Customer reviews are an important part of how local businesses build trust and attract new customers.
When people are searching for services in Franklin, Morgan City, Berwick, Baldwin, or anywhere else in St. Mary Parish, they often rely on online reviews to help them decide.
These reviews not only help others make informed choices, but they also highlight the local trust and quality that make our community strong.
Why Customer Reviews Matter Here in St. Mary
In a place like St. Mary Parish, word-of-mouth has always carried a lot of weight. Reviews are basically the online version of those neighbor-to-neighbor recommendations we’ve always counted on.
If someone’s new to the area or just trying out a business for the first time, they’re often looking for that same kind of trustworthy advice.
Positive reviews can help build trust with people who haven’t worked with you yet. And here’s something helpful to keep in mind: having more reviews can actually boost your visibility when people search online for businesses like yours. Search engines take note of how many reviews you have and how recent they are.
Still, it’s not only about the numbers. In our parish, reviews also help keep that strong sense of community alive. When someone takes the time to leave a thoughtful review about your business, it shows others that you care about providing great service.
Where Should You Focus Your Review Efforts?
Now that you know why reviews matter, the next step is figuring out where to ask for them. The platforms you choose should depend on where your customers are most likely to find you and which ones are most relevant to your type of business.
For most local businesses in St. Mary Parish, Facebook and Google Business Profile are the top choices. These are the places people in Franklin, Berwick, Baldwin, and nearby areas usually check when they’re looking for local services.
Still, it’s worth paying attention to other platforms that might fit your business, such as Yelp. If you’re in a specific industry, you might want to look into niche sites like Angie’s List for home services, TripAdvisor for hospitality, or Zillow for real estate.
Here’s a simple way to figure out where to focus: try searching for your type of business online, using phrases like best plumber in Franklin or restaurants in Baldwin, and see which directories come up on the first couple of pages.
You can also ask your current customers where they found you. Their answers might point you to platforms you hadn’t thought of.
Understanding Platform Rules Before You Ask for Reviews
Before you start asking for reviews on the platforms you’ve chosen, it’s important to understand the rules. It’s essential to follow them, because different platforms have their own policies about how businesses can request reviews.
Some platforms don’t allow you to offer any kind of incentive in exchange for a review. Others want the reviews to be completely organic, meaning the customer has to choose to leave a review on their own, without being directly asked.
Taking a little time to understand these rules can help you avoid any issues, like having reviews taken down or affecting your business profile.
Making It Easy for Customers to Leave Feedback
Once you know which platforms you can safely ask for reviews on, take a look at how you usually communicate with your customers. Do you mostly connect in person, by email, over the phone, or in some other way?
Most businesses use a few different methods to stay in touch, and it’s a good idea to take advantage of all of them. The goal is to make it as simple and convenient as possible for customers to leave feedback.
Use QR Codes and NFC for In-Person Interactions
For restaurants, coffee shops, and retail shops, QR codes can be really effective. You can add them to receipts, place them on signs near the checkout area, or even put them in holders on tables or counters. You might also add a QR code to your storefront window so it’s easy to scan.
Some businesses are using NFC tech too, where customers can tap their phone to leave a review.
Train Your Team to Ask the Right Way
Don’t forget your employees. They can be great at encouraging reviews. Train them to ask politely at checkout or after providing a service, but make sure the request feels natural and not pushy.
Follow Up Digitally for Service-Based Businesses
For service-based businesses like insurance agents, plumbers, contractors, and other professionals, there are a few good ways to ask for reviews. In addition to asking directly, you can also follow up after the service is complete.
This can be done through email or text messages. Just include a friendly reminder and a link to your review page.
You could also add a QR code to your business cards that links directly to your review page. Including review links in your email signature is another easy, low-key way to encourage feedback without being too direct.
Timing Your Review Requests
Timing really matters when it comes to asking for reviews. The best time to ask is right after a positive interaction or once you’ve completed a service. That’s when the experience is still fresh in the customer’s mind.
Train your team to notice those moments and ask politely and with confidence. But also keep in mind that not everyone feels comfortable leaving a review, and that’s completely okay. You don’t want to come across as pushy or make anyone feel pressured.
Keep the request short and simple. Let customers know that their feedback helps others in the community make informed choices.
Responding to All Customer Feedback
Getting reviews is only part of the process. Responding to them is just as important. Always thank people for taking the time to leave a review.
That simple gesture shows you appreciate their feedback and can even encourage others to share their own experiences.
If someone leaves negative feedback, it’s especially important to reply in a respectful and professional way. Show that you’re listening and that you care about their experience. Address their concerns directly and invite them to reach out to you privately so you can make things right.
Building Reviews into Your Regular Business Routine
The businesses that see the most success with reviews don’t treat it like a once-in-a-while task. They make it a regular part of how they operate. Try including review requests in your normal customer communications.
It can help to use templates or tools to keep your requests consistent and polite. There are also review management systems that can send automatic text reminders to clients, which is especially helpful for service-based businesses that may not interact with customers in person as often.
Customer reviews are a powerful way to build trust and strengthen community connections for businesses across St. Mary Parish.
When you focus on building strong relationships with your customers and encourage them to share their experiences, you’re not just supporting your own business. You’re also contributing to the local economy and helping the entire parish grow.
We offer no-cost business consulting for businesses of all sizes in St. Mary Parish. Our team can help with everything from business expansion and workforce support to regulatory guidance, site selection, and more. All of our resources are completely free, and we encourage you to reach out and see how we can support your goals.