An idiot's guide to making reviews work for your wedding business

‘Tis the season for wedding industry reviews! We’re talking how to get them, how to use them and why they’re so darn important for your wedding business and brand.

When is the perfect time to address reviews? Well that would be now.

Summer and the multitude of weddings that come as part and parcel of the season are now officially over.

And October signals the beginning of what we’re imaginatively calling ‘wedding pro preparation season’; a time when you should be focusing on getting your wedding business ready for the next wave of newly engaged couples.

NOW is your cue to review

We’ve already shared a post on why reviews and recommendations are a wedding suppliers best friend which, in case you’re strapped for time provides great, original ideas for obtaining and using reviews.

It also highlights that according to the UK Wedding Report 2017, couples rank recommendations from friends and family (72%) followed by reviews (58%) as the most important resources when finding wedding suppliers.

We thought that was worth mentioning again.

We’re often asked by wedding suppliers what the simplest and most effective ways are for getting reviews, and getting more of them. And our tips are simple. Here goes…

4 idiot proof ways to get more reviews

Tip 1 – Simply ask for them

If you’re wracking your brain for original ideas on how to get more reviews, stop immediately. Have you simply asked for them?

Most newlyweds will forget to write you a review unless you remind them. Hey, life gets in the way sometimes.

Remind the couple you’ve worked with (via email, on the phone or on social media)  how important reviews are to your business and how much you appreciate them and we’ll bet you’ll be inundated with the good stuff.

Tip 2 – Timing is everything

If you ask a couple to leave you a review the day after their wedding it’s unlikely you’re going to actually see anything happen off the back of it. Be patient and schedule a reminder for around 4 weeks after their wedding and ask the couple for feedback then.

They would have had time to settle back into the swing of things by then and are probably feeling a little nostalgic. This is the best time to ask them to relive their day through a few words on a page.

The exception to the timing rule applies for photographers and videographers who should ask for a review after their photos and videos have been delivered, and for stationery suppliers who will deliver their product to the couple way before the wedding day.

Tip 3 – Make review collecting a standardised process

Collecting reviews after each wedding you work on should become second nature and be ingrained in your business culture.

Share existing reviews with new clients so that they know early on how dedicated you are to delivering a great service or product, and so that they know to expect you to ask them to write one after their wedding. It helps if the couple have seen the benefit of reviews first hand.

Tip 4 – All feedback is valuable

And when we say all feedback, we mean all feedback! Why not ask the couples who said no to your wedding venue or service why they made the decision to go elsewhere.

This feedback is invaluable and by showing you really care, who knows; you could be able to turn those no’s into a YES.

Reviews are pretty big news

The way that past clients describe their experience with you is one of the best ways you can advertise your skills and strengths without being egotistical. Happy couples can say things you can’t. They can express emotions that demonstrate to others what it’s like to work with you when building their wedding.

Remember to respond to every review you receive on your website or social media accounts – whether positive or negative – so that the world can see how much you care about each and every couple you work with. And of course, remember to thank all couples for taking the time to share their feedback.

Find out more on how to use your reviews and really leverage their value across different online platforms.