What is it that makes a client select you out of all the available real estate agents? Sure, you can put your brand out there, display your credentials and make sure everybody knows about your knowledge, experience, and dedication – but at the end of the day, it's not so much what you say about yourself, but what others say about you.  

Client reviews and referrals are huge. Some studies suggest that customer testimonials are the leading factor that gets other customers to choose an agent. So the question is, how do you get those great customer reviews that make potential clients take notice?

1. Make sure you're set up. Before you start asking clients for feedback, make sure you're set up on Google, Facebook, and Yelp – the big three. These are the most common places where people leave comments, feedback, and reviews. Once you're set up there, you can start inviting customer feedback.
   
   
2. Don't forget to ask. Even if a client is pleased with the services you've provided, chances are they aren't going to take the initiative to write a review without being asked. It's not that they don't want to, but most people think to do so without a little prodding. So it's important for you to let all your clients know how important their feedback is to your business, and politely ask that they write a review. 
   
   
3. Time it right. There's a right time to ask for feedback, but there are also a lot of wrong times. You don't want to wait until closing day to ask clients to write a review; that suggests that you don't care. Instead, start asking for feedback from day one, but make sure you ask at times when it feels natural to do so. If a client mentions, as part of your regular conversation, that they are grateful for your help or appreciate a particular thing you did to help them, that's a great time to ask for a review. 
   
   
4. Ask questions. Asking a client specific questions about their experience is a great way to get the ball rolling. Ask why they chose you, how satisfied they were with your services, how you could improve, and whether or not they would recommend you to a friend. 
   
   
5. Collect contact information. Make sure you can contact all your clients so that you can offer a friendly reminder to write a review later on. To accomplish this, always ask for an email and phone number when a prospective client calls, have an easy-to-use contact form on your website and be prepared to do it the old-fashioned way – collect business cards. 
   
   
6. Reply to all reviews. When you see an online review of your services, respond to it whether it was positive, negative or neutral. Your response shows engagement with your clients. Always take the opportunity to say "thank you'" to a positive review, and respond to negative reviews by saying that you appreciate the feedback and value the opportunity to improve your services. 

We make it our mission to connect great agents with clients, and we give you the tools you need to succeed. That's why Homesale Realty has become the leader in the Pennsylvania and Maryland real estate market. Contact BHHS Homesale Realty today to learn more about joining the Homesale Realty team and succeeding with a career in real estate.