How To Get More Google Reviews For Footwear Brands?

With the growing number of online footwear shoppers, Google reviews have become more than just helpful suggestions—they're necessary to grow footwear brands by increasing customer trust, building credibility, and improving conversion rates. This is well portrayed by 86% of online shoppers prioritizing reviews before making a purchase decision!

For footwear brands, Google reviews can provide valuable insights into size, comfort, and fit, giving buyers the confidence to make informed choices. But the question is, how can your footwear brand collect more Google reviews and use them to stand out in an increasingly competitive footwear landscape? 

In this blog, explore our 13 review collection strategies for footwear brands to increase Google reviews and build the reputation of your online business. 

13 Google Review Collection Strategies For Footwear Brands

By getting more Google reviews, you can easily increase your footwear sales, local SEO and social proof, making it easier for customers to find your products. Below are 13 tried and tested strategies that will help you do the same in the most simplest way.

1. Optimize Your Google Business Profile

An optimized Google Business Profile (GBP) is the best way to increase your local SEO, attract more customers, and improve your Google reviews. To have an optimized GMB profile, make sure these sections are filled accurately with the correct information:

• Business Name

• Address

• Phone number

• Website

• Operating hours

• Description

• Updates and promotions (if any)

• Keywords

While searching for keywords, make sure to use the keywords that have high volume to increase your visibility and website traffic. A few keywords that you can use are: 

• Footwear for all occasions

• Footwear trends

• Footwear reviews

• Footwear for comfort

• Footwear fashion

2. Make Direct Review Requests

Sometimes, all you need to get Google reviews is to ask customers directly for feedback. But, while you ask them for the reviews, make sure not to force them but genuinely tell them how these reviews can help your business grow. You can make these direct review requests through:

• In-Store Conversations: Train your staff to engage with customers during the checkout process. For example, they can say, "If you love your new shoes, we'd appreciate it if you could leave us a review on Google!"

• Follow Up on Purchases: Include a short message with the QR code in the customer receipts to grab their attention, increasing the chances of getting a review.

• Create a Review Card: Design small cards with a QR code that links to your Google review page and hand this out at the point of sale to the customers.

3. Send Follow Up Emails To Customers

Think of follow-up emails as an opportunity to again engage with the customers after their purchase to know how their experience was with the product. To increase your Google reviews through emails, make sure to:

• Send Email On Time: Send follow-up emails 3-7 days after purchase when customers have most likely used their footwear once or twice and are ready to give a review. 

• Use An Attractive Subject Line: To stand out amongst the pile of emails, make sure to use a unique subject line like, "How's your new pair of shoes?" or "We knew you would love your shoes" to increase open rates.

• Include A Clear CTA: Add a clear CTA to your email, like "Share Your Experience," with a clickable link to your Google review page.

4. Simplify The Review Process

A simple review process makes it much easier for customers to leave reviews, saving them time and effort. To do this, create a custom URL that leads customers directly to your review page. 

Once you have that, you can use this link in your emails, SMS, and social media so that customers can click on it and leave a review within seconds. If needed, you can also create a step-by-step guide for new users that will help them leave reviews.

Through the Google review link and step-by-step guide, you can reduce customer barriers, leading to more reviews and engagement.

5. Personalize Your Review Requests

By making your review request personalized, you're showing your customers that you value them and their time, making them more likely to leave feedback. A few things you should add to your personalized review request are:

• Customer Name

• Footwear they've purchased

• Direct questions

A simple example can be:

“Hi [Name], 

We hope you're enjoying your (shoe name)! We would love it if you could share a short feedback on your experience with the shoes you’ve purchased. Click here to post the feedback: (link).

Thanks in advance.”

6. Ask For Reviews At The Right Time

When you compare asking reviews from old customers and new customers, you’ll find that new customers are likely to give reviews. This is because, in the very first 24-48 hours, customers remember their experience and are excited about the newly purchased product, which encourages them to leave reviews. 

But if you ask too late, they are most likely to forget the experience. That's why send the review request within 24-48 hours. If you don't receive the review, you can follow up after a week. 

