Annual Review Contest

Our annual review contest is a great way for us to engage our agents, help them understand how important reviews are, and help them get a bunch of reviews (especially if they currently don't have a lot of reviews). When we ran the contest in Jan 2023, we saw ~100 reviews come in across Google, Yelp, and Zillow.

Step #1

Announce the review contest in the December OKR and again in the January OKR. The review contest will start the Monday after the January OKR.

Step #2

Send a google form for signups. The form can be super simple - literally an email address and "I want to participate in the review contest y/n" (some agents fill these out and say "no"), and "questions/comments". Be peppy when you send it out. Maybe send it twice to get more signups. Send this directly after the January OKR.

Step #3

Start an email thread with the subject "2024 Review Contest!!!". You'll use the same email thread (replying to it) rather than starting new emails throughout the contest. Here's the series of emails:

Email #1 - First Tuesday after the Surveys are back

SUBJECT: 2024 Review Contest!!!!!

BODY:

Hey guys -

What is it:

A fun way to pump up your review numbers!

How is this different than past efforts?

The goal is to get reviews from people you wouldn't normally think to ask - namely, people who you haven't helped buy or sell. You guys have all helped lots of folks view houses who didn't end up buying. You've given advice to homeowners who haven't yet sold. You've given great advice to friends and relatives (who haven't bought or sold with you). Each of these folks is likely to leave you a review if you ask nicely!

How will this work?

We'll check everyone's review count on (personal) Zillow, (Bramlett) Google, & (Bramlett) Yelp on Monday and that's our baseline. We'll check it again on Monday, Feb 20 to see how many reviews you received. Whoever gets the most reviews will win a $250 gift card to Uchi, Uchiko, or Olive Garden - your choice! (If there's another restaurant you'd prefer, that's also fine, but just think how many bottomless breadsticks and salads...) :)

What should you do right now and moving forward?

We're going to Sherpa you guys through this and will provide email templates and ideas for you to use on Monday. From now until Monday, spend 30 min or so a day thinking and writing down who you can ask for reviews. Which family members owe you money? Who did you give a ride to the airport? I'm sure you gave them great advice about real estate at some point. Seriously, though, put together a list of people you've helped who didn't buy or sell. It takes some thinking at first, but the ideas will start flowing very quickly.

Details

Any reviews you get during the normal course of business - they closed, got the emails, left reviews, and we sent gift cards - absolutely count. We are not offering gift cards to the reviewers on this effort, unfortunately. When we ran a contest coupled with gift cards a few years ago, we ran into some issues b/c clients who had already reviewed were inadvertently asked to review again and they then became upset when some sites wouldn't allow them to leave reviews.

So, let's get started building those lists! I'll have an email to you Monday morning!!!! (Please reach out to me with any questions at all!)

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EMAIL #2 - Monday after the first email

Now that everyone has their lists built, it's time to start reaching out to the folks who can leave you reviews. Here's a great email template you can use. Please email me directly with any questions!!! Let's try to get a bunch of emails out this week!

SUBJECT:

Quick Favor

BODY:

{name} - 

I hope you're doing well! As you know, I'm hard at work providing the best possible service to as many people in the Austin area as I can. This year, I've decided to build up my online presence as much as I can and a key part of that is "social proof", which is effectively reviews. Our office is running a review contest and I r eally want to win. Would you be willing to leave me a review on 1-3 sites online? It just needs to be 3-4 sentences about me, my qualifications, and any advice or help I've given you over the years. Please let me know, and if so, I can send over the links. (Likewise, if there's anything I can help you with right now, please let me know!)

Thanks so much!!!

----------After they respond, you want to send---------

Fantastic! I r eally appreciate it! Here are the links:

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Email #3 (Send 2 weeks after Email #2)

Hey guys! This is the last week before the contest ends (one month after the first email). So, let's try to finish strong! Here's what you want to do:

1) Reference your spreadsheet against your own Zillow profile (easiest way to see who's left you reviews) and make a list of who has not reviewed you yet.

2) Send the following email:

SUBJECT:

Quick Favor - Can you help w/ my social proof?

BODY:

{name}

I emailed you a couple of weeks ago about reviews and I wanted to nudge you again. Absolutely no worries if you don't have time for this, but it would help me out a TON. Our office is wrapping up our review contest and I really want to win. :)

Why are reviews so important? They build my "social proof" which is a fancy way of saying "How good do I look online as a REALTOR?" When people google me, review websites pop up (3 are the most important) and it helps me gain new clients' trust when they see great reviews.

So...Would you mind leaving me a review on a few sites? ;) If so, I can send over the links. If you need help with what to write, I'd also be more than happy to help with that!

Thanks so much!!!!

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Fantastic! I  really appreciate it! Here are the links:

Thanks again!!!! It helps me SO much!

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After this email, you want to ask Rida to check Google and audit all new reviews that came in during the contest. Ask her to send you the #1, #2, and #3 agents. Send a really nice/peppy email out congratulating the winner and the runners up!!!!