I want to share something with you guys, that most of you are missing.  If you want to grow your business by reaching people who are searching online, you need to get Google reviews.

Here are a couple of examples of customers of mine that we've proactively reached out to get Google reviews.

The first is the guys from JB Media. They have a Facebook following of about 350, but they're 350 very engaged  people.  They respond to posts, they like posts, and they share posts.  On Saturday, they had 5 Google reviews. I sent out a Facebook post asking for reviews.  Now they have 11.

Here's the Facebook post.



Here are their Google reviews. We more than doubled them over the weekend.  What's the big deal? They started with 5, now they have 11....Whippity do right?




So, what does 11 reviews get you in Minnesota?    It gets you in the coveted Google box, (along with an optimized site).  Notice, the first competitor is paying for the space with an AD, SLH is ahead of them currently, but that won't last much longer, because they've got better and more reviews.  So, they'll take that spot in the near future.



Here's another example of a great customer of mine in Georgia. His customer base isn't as verbally active on Facebook, but they respond to emails.  As I recall, I think he may have had about 12-15 Google reviews a few weeks ago.  One of his competitors decided to be a dick, and post bogus Google reviews about the company.  This company's customers love them.  I sent out an email asking for reviews, the next day this is what we woke up to.    37 REVIEWS!


I get the question all the time....What can I do now to increase my business immediately?  This is the answer. You need to put your company name in front of potential buyers, and engage with them with an up to date website. This is the fastest, easiest way to do it.

Stop being shy about asking for 5 star reviews if you've earned them.   What this post should show you is that your customers want you to do well, they don't mind giving a good review if asked.  But if you don't ask, they don't know to do it.

Yes, I know some of you are happy with word of mouth (RangerHome).  But some aren't, and they're looking for ways to grow or stay in business.

If I can help in any way, just send me an email or a message.

Who is the guy(s) in Macon?
I didn't know we had anyone up that way. How long have they been there?

Company called FusionPoint

20 years.

You can help me by not helping anymore MN people :)

Im sure there is value here for those that use that. For me, zero value. Couldnt care less about social media or online reviews. We have zero. No shortage of business.

Again, not saying its not a GREAT thing. Good! Super. Use what works. Someday I may regret not having that presence. but, i will be retired by then lol.

Hence the reason I referenced you in the original post....Because I know you can't help yourself from telling the world how work just magically finds you. :)

I know, amazing huh? :)

While this may be a good way to get more business, I too feel that word of mouth (referrals) are the best.

Always had plenty of work, while others were scraping by, going under, giving away their services for peanuts.

I do realize that the times are changing though, so maybe this is the new world order. Sad thing is that its so very open to abuse, and many people don't buy the social media recommendations for that reason. Glad I don't have to chase after biz....

Never said that word of mouth wasn't the best way to get new business, getting the Google reviews is a way to make your company known and visible to prospective buyers, and possibly increase your Google ranking.

What do you and RangerHome recommend for the many businesses struggling to get referrals from existing customers?  How do you go guys go about it?

I have always found it so strange that this is an industry where people brag about NOT advertising. I hear it every day. "I dont even have a website" or "Our vehicles arent even labeled"

I get it...we are bragging that we are so good that work finds us. I could work on just referrals alone and 75 percent of the work is. But my web presence allows us to be MORE selective of the work we take exponentially.

To each their own, no doubt. Its just unique to this industry, or maybe contractors in general that brag about not advertising. Maybe its that some contractors like staying relatively small and manageable.

Social Media is word of mouth. Increasing your client pool is a good thing. You can charge more for your services and weed out jobs you would prefer to not do.

Whether or not you want to even bother with it when you are already busy is another discussion.

Do better work?


1. Joined the various HBA's and made myself known.

a. This was the goldmine. I had builders in the high end market where I did every home they ever built.

2. Set up with the various Realtors Associations, and made myself known.

a. Got quite a bit of work from a lot of different real estate agents. Also, advertised in the area real estate weekly magazines.

3. Get yourself on the list of "place to buy" any products that you use a lot.

a. I did this with Russound and others, and was the only installer listed for the entire state. No one else apparently even thought about doing this, and I would get calls from all over the area.

4. Make a deal with builders that are in the various home shows (New and remodeling).

a. I always passed along the entire manufacturer discounts that are offered for these events, and made damn sure my company name couldn't be missed. Yes, I worked all of those Saturdays and Sundays demoing the systems.

b. I also gave discount pricing to a builder if I could use one of his spec houses as a show room. Cheaper than renting a retail space and it's a real world experience for a potential client.

5. ASK for a referral.

a. If you have done a quality job, you will get some, and these referrals should be contracts. If they are not, you are doing something wrong.


I'm sure there's more, but:

First and foremost is showing up on time, and doing a great job, so people will think of you when anyone mentions anything related to what you do.

Don't get caught up in the situation where you are pushing the things YOU want to sell.

Don't do the same thing as everyone else.

Times are a changin'.  This is old world thinking and is ok to a point.  The younger generation coming up do not ask friends or families for recommendations, they go online and ask or research.  Making yourself a presence online is not a bad thing.  Take your own advice and do a good job, show up on time... and you will not get negative reviews online.  I have only ever gotten a bad review online once, and it was a drug addict son of a drunk client.  Couldn't figure something out in their system so the son dismantled it and couldn't figure out how to get it working again, so he went online and called me an idiot of the way it was setup.  Was a standard install with a HDMI over coax extender to to an existing projector location.  We saved them thousands on the install, did not have to paint the room after cutting it up to rewire.  The system had Total Control for control of the system.  The kid replaced the router for some reason, never reconnected the TC processor, connected the HDMI extender to an input on the receiver...  You get the idea.  Point is nothing I did would have worked for this jackass and he went online.  He has dozens of bad reviews for places on google but only one or two good ones.

Thats the only negative review I ever got.  I have several dozen excellent reviews, all 5 star on sites that allow ratings and testimonials on my own site.  They have helped with making me stand apart from some competition with people looking online for help.  What I think has hurt things more than anything is the likes of Home Advisor, Thumbtack and others.  People are becoming accustomed to looking to these sites for projects.  Most are smaller but some of decent sized projects.  Either way, it will not hurt in any way to get positive remarks about you or your business online. It can only help!!!

Who's bragging about not advertising? Regardless, you're right about some that have no desire to grow beyond what they want. Could I grow? Sure! Do I want to? Nope. No desire. None. Zippo. Zilch. If I did, advertising, online presence and more social media would certainly be a proper tool to do so. Would be hard to argue otherwise.

Guys I have sat on roundtables with or met at distributors. Seem proud of not "needing" a website. I am not calling these guys out, just saying the I (emphasis on I) have always found it strange that it seemed to be a source of pride.

I get people dont want to grow. I have seen all sides of it and wouldnt say one is better than the other. Small (which I am) is great for quality control.

I do think my web presence has allowed me to stay small but be more selective about my work.

I will say though that web presence is not without its drawbacks. I deal with daily having to turn people down gently. Often spending 20 minutes with them on the phone explaining why I am not the right fit without telling them their job is too small or I dont have time. Its an art but its also a pain in the ass. A good problem if you will, but still a problem. I had one bad review online and have read others on competitors sites and its always the same "called for pricing to hang my TV, was any easy job, they didnt have time for me, I guess they didnt want my money". Correct, we dont...but why does that entitle you to leave a bad review on a business I have dedicated my life to. Anyways...I digress...Thats a topic for another thread.

Maybe I just proved your point...ha.