Recommendations are powerful. Online customer reviews can be found on everything from restaurants and hotels to clothing stores and real estate agents. Online reviews are the new word-of-mouth recommendations for the digital world. Insurance agents and insurance providers need consistent and positive reviews in order to provide objective testimonials to prospective clients. By curating positive reviews, insurance agents can establish trust and build a reputation for good service that will help them develop trust with new clients.
Powerful Statistics That Show The Value Of Customer Reviews
While the business benefit of insurance customer reviews may seem anecdotal, they can make an impact on conversion rates. Here are a few statistics that illustrate the power of positive testimonials:
- 91% of consumers ages 18-34 consider online reviews as strong as personal recommendations.
- 80% of consumers say they read reviews before completing a purchase.
- 43% of shoppers note that text-based reviews affect their purchasing decisions.
- 53% of consumers rely on customer reviews to avoid being scammed or ripped off.
- 79% of consumers use reviews to confirm if a business’s service is good.
- 82% of shoppers will not purchase from a business with a rating of less than three stars.
How To Ask For A Review From Your Customers
While it is often most effective to request a review following a positive customer experience post-transaction, an insurance agent can ask for a testimonial in many ways. Asking for a customer review over the phone, via email or via text can all be helpful channels to effectively secure an online testimonial or rating. Here are five strategies insurance agents can use to get more online reviews from their customers.
#1. Automate your review requests based on milestones in the customer journey.
When used strategically, automation can help drive business and maximize efforts for insurance agents. When reviewing your sales process, be sure to add reminders on leaving reviews tied to key customer milestones.
#2. Request customer reviews via email with an actionable subject line.
Email can be an effective tool for earning customer reviews. Sending an email immediately following a positive online or phone interaction can help you gain positive reviews. Here are a few samples of potential email subject lines to use when asking for a customer review online:
- “How did we do?”
- “We’d love to hear your feedback!”
- “Got a minute to share your experience with (Business Name)?”
- “We want your feedback.”
#3. Send a request for a review via text and include a short-form hyperlink to a mobile-friendly landing page.
Once a relationship is established, communicating with clients via text messages can be very effective. Consumers typically read a text message more quickly than they read an email. After a positive interaction, send your client a text message with a clear CTA, asking them to leave you a review. Make sure the website is mobile friendly and test the link before sending it to others.
#4. Include a postcard asking for a review whenever you mail an item or gift to a client.
According to the concept of reciprocity, people are more likely to give once they have received something. After sending a client a closing, holiday or business anniversary gift or token, be sure to include a postcard that asks for them to review your services online.
#5. Ask current customers for a review at the end of scheduled phone conversations.
The power of the ask is never more clear than during a phone or in-person conversation. As an insurance agent, you are likely to have regular phone calls with your current clients as part of your retention strategy. At the end of these calls, if the conversation went well, ask your client to give you a review. Provide them with clear and simple instructions or let them know you can send them a link to an online webpage or survey.
At one point or another, you’ve probably read a review online for a business or service you were considering. Consumers shopping for insurance solutions are experiencing the same moment, every day, as they search for a good provider. The ZipQuote team understands the value of business strategy and believes in a customer-oriented approach. When you partner with ZipQuote, you can expect the assistance of a knowledgeable team of professionals who want to see you succeed. Leave us a review on Facebook! Below are some recent reviews from agents like yourself. Click here to learn more about how ZipQuote can help you grow your business.
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