Lots of people make a pastime of collecting things. Coins, comic books, or even weird stuff like celebrity hair are fodder for hobbyists looking to fill a curio cabinet. But savvy event planning business owners are connoisseurs and collectors of a different sort. Amassing a large number of positive reviews online is a surefire way to up your game and become a big-time NYC event planner. In this article, we’ll tell you how to increase online reviews to grow your event planning business.
Online Reviews Are the Event Planner’s Gateway to the Big Leagues
Before we get into how to increase online reviews for your NYC event planning business, we are going to share some inspo that will get you in the mood to proactively manage your online reputation.
Managing your online reputation involves keeping tabs on everything from brand mentions to your competition, but most especially, it means curating a nearly 5-star review average on the big review sites. Consider the following reasons your event planning business needs oodles of positive reviews online.
- Nearly half of consumers (49%) trust online reviews as much as they trust their Nana (and other loved ones). (Brightlocal)
- A high overall star rating is important to 85% of consumers. (Brightlocal)
- Six out of ten consumers think the more reviews, the better. (Brightlocal)
- Conversion rates go up when positive reviews are shared on social media.
- Positive Google reviews will increase your rankings in search results.
To sum up, having scads of positive online reviews for your event planning business will increase trust in your brand, expand your online reach, boost sales, help you land better sponsors, and transform you into a big-time NYC event planner. In the next section, we’ll tell you how to be a master collector of online reviews.
Top Ways to Increase Online Reviews for Event Planners
So maybe you don’t trust Grandma as much as you do a Yelp review when it comes to finding the best New York pizza. You should, however, still trust her when she waxes on about the folly of wishing. Because wishing for a 5-star rating won’t make the reviews pile on. These insights for increasing online reviews for event planners will make your 5-star aspirations a reality.
1. Create a Post-Event Survey with Links to Online Review Sites
If you aren’t already sending out a post-event survey, you’re missing out on a powerful way to improve your event planning services. Let your post-event survey do double duty when you include a link to your preferred review site.
2. Offer a Small Discount in Exchange for an Honest Review
Offer your clients a small token of appreciation in exchange for their honest review. A discount or upgrade on their next event booking will give them the extra little push they need to dole out those stars. The keyword here is honest, so don’t leave the Negative Nellies out of your offer.
3. Incentivize Reviews By Dangling a Carrot
Taylor of Bash Besties uses the promise of photos to elicit reviews from her clients. She takes pro-level photos of the parties she plans. Then, she picks two or three to send to clients in a post-event email while offering to send the rest after the client leaves a review.
4. Send a Handwritten Thank You Card
In the age of AI, personalization is key to marketing your event planning business. And few things are more personal than a handwritten note sent through snail mail. We suggest 19th-century-chic with a twist: include a printed QR code to make it easy for clients to jump to your review site.
5. Make Leaving a Review Super Easy
And that brings us to our next tip to increase the number of reviews your event planning business earns. Make it so easy to leave the review that it just makes sense to do it then and there. Use QR codes and text messages with links — you get the idea.
6. Maintain Your Google Business Profile
It may not seem important, but keeping your profile current on review sites will help increase the likelihood that event clients will leave a review. Dusting off the cobwebs on your profile will send a subtle message that reviews (and those who leave them) are important.
7. Grease the Wheels with a Reciprocal Review
When you do something for someone, they feel a nudge to do something for you. Chances are many of your event planning clients are also in business. Leave a review if you have experiences with their business. You can also leave reviews for vendors and corporate event clients.
8. Respond to Your Reviews
Event clients are more likely to leave reviews if they see that you’re paying attention. So, acknowledge the online reviews you receive, even the negative reviews.
9. Use a CTA and Link to a Review Site in Your Email Signature
Copywriters know the benefits of including a call-to-action (CTA) in your emails. A CTA is a shortcut to the reader’s subconscious that propels them to take action. Use a CTA in your email signature to tell readers to leave an online review, and include a link to the review site.
10. Just Ask
Not all marketing is done from a device. Try increasing your online reviews the low-tech way by simply asking when you’re face-to-face with clients. Don’t be shy. If the event went well (of course, it went well), it’s easy to simply ask for an online review.
Learn How to Collect Online Reviews and More at the next Event Planner Expo
Nearly every potential client will begin their research with a Google search. You can rise to the top when you proactively collect online reviews. Increase trust in your brand, expand your reach, and land more clients using these top tips for increasing online reviews for your event planning business.
Learn about reputation management and more at The Event Planner Expo. Unlock the full potential of your business with insights from the top experts and unparalleled networking opportunities next year. If you missed The Event Planner Expo 2024, you can still get on our waitlist to be the first in line for 2025 tickets!
