How to Collect Client Reviews for Energy Audit Companies

98% of consumers read a review before buying from a company. For energy audit companies, reputation is everything, and a 5* review can be the difference between a new client and a lost opportunity. 

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Why collecting client reviews is essential for your energy audit companies

Reviews give a home energy business credibility and are an excellent piece of social proof, “a psychological phenomenon where people assume the actions of others in an attempt to reflect correct behavior for a given situation.” 

If that official definition was a little too jargony, essentially, it means if a potential customer sees that other people are receiving great service, they’ll also want to book with the same company. 

For local energy audit businesses, reviews significantly impact local SEO ranking, meaning the more reviews you have, the higher you rank on Google. They’re also crucial for capturing potential customers like me, who will filter searches by 4* and above at any opportunity! 

So now we know how important client reviews are for your home energy audit business, let’s dive into how to get them. 

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How to ask for Google reviews for your energy assessment business

Collecting reviews for your energy assessment business is easier than you think. A recent consumer study by Brightlocal found that 76% of people asked to leave reviews go on to do so. So, if you want to boost your Google reviews, all you have to do is ask!

But when’s the right time to ask? 

There’s no point asking a client to leave a review before you’ve provided the assessment. Best practice suggests waiting between 7 to 30 days post-appointment before requesting a review. Of course, if the opportunity presents itself earlier, for example, if a client raves about your service immediately after it’s finished, ask if they’d consider posting a review on Google then and there. 

When you’re ready to reach out to a client about leaving a review for your home energy assessment business, options include: 

1. Via Text — If you send a follow-up text after an appointment, this is an excellent opportunity to include a prompt to review and a link to your Google Business Profile. 
2. A review button/testimonials page on your website — A prominent review button reminds clients to leave a review the next time they visit your business’s website. This method should be used with at least one other review collection method on the list for maximum effectiveness. 
3. Via email — Again, if you send a follow-up email post-appointment, including a prompt to leave a review can be incredibly effective. Alternatively, you could send out dedicated review request emails or include a link in the footer of your newsletter. Whichever you choose, make sure to include a reference to the service so clients know what you’re asking for a review of. 

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Tips for getting client reviews 

To maximize your chances of clients leaving a review for your energy audit company, follow these four simple rules. 

1. Personalize the request wherever possible. Include the client’s name, the service they purchased, and the name of their assessor. 
2. Make it as easy for clients to review your business as possible. Always include a link to your chosen review site in your requests (whether that’s your Google Business Profile, a product page on your website, industry-specific review sites, or your social media profiles). 
3. Explain (briefly) the impact reviews have on your business.
4. Respond to every client review, good or bad. It shows anyone looking at your business that you value your customers and is an excellent place to inject some personality. Just avoid the same “Hey X, thanks for the review” response for every review — that’s worse than not responding at all. 

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Related: How to handle customer complaints about your service business

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Things to remember when asking for reviews 

It is illegal to incentivize Google Reviews in the US and many other countries unless the review clearly states that it was paid for/collected as part of a promotion. But even if you follow the rules and make the appropriate declaration, be very wary of paying for reviews. For many consumers, seeing “collected as part of a promotion” on every review can often be perceived as a little suspicious! 

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How to display reviews on your website

If you’re going to the trouble of collecting client reviews for your home assessment business on places like Facebook, Google, etc., it’s a good idea to pull them onto your website, too. 

Most CMS systems have plugins/scripts that allow you to aggregate reviews from other platforms (i.e., display Google reviews on your website). You can add them manually or use third-party software like EmbedReviews if yours doesn't.

Tip: If you’re adding reviews manually, go for text over screenshots so Google can index them. Reviews are a gold mine for keywords that will help boost your SEO, but if you use pictures, Google won’t be able to detect them!

Add a review Schema to your website’s code to take things further. Schema App has an article with more information on how to do it. But, if you don’t fancy tackling the task yourself, you can hire a freelancer via sites like Upwork. 

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There are many options for collecting client reviews for your home assessment business, and it might take some trial and error to determine which works best for your customers. The good news is it’s free to ask. And as we discovered, sometimes asking is all it takes!

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