You're about to discover a game-changing strategy to turbocharge your business growth without spending another dime on marketing. It's simple, cost-effective, and right at your fingertips: customer reviews on Trustpilot.
Picture this: Sandra, a proud owner of a boutique bakery, bakes the most delicious croissants in town. But her challenge? Letting the world know about her melt-in-the-mouth creations. Here's where Trustpilot comes into the picture, providing Sandra a platform to amplify her customer's voices.
Understanding Trustpilot: A Free Online Review Community
Trustpilot is a bustling online community where consumers share their shopping experiences. It allows prospective customers to understand your business before they spend their hard-earned money. You, the business owner, get a unique 'TrustScore' based on your customer reviews, ranging from one to five stars. But this isn't just a random number; it's a calculated score that reflects your customer's overall satisfaction and takes into account the frequency and recency of the reviews.
For instance, if Sandra's bakery has fewer than 10,000 reviews, her TrustScore updates immediately after each new review, giving her real-time feedback. For larger businesses with more than 10,000 reviews, the score is updated daily, ensuring constant, fresh insights.
Trustpilot's Verification Feature: Encouraging Authentic Reviews
Trustpilot focuses on sharing 'genuine buying experiences', giving the community confidence in the authenticity of the reviews. Some reviews receive a 'verified' badge if the customers provide substantial proof of their purchase, like documentation or a direct invitation from the business to review their experience.
Just as the reviewer can be verified, your business can also earn a 'verified' badge on its profile. To achieve this, you need to share some form of identification with Trustpilot, such as:
- Proof of identity (passport, driving license)
- Contact details (synced with your Google Business Profile)
- Registered domain name ownership
- Bank account registration
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Trustpilot Business Profile
1. Set Up Your Trustpilot Account
Visit the Trustpilot website, sign up for an account using your business email, and enter relevant information about your company.
2. Choose Your Business Plan
You can start with a free plan or opt for a paid plan at £199 per month that offers additional benefits tailored to your business needs.
3. Define Your Business Category
Tag your business profile with all the relevant categories to help your prospective customers find you easily. For instance, if Sandra's bakery also offers catering services, she should list herself under 'Bakeries' and 'Catering Services'.
4. Customize Your Profile
Write a compelling description of your business using relevant keywords. Include your contact details and make sure your potential customers know exactly what you offer.
5. Get Your Business Verified
Share the required identification information with Trustpilot to earn the 'verified' badge on your profile.
6. Engage With Competitor Reviews
Observing your competitors on Trustpilot can offer valuable insights. For instance, if customers are complaining about the delivery times of a rival bakery, Sandra could use this information to emphasize her prompt delivery services.
7. Encourage Customers to Write Reviews
Invite your customers to share their experiences on Trustpilot. With the free Trustpilot for Business plan, you can send up to 100 review invitations per month, boosting your TrustScore.
8. Respond to Reviews
Be it praise or criticism, responding to reviews helps to show your customers that you value their feedback.
9. Promote Your Trustpilot Profile
Integrate Trustpilot into your business strategy. Add a 'Trustbox' to your website that shows your review count and encourages people to write a review. You could also remind customers about Trustpilot in your marketing materials and delivery notes.
10. Use RATECARDS for more selective reviews in your physical locations
Ask your customer to tap your Trustpilot card and ask them to leave a review. It is as easy as that.
Leveraging Trustpilot is not just about amassing stars for your business. It's about harnessing the power of those stars to fuel your business growth, forge authentic relationships with your customers, and continuously improve based on the invaluable feedback you receive. So, are you ready to jumpstart your Trustpilot journey? The realm of endless growth opportunities awaits you!