How to Capture & Use Rave Reviews to Book More Clients
As a wedding pro or creative, rave reviews aren’t just nice to have – they are powerful marketing tools that can help you book more clients, build trust, and create a positive cycle that attracts new business. Yet, many business owners struggle to gather those reviews, or they don’t fully utilize the ones they receive.
In this blog post, we’ll walk through some game-changing strategies to make capturing and using client reviews a seamless part of your workflow. With a plan in place, you can ensure that your happy clients help you attract more of your dream customers.
The Problem: Why Clients Don’t Leave Reviews
Let’s be honest: even if your clients love their experience with you, they rarely leave reviews unless prompted. You’ve probably experienced this yourself—most people simply forget or don’t make it a priority after the wedding or project is complete.
So, how do you fix that? Simple: you have to ask! And not just ask, but encourage, simplify, and sometimes even incentivize the review process. By building an automated system and using foolproof prompts, you can significantly increase the number of glowing reviews you receive from your clients.
Step 1: Set Up a Workflow to Capture Rave Reviews
The best way to make sure you’re consistently capturing reviews is to set up a simple, automated workflow that reaches out to your clients at the right time with the right message.
Here’s a breakdown of how you can create an automated review-capturing system:
1. Automate the Request
Don’t wait for clients to leave reviews on their own. Set up an automated email or text reminder that goes out soon after the wedding or project. Tools like HoneyBook, Dubsado, or even email marketing platforms like Mailchimp can handle this for you.
2. Foolproof Copy to Encourage Reviews
Your message should be clear, direct, and personal. Here’s an example of a message that works well:
"Hey [Client’s Name]! I had such an amazing time working with you on [project]. I would love to hear your feedback and ask you to leave a review by clicking here. Your thoughts will help future clients find me and make the best decision for their wedding or event. Thank you so much!"
This message makes it easy for clients to know what you’re asking and why it’s important, while also keeping it personal.
3. Simplify the Process
The simpler you make it, the more likely clients will follow through. Provide them with a direct link to leave the review (whether that’s Google, Facebook, or your website) and give them simple prompts for what to write about.
For example, you might say:
"It would mean the world if you could share your favorite part of working with me!"
4. Incentivize (Optional)
Sometimes, offering a little extra incentive can help push clients to leave a review. You could offer a small bonus, like an extra print or entry into a giveaway for a free session if they submit a review. But remember, the goal is to get honest, authentic feedback – not to pressure clients.
Step 2: Using Reviews in Your Marketing Strategy
Once you’ve collected those rave reviews, the next step is to use them strategically in your marketing. Don’t let those testimonials sit on a review site where they’ll go unnoticed! Instead, integrate them across your online presence to maximize their impact.
Here’s where and how to use client reviews to boost your bookings:
1. Your Website
Your website is your digital storefront, and reviews are like a 5-star rating posted right on the door. Dedicate an entire section of your website to testimonials or sprinkle them throughout key pages. Adding client quotes to your homepage, services page, or even your contact form can build immediate trust.
2. Instagram Posts & Stories
Instagram is the perfect place to share client reviews in a visual and engaging way. You can create graphics with quotes from reviews, share screenshots, or even create video testimonials. Don’t forget to leverage Instagram Stories by using the highlight feature to showcase a collection of your best reviews!
3. Instagram Reels
Why not take it up a notch and use reviews in Instagram Reels? Reels are gaining traction and are perfect for showing off real client success stories. You could even get creative by pairing rave reviews with behind-the-scenes footage or snippets of past work!
4. Client Emails & Newsletters
When you send out a client email, include a section highlighting a recent testimonial. It’s a great way to reinforce social proof and remind potential clients of the great experiences others have had with you.
Step 3: Create a Cycle of Positive Reinforcement
Once you’ve got a solid review-gathering system in place and you’re actively using reviews in your marketing, you can create a cycle of positive reinforcement. Here’s how it works:
Future Clients See Past Reviews: By prominently featuring positive reviews, potential clients will start to associate your brand with excellent service and results. They’ll begin to expect the same high-quality experience others have raved about.
Clients Become More Likely to Leave Reviews: When clients know that reviews are an important part of your business and see how others have praised your work, they’ll be more inclined to leave their own review at the end of the project.
Consistent Reviews Lead to More Bookings: With more positive reviews, your business builds a reputation that leads to more bookings, which brings in more clients who will leave more reviews – and the cycle continues!
Final Action: Take Control of Your Reviews
In just a few easy steps, you can set up an automated workflow to capture more rave reviews, use them to power your marketing, and create a cycle of positive reinforcement that brings in more clients and more bookings.
To get started, ask yourself:
Do I have a system in place to collect reviews?
Am I using the reviews I already have effectively?
How can I encourage clients to leave glowing feedback after each project?