For the old customers, reach out to them for reviews on the date they bought the shoe. This will remind them of their experience, increasing your chances of receiving the reviews.

7. Display Reviews On the Website

Featuring existing reviews is the best way to build credibility while encouraging new customers to give feedback. To do so, you can create a separate testimonial page that shows customer reviews and experiences about your footwear brand.

To build authenticity, you can use plugins or widgets to show Google reviews. Do not forget to add a CTA encouraging users to share their experience with others.

8. Implement Local SEO Strategies

Increasing local SEO helps you attract more visitors to your page for better conversion rates and reviews. The best strategies you can apply to increase your local SEO include:

• Keyword Optimization: Add local keywords to the content on your website as well as to meta descriptions.

• Create Local Content: Publish blog posts related to local events, fashion tips, or even local partnerships to attract local customers.

• Engage With Local Influencers: Connect to local influencers or bloggers to promote your footwear products and receive reviews from their followers.

9. Send Automated Review Requests

Automated review requests are the best way to save time without missing customer review requests. For this, you can use any CRM software that allows automatic follow-up emails requesting reviews.

You can also add triggers so that the system automatically sends the review request after an action, such as post-purchase or after a week has passed. 

Also, personalize the emails using the customer's name and details for added value. This will ensure your review request is sent to each customer who bought footwear from you, increasing your reviews. 

10. Use Social Media 

Using social media platforms is a smart strategy to get discovered by a wide audience and increase Google reviews. You can use social media to:

• Share Customer Feedback: Regularly post positive customer reviews on your social media accounts, thanking customers for their support.

• Create Engagement Posts: Ask followers to share their experiences with your shoes in the comments and to leave a review on Google.

• Use Stories and Polls: Use features like Instagram Stories or Facebook polls to build a connection with the audience for more reviews. 

11.  Use Sweepstakes For Reviews

Use sweepstakes for collecting reviews by running a monthly contest where customers can leave an email regarding your footwear brand to enter the contest. 

You could offer a gift card, free product, or discounts for the winning gift. While running the contest, make sure you follow Google's review policies by stating that the reviews should be honest. 

Also, share your contest on your website, social media, and even in your emails to reach more people. Once you have the winner, promote them on social media accounts and your website to encourage others as well to participate next time. 

12.  Respond To Existing Reviews

Engage with existing reviews to show customers that you value their feedback. Respond to reviews as a priority and address any concerns they might have, whether negative, positive, or neutral. 

While responding to the reviews, personalize your answers to show that you've read the review and understood their side. This inspires the other customers to contribute their thoughts, knowing their complaints or support won't be ignored. 

13.  Encourage Reviews With Sampling Campaigns

You can use sampling campaigns to obtain honest reviews about your products while increasing the overall review count.

Create a form for customers to sign up to receive samples. Provide clear instructions on how to leave a review and what questions to answer. This will help you receive detailed feedback and attract more customers. 

While customer reviews help in attracting more target audience, it also helps with many other factors that are important for a successful footwear business. Let’s understand what they are in the next section. 

Benefits Of Collecting More Reviews For Footwear Brands

For footwear retailers, collecting more reviews is important to create a ripple effect that increases visibility and promotes customer loyalty. These Google reviews help you to:

1. Grow Local SEO

Reviews increase your local search rankings, making it easier for customers to find your footwear brand online.

2. Increase Google Traffic

More positive reviews increase the visibility of your brand, driving higher traffic to your website and store.

3. Build A Stronger Online Reputation

Positive Google reviews help you show your footwear brand's quality and reliability, helping to build a strong online reputation.

4. Win Customer Trust

Reviews work like word of mouth, promoting trust in new buyers and building strong connections.

5. Improve Conversion Rates

Google reviews increase confidence among new buyers, resulting in high conversion rates.

Final Thoughts

Customer reviews are essential in shaping your brand's story and driving its success in the footwear industry. By engaging with your customers and asking them to share their experiences, you can make your footwear brand the talk of the town, attracting new buyers. While organic feedback is key, some brands also explore ways to buy Google reviews to boost credibility quickly. Get creative with our 13 strategies and watch your five-star reviews increase.

Happy reviewing!