Reviews. They’re one of the the most important parts of your Thumbtack profile and the easiest to overlook. Professionals with at least one review on Thumbtack get hired 70 percent more than pros without.
To find out why reviews make such a huge difference in winning jobs, we sat down with Top Pros specializing in everything from painting and event makeup to piano lessons. Here’s what they told us about going the extra mile for great reviews on Thumbtack.
What Reviews Say About You
“Customers have always done a lot of research when deciding who to hire. The only difference is that now they’re doing that research online,” says Mike Schaffer, a painting pro in Murrieta, California.
Customers want to know who you are; your values, your work, and your commitment to getting the job done. And while there are many ways to reinforce your value on Thumbtack—from using a professional headshot to updating your profile to showcase your best work—reviews are a big piece of the getting hired puzzle.
Personal trainer Elijah Bowie explains, “Every Thumbtack client I’ve brought in in the last two years said they picked me because of my reviews.”
The Art of Asking
In an ideal world, quality work speaks for itself. In reality, you need a little help from a happy customer—one with a link to your Thumbtack profile. Luckily, Thumbtack sends that link for you.
“When a customer marks you hired, Thumbtack sends a message asking them to write a review of your work, and most of the time they do,” explains Chris Grimes, a handyman in Rialto, California.
But whether or not the customer follows through is all about timing. Most pros send their follow-up request after completing the job, but exactly when differs depending on the industry you’re in. Austin-based wedding makeup artist Marisa Warren waits until her newlywed couples have returned from their honeymoon to send her request. Personal trainer Jennifer Kasmer, on the other hand, sends her clients a direct link to the Thumbtack review page as soon as they’ve completed their first training, capitalizing on the momentum.
5 Ways to Go Above and Beyond
Beyond finding the perfect time to ask, so much of winning five-star reviews comes down to the work you do and how you interact with the customer. Here are five Top Pro tips on breaking the mold to make your customers happy—and ready to share their happiness on your Thumbtack profile.
- Reviews Bring in More Reviews
“When I signed up on Thumbtack I reached out to former clients and asked if I could import their reviews from other sites onto my Thumbtack profile. Having a solid base of reviews when you first start helps get your foot in the door. Now, most of my clients are happy to write me a review and I have a lot more flexibility about the jobs I take because of it.”
—Mark Simpson of Mark Simpson Photography in Pittsburgh, PA
- Personalize Your Follow-Up Message
“I always personalize my follow-up message based on my time with the customer. It might say something like, ‘I hope everything was great, you deserve the best, you were stunning, I loved meeting your family. Would you mind really quick adding your experience as a review?’You want to remind the client of the positive experience you’ve shared together. Every little bit counts.”
—Marisa Warren of Velvet Beauty in Austin, TX
- Learn From Your Reviews
“Only one woman ever gave me a 4.5-star review, so I asked her how I could improve. She said it was because she didn’t want to travel to me for the lesson. It turns out it wasn’t even about my coaching. But it’s important to know if someone isn’t happy with your work and to learn from that. If someone takes one lesson from you and then stops, ask yourself why.”
—Fred Sperber of USPTA Certified Tennis Instructor in Emeryville, CA
- Keep Your Promises
“Stay professional and, no matter what, be polite. Negative news travels much faster than positive news. I’ve been hired many times because customers think another pro was rude or unprofessional. The main thing is to have integrity. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. That’s what will set you apart as you build your network. Do what you say you’re going to do and care more about the work than the money.”
—Ricky Godoy of Yo Dog Media in Morristown, NJ
- Your Work Does the Talking
“Do your job very, very well. Provide quality services, be friendly and personable every time you meet, go above and beyond the client’s expectations. Remember that you’re the professional and you have the expertise, you owe it to your business and your client to do the best job you can. I get to watch my clients find love for music every day. That’s what I aim for and what I love. Bring that passion into what you do and people won’t hesitate to write you a good review.”
—Will Armstrong of Will You Learn in New York, NY
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