kind words. If you don’t mind, can you write what you just said in a quick review on [Facebook or Google]? Seeing those kinds of comments online really help potential customers feel more confident in choosing my bakery. [Or ask them to email you the testimonial]
Reviews Page
Create a page on your website to house the testimonials you’ve received from customers. It’s even better if you can include photos of their orders! Before you post a customer’s response to this page, be sure to ask their permission.
If you set up Google My Business for your home bakery, you can get a direct link for customers to leave a review. It’s very easy where they can click on the number of stars and leave a comment or not. You can read more about setting up Google my Business in my blog post.
Social Media
Once in a while, put a blast out on social media, asking for feedback from past customers! Through an Instagram post or story or a Facebook update, you might be surprised at how supportive your customers can be. In my experience, most people are happy to give a positive review for a small business if they had a stellar experience. Here’s an example post to help solicit reviews:
“Hi there, everyone! I am collecting testimonials about my business to use to grow my business. I would love to hear from my customers about their experience working with me. Please send me a DM, and I’ll include it in my Testimonials highlight. Thanks again for your support!”
Email Newsletter
Sending a regular newsletter (not too often, once or twice a month is a good frequency) can be an excellent way to reach out to customers, describe new products, holiday menus, and offer discounts to loyal clients! Include a mention in a newsletter asking for testimonials.
Here’s an example for a newsletter request:
Happy December, everyone! Our kitchen has been warm and toasty, getting your orders ready. Our following has been growing, and we’re collecting testimonials to share with future potential clients. Please hot reply and share a few sentences about your experience with the bakery. As always, we appreciate your support!”
RELATED: How To Respond To Negative Reviews Online
Go for Gold (aka Gold Stars)!
A few tips for success:
- Don’t be pushy; this will turn customers off
- Don’t try to buy or offer an incentive for a review
- Don’t overload your clients with review requests
- Bring it up naturally in a conversation when your customers are raving about their orders!
Once you get the hang of it, asking for reviews will come naturally. By adding it to your business routine, you can build a bank of testimonials that can help grow your home bakery business, Don’t be afraid to ask, but be cautious about asking the same person too many times. You’ll love hearing about how customers have enjoyed your baked goods, and future customers will love it also!
