In previous posts, I showed how to use a webpage to gather online customer reviews. I also showed how to use emails to gather online customer reviews. What if your business and 
customers are not geared towards emails or websites? What if your customer email process is incomplete or non functional? How do you get online customer reviews? In this post, I will show how to use offline methods to get online customer reviews. Enjoy and prosper.
Use Customer Touch Points to Get Offline Reviews
As a general principle, consider your business’s “touch points”—contacts with customers as opportunities for offline customer reviews. Every business has different touch points so there could be dozens of different options you could use. Here is a list of the most popular options for getting customer reviews.
Offline Customer Review Options
1. Develop a simple pamphlet that can be used for getting customer reviews.
2. Send a postcard asking for customer reviews.
3. If you have a brick and mortar business, you can use instore signage to invite customer reviews.
4. Include an invitation within your packaging and bagging materials. The customer will be delighted when they take out your product from the package or bag. This is an ideal time for them to see a online customer review invitation.
5. Review your customer correspondence. This would include stationary, thank you cards and letters, the back of your business cards, etc. Each of these touch points are opportunities for online customer review invitations.
6. Some stores now have in store computers customers use to help them in the buying process. For example, you can go online in some stores to see how new kitchen cabinets or flooring would look in your kitchen. These computers can easily be programmed to go directly to a review site where the customer can make a review after their transaction.
7. Use customer receipts and invoices to invite customer reviews. Wal Mart and Home Depot randomly provide forms to go online and make a review. When you do this, you are entered into a contest for a prize.
Tips for Offline Customer Reviews
No matter what offline options you use, the following tips will make your process more effective.
- Invite customer to help you improve your business and help others achieve the benefits your products and services offers. Make it a personal invitation asking for the customer’s help.
- Make it easy for the customer to make the review.
- Provide clear instructions on what to do and URL’s for review sites.
- Do it as close as possible to the “customer satisfaction point.” Studies show these points generate 80-90% better responses than other times.
Conclusion
There are offline opportunities in every business for getting online reviews. Take a few minutes to walk through in your mind a customer moving through your normal business process. Where are the best and most natural touch points for you to insert a customer review process. Now take advantage of these opportunities to help get your business to the top of the local search maps.
Please share your comments and questions below about offline ways to get online customer reviews. Thank you.
