Learn 3 methods to gather more positive public reviews and intercept negative ones using your business website.

The simplest uses direct links to review platforms like Google Business or Yelp in the website footer;
A more complex strategy uses third-party software like Repuso and Brightlocal to filter and embed reviews;
And an intermediate but free method uses a website's own pages to funnel customers towards leaving reviews or providing direct feedback.

I demo all 3 of these techniques using real-life examples, because if you wanna improve your business's online reputation and attract more customers, it's important to manage your online reviews.

Links mentioned in the video

The code snippet for hiding the header and footer of a Squarespace site:

<style>
  #header, #footer-sections {
  display: none!important;}
</style>

Update: You can now hide header and footer without code!
Check out Chris S-E’s video; he shows you how in the first 30 seconds.

Why Online Reviews Matter

In today's digital age, online reviews play a crucial role in shaping a business's reputation and influencing potential customers' decisions. If you run a business, particularly in the restaurant or food industry, harnessing the power of reviews can significantly impact your success. Reviews act as a form of word-of-mouth marketing on a larger scale, reaching people beyond personal networks. However, the quality and authenticity of reviews are key factors that can make or break your online reputation.

Before diving into strategies to collect and filter reviews on your website, it's essential to emphasize the significance of authentic reviews. While positive reviews can boost your business, fake or misleading reviews can damage your credibility. Platforms like Google and Yelp have become vigilant in detecting and penalizing businesses engaged in review manipulation. So having a plan to gather genuine feedback from customers is key.

Strategy 1: Direct Review Links

The simplest way to collect reviews on your website is by providing direct links to your Google Business, Facebook, Yelp, and TripAdvisor pages. By making it easy for customers to leave reviews, you can encourage more feedback. However, this approach can lead to negative reviews being posted publicly without giving you a chance to address them privately.

Strategy 2: Set Up Review Software (like Repuso)

Utilizing review management software such as Repuso offers a more comprehensive solution. These tools allow you to curate and display positive reviews on your website while channeling negative feedback for private resolution. Repuso provides a cost-effective and flexible option for businesses looking to manage their online reputation effectively.

Another option: BrightLocal

Brightlocal goes beyond review collection by offering a complete local SEO workspace. Monitoring reviews, citations, and local search rankings can give you valuable insights into your online presence and help you outshine competitors. While slightly less mature than Repuso, BrightLocal's reputation management features make it a valuable asset for businesses focusing on local SEO.

Strategy 3: Build a Review Funnel on Your Website

The third strategy involves creating a review funnel on your website to guide customers based on their experiences. By designing a series of pages that route users to leave positive reviews or provide feedback privately, you can effectively manage the review process. This approach ensures that negative feedback is addressed internally before being posted online, maintaining a positive online reputation.

Chuckwagon Theme: A Pre-Built Review Funnel Solution

If you’re a restaurant or food truck who doesn’t yet have a website or doesn’t like the one you have, the Chuckwagon theme offers a pre-built review flow that streamlines the feedback collection process. With customizable pages for positive and negative reviews, this theme simplifies the setup of a review funnel on your website. Additionally, the Chuckwagon theme includes essential features for restaurants and food trucks, making it an awesome solution for your online presence.

Check out Chuckwagon

Just Do Something!

Actively collecting and filtering reviews on your website is a strategic way to enhance your online reputation and attract more customers. Whether you opt for direct review links, review software, or a custom-built review funnel, prioritizing authentic feedback and customer engagement is the key. If you do one of these, you’ll be doing more in this area than 90% of businesses. By implementing one of these strategies, you can make your business stand out online, build trust with potential customers, and ultimately win more work through positive online reviews.