The Reviews Are In! My Real Review Generating Machine (with photos).

The Reviews Are In! My Real Review Generating Machine (with photos).

As an entertainment entrepreneur, reviews are an essential element of any marketing campaign. Whether it’s a Broadway show, a film entering the festival circuit, a novel, a new album, a sewing pattern . . . whatever the “product” may be, reviews are key.

So what happens if The New York Times doesn’t review your work? Are you SOL?  

While getting reviewed by media outlets like The New York Times, Variety, The Wallstreet Journal, and TimeOut, can certainly be a major dose of social proof and validation . . . it’s not the only way to get reviewed and not the only review that matters. 

I’d even argue that real reviews from real people can be as, or even more, persuasive for a potential buyer than whatever the head critic of a magazine has to say. People like to see reviews and testimonials from other customers just like them, and if you do it right, you can generate massive amounts of reviews to use as social proof on your website almost overnight.

Want to know the fancy platform I use to generate authentic reviews from clients and customers? Google. 

Most consumers know, like, and trust Google, which means they trust Google reviews as well. If you have a business that sells a product or service (yes shows and films are products), then you can get Google reviews. Here’s how . . . 

First, set up your Google Business account for free at business.google.com and follow the steps to verify your business. This will take a few days because it requires you to verify your business address by postcard. 

Once your business is verified you can create a business listing like the one pictured below for my other business Broadway Murder Mysteries. Add photos, a description, and more to flesh out your Google Business listing for existing and potential customers to find. 

Then inside your account you’ll see a section with the headline “Get More Reviews” where you can get your direct link to your business review section. 

Next, you need to create a system for asking your customers or clients for their feedback on Google. This is where setting up marketing automations can come in handy so that you’re generating reviews all day every day without lifting a finger. 

Taking Broadway Murder Mysteries as an example, I’ve created a marketing automation that sends my customers a series of emails after their purchase and one of those emails features a few of my 5-star review from Google. This email helps reinforce the customer’s decision of buying my product because they see that other people have enjoyed it, and then I ask them for their feedback as well. 

For the most part, people only write reviews if they’ve had a really great experience or a really bad experience, so be prepared for a flood of love and a few bad apples as well. You can’t please everyone, but use any negative feedback you may receive as a chance to find ways to improve.

This is where most people end their pursuit of reviews, but these reviews have so much more potential! Yes, it’s great that people can now find you on Google and read some awesome reviews of your work . . . but what about the people who stumble on your website from social media or other traffic sources? 

The next step in my review machine system is to add your real google reviews to your website in a way that grabs attention and verifies their authenticity. Anyone can slap a fake review or testimonial on their website these days, so you want your potential clients and customers to know that your reviews are genuine. 

To do this, I use an app called Nudgify that allows you to connect your Google reviews directly to your website and displays them as a small pop up based on your desired settings. Click here to explore Nudgify for yourself. 

Nudgify lets people know the review source is Google, which builds trust and also has a “verified” check on the bottom, adding to the authenticity factor. 

Now your reviews will automatically display on your website when a visitor pops by to see what you’re all about! This is a great way to feel empowered to go out and generate your own reviews even if “the press” won’t give you the time of day. You don’t need any insider connections, no need to chase down journalists, no press rep . . . all you need is Google. 

If you’d like help automating your own review system so that you can constantly generate social proof on autopilot, CLICK HERE to apply for our bespoke services. I’d be happy to set up a call to discuss the possibility of working together to build out this system for you.