What is something that is arguably more meaningful to a vendor than a monetary tip at the end of your wedding? A nice review.
Like most industries, small businesses in the wedding and events world rely heavily on word-of-mouth referrals and good reviews. Not only does the business itself rely on these reviews, but potential and future clients do too. They want to read about your experience and every 5-star review helps validate their choice in choosing to work with that business and/or person.
However, sometimes, writing a review can seem overwhelming and time consuming, but it doesn’t have to be! I often hear from clients that they want to write me and their other vendors nice reviews but they just aren’t sure what to say or how to convey their appreciation. That is why I created this blog post for 3 tips on writing your wedding vendor a (good) review…
- Unless otherwise specified, Google is still the best place to review a business. Google is the number #1 most widely used search engine and where 86.67% of people turn to when looking up and gathering information. When you click on a business profile on Google those gold stars and the reviews attached to them are going to be one of the first things to pop up. And that is like a moth to a flame for potential clients and customers who are looking to learn more about the business they are researching. Facebook, WeddingPro (the Knot & Wedding Wire), Zola, Yelp… these are all great places to also review your wedding vendor, but it typically is going to be secondary to reviewing a business on Google. Again, unless you are told directly by the vendor or business otherwise.
- It is always good practice to address who you worked with directly in your review. Often times, you are dealing with a one-man operation, so this step can feel redundant, but I promise you it is not. People want to know they are going to be working with an actual human behind the business name so by pointing out exactly who you worked with (even if their name is in the business name) helps create credibility and recognition. And if you are dealing with a business that has multiple team members, names give others a good idea who everyone is working with and shows that each person on the team is professional and review-worthy.
- While it is very flattering and kind when clients put in the time and care to write a several paragraph review, don’t feel like it is necessary! A 3-5 sentence review can still have a major impact. Focus on 2-3 specific things you loved, appreciated, or received from the business/person. Sometimes it’s a service, sometimes it’s a product, so just be sure to tailor it appropriately. Maybe there was something the person did that was over the top or made a lasting impression on you. The public wants the skinny, but they also want you to cut to the chase.
Hopefully, you feel more empowered to go out there and write your vendors meaningful reviews without feeling overwhelmed or burdened by the task. It can be hard for vendors and business owners to ask for reviews because they don’t want to be a bother or inconvenience, but truly the difference it makes for an entrepreneur is huge! Nothing makes our day more than getting that email notification in our inbox that one of our beloved clients has taken the time to write a review about their experience.