Let Your Customers Squeal

Small talk has always involved high praise. "Have you tried this place?" "You have to go here." "We did this." "We did that!" "He learned to make heat, a fire he calls it, I'm sure he could do it for you!" We don't need a well funded study, a new marketing book or an ad guru to prove to us that people talk about great service. There's something special about being able to answer a friend's question. To be their Google in real time, it's something we don't pass on. So when somebody mentions in passing that they're looking to renovate the kitchen (you just renovated your kitchen!) or they need a good place for their anniversary dinner (your other friend just had a great birthday dinner at that Italian place!), we squeal.

"This guy did an incredible job in my kitchen! I'll send you his number at least give him a call!" 

"I heard that Italian place was unbelievable, Italianos. Give it a search online." 

Small talk is still the same in nature, we still love to squeal, but it's not so small anymore. Now comments go online, public displays of loyalty are found on your profiles, the great products and services are being rewarded for being great. 

Not all of us squeal online. Some wait for a friend to mention a need in passing. But many of us do squeal online. Many of us are Yelp Elite members, others check-in on Facebook for their Friends to see. It could be to help the business raise awareness, or to help friends find something cool, whatever it is - it ends in a squeal. 

How can you make it easier for your customers to squeal online? 

Often someone will search your business for hours (are they open?) or a menu (do they have steak?), prices too, and much more. Each time they search for that one answer, they find many more. They see the whole show, not just the scene. They'll notice when you have many Google Reviews or just a few. They'll notice when a Facebook page pops up and (if you're not active) they won't. The customers that squeal, the ones that just enjoy reviewing, for any reason, you want to give them the chance to do so. 

Get started on Google Reviews and Facebook Reviews by asking some of your most loyal patrons to give you a shoutout. Don't say 'follow us' and leave it at that, they want to help! Say 'show us some love' and they will!