#1 Thing Missing from Your Marketing: Client Reviews

Do you ever wonder why your marketing isn’t working? It might because marketing isn’t about sales, its about trust. It’s about you maintaining a relationship with potential and current clients on a regular basis. And a key aspect of developing and maintain trust is client reviews. Yep! Client Reviews! Keep reading below to learn why photographers need client reviews, how to get them, and where to post them!

Why Photographers Need Client Reviews

You might be tempted to say “screw it, who needs reviews anyway!” But reviews are a CRITICAL part of the buying process. I have a whole post about HOW important they are that you can read HERE, and even one about how to get clients to leave you the right KIND of review, and even WHERE to post them. But for now, ask yourself, “If I’m looking shopping for ANYTHING am I more likely to take THEIR word  for it (meaning the people who are trying to make money and are willing to say whatever it takes to get me to purchase with them) or read the words from past clients and let that play an integral role in my decision making process. I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s the latter.  And studies only prove this to be true! In fact, 84% of consumers trust reviews AS MUCH AS personal recommendation! WHAT!?!

Studies show that people really do read reviews and testimonials to determine whether or not they trust someone. In fact, buyers read 7 reviews on average before even CONSIDERING purchase. There is no way to fully describe the impact that client reviews have on a photography business, here are the 7 things I want you to know about how important reviews are: 

Customer Service and Experience

By really analyzing the reviews that customers leave you, you will feel much more empowered and educated when making decisions for your business. Why? Because these client reviews will show you what your customers really want and what is most important to them. Then, you’ll be able to utilize that information to ensure that your packages and experience are not just meeting their needs but eliminating that pain point all together! Not to mention that knowing what features were most important and the benefits of the experience that you offer will directly impact your marketing in a positive way.

Social Proof

We are social beings and we look to other social beings to help us make decisions… including purchasing decisions. So, why would we expect anything different from our potential clients?  By posting a lot of reviews, you are showing potential clients that you aren’t just trustworthy (since these hundreds of others trusted you too), but also that you are sought after. Which leads me to my next point….

Expert

Well-written reviews are what help photographers stand should-to-shoulder with their competitor who charges way less and still get more clients. Why? Because reviews make you look like the expert in your area. Which, elevates your value. Establishing yourself as THE EXPERT is of the utmost importance because that is what keeps people from getting stuck in the price comparison game. 

Loyalty

Studies show that when people take the time to leave you a review, it generates loyalty within them and they are more likely to keep coming back. Leaving a thoughtful and intentional review is strengthening your relationship with them by forcing them to think about what they loved most about you and how you were different than others. And, if they are placed strategically, a positive review has the power to turn an interested customer into a client and a client into a loyal fan! 

Google Rankings

If you use reviews in the right way, it appears to be one of the most prominent ranking factors when search engines consider who to show in a local search. According to Google, “pages with reviews that mention a keyword and/or the name of a city, were found to have higher rankings in Google’s local pack. At a high level, having a keyword you are trying to rank for, and a mention of a city you are working to rank in, in reviews has a high correlation with high ranking google results.”

If you want to learn more about how to improve your google rankings as a photographer, check out THIS POST.

Easier Marketing/Sales

By utilizing reviews in your business, your sales process becomes easier. You don’t feel fake or inauthentic or like you are bragging. Testimonials help with that gradual transformation from “sales pitch” to “conversation” with your potential clients.

Reviews and testimonials also answer potential client’s questions making it easier for them to say yes! It can serve as a witness to how much other people enjoyed not just your photos but the experience that you offered.

Photographers need client reviews because effective reviews really highlight the benefits of choosing you and how you are different than your competitors. Which, is super important in a saturated field like photography. 

If you want to learn more about how to use reviews to get new clients, check out this post.

Reviews Beget Reviews

The interesting thing about client reviews is that the more you post them, the more you will get. Posting reviews and a sentence or two about how much they mean to you and your business encourages other clients to leave reviews as well. 

Whether you like it or not, photographers need client reviews! Reviews have always been and will continue to be of the utmost importance if you want a long-lasting successful business. Learn more about requesting reviews HERE and where to post them HERE.