Mortgage Broker Broadcast
Developing your knowledge to help you build a successful Mortgage Broker business. Craig Skelton shares his thoughts and experiences on all aspects of mortgage advice covering everything from operating in the banking world, estate agency based advisers all the way up to working as a self employed broker. He will be joined by experts from within the industry and other business sectors which all play a key part in becoming a successful mortgage broker in the modern world.
Mortgage Broker Broadcast
Transform Your Mortgage Brokerage with the Power of Client Reviews
Unlock the secret to transforming your mortgage brokerage business with the untapped power of client reviews. Ever wondered how to significantly boost your trustworthiness and online presence? This episode promises to equip you with the knowledge to leverage client feedback as a foundational element of success in a trust-based industry. Dive into the world of social proof and uncover how reviews not only serve as a beacon of credibility but also enhance your visibility and conversion rates. Understand the pitfalls of ignoring reviews and learn how to strategically balance your presence on platforms like Google and Trustpilot for optimal SEO benefits.
Join me as I share actionable strategies to seamlessly incorporate review collection into your client journey, ensuring you harness feedback at just the right moments—like during the mortgage offer stage. Discover why reviews should be a cornerstone of your business strategy, driving continuous improvement and growth. Whether you're just starting out or looking to elevate your existing business as a self-employed mortgage broker, this episode offers valuable insights and personalized support. Subscribe, leave a review, and share with fellow brokers as we explore the transformative potential of client reviews to give you a competitive edge in the market.
The Mortgage Broker Broadcast on
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxXEaYQYmRFg4as3o6uafzq6WP3-omp4N
Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/mortgage-broker-broadcast/id1560964722
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3xmMdDcgmYh4A74wxeXnCV?si=cbc8f8b024fc4c98
Looking for one to one mentoring, visit my website to see how it works craigskelton.co.uk
#mortgagebroker #mortgagebrokers #mortgagebrokeruk #mortgagebrokercoaching #coaching #mortgagebrokerage #mortgagebrokerbusiness #mortgagebrokermarketing ...
Welcome to the Mortgage Broker Broadcast, the podcast that helps mortgage brokers at every level, whether you're new into the industry, or you're running your own mortgage broker firm, or you're looking to take your business to the next level. I'm your host, craig Skelton, and in today's episode we're getting something that's often overlooked but is absolutely crucial in building and growing your business. I'm talking about getting client reviews. We'll be covering why reviews matter, the benefits that they bring, the risks of not making them your priority, and how to seamlessly integrate review collection into your client journey. But before we get into today's episode, if you enjoy this podcast, please like, please subscribe, please leave a review and share it with other mortgage brokers. Your support helps us reach even more brokers in the industry. So why client reviews are essential? Well, let's be honest when was the last time you booked a service or bought a product, or even chose a restaurant or a hotel, without checking the reviews first? Whether it's on Google, trustpilot or another platform, reviews are one of the most powerful forms of social proof. They help potential clients make decisions, build trust in your brand and, ultimately, differentiate you from your competitors. And so, for mortgage brokers, this is especially important. When a trust-based industry, clients are making life-changing financial decisions and they want to be absolutely sure they're working with someone who's credible, knowledgeable and, most importantly, reliable. Reviews give them reassurance. But it's not just about making a great first impression. It's about creating a lasting one that reinforces your reputation and keeps your business growing.
Speaker 1:So why should you prioritize client reviews? Well, there are loads of benefits. The first thing is it builds trust and credibility. When potential clients read positive reviews, it just reinforces the idea that you are an expert in your chosen field and someone they can trust with their mortgage needs. A review from a past client carries far more weight than any marketing message that you can deliver yourself. It also boosts your online visibility. Google reviews help improve your local SEO rankings. This means your business appears higher in search results when someone's looking for a mortgage broker in your area. Trustpilot also boosts your online presence, but Google reviews they're the ones that have the added SEO value. It also provides you with valuable feedback.
Speaker 1:Reviews aren't just about marketing. They're a really great source of feedback. What are you doing well? What are areas that you could improve on? Listening to your clients can give you insights you won't get anywhere else. It also increases your conversion rates.
Speaker 1:Reviews can be the deciding factor for clients. Sitting on the fence, they may have found a few brokers, but seeing a lot of a long list of positive reviews about your exceptional service can be what tips that scale in your favour. So we've talked about why you should be getting reviews. Let's look at what are the consequences. What happens if you don't have a process? What if you don't focus on getting client reviews?
Speaker 1:The first thing is lost business opportunities. Potential clients will naturally gravitate towards brokers with visible positive reviews and positive feedback. If your competitors have 50 glowing reviews and you have none at all or worse, one or two outdated ones, which I absolutely hate, you'll lose business to them. It's also a weaker online presence. Not having reviews make you almost invisible online. You won't rank well on search engines and your online presence will lack the social proof necessary to convert leads into clients. And there's also the missed. Then there's also missed feedback and growth opportunities. Without reviews, you miss out on valuable insights from your clients. That feedback loop is crucial for continuous improvement. With that way, you might not even you might not even be aware of areas where your service could be improved until it's far too late. So now we've looked at the benefits of reviews and the consequences of not collecting reviews.
Speaker 1:The next thing is where do you get your reviews from? Do you go down Google or do you go down Trustpilot? And it is one question that I do get asked quite a lot Should I focus on Google reviews or do I go down the Trustpilot route? The answer is it depends on your business goals, but in most cases, you should aim to collect reviews on both platforms, and the reason being is that with google reviews, these are essential for the local seo. When someone searches searches for local mortgage brokers or brokers in your area, those google reviews will help you rank higher. Google reviews are easy for clients to leave. You can even get qr codes for sending out Google reviews or part of your website it's up to you and they show up right in the search results. Compared to Trustpilot, which is Trustpilot's more of a versatile review platform for marketing, you can showcase those reviews on your website, share them on social media and using your marketing campaigns. You can still do that with Google and a little bit, but it's far easier to do it on Trustpilot. Trustpilot is great for building a broader brand presence beyond just Google Thing is as well. With Trustpilot, clients can sort of see how you rank against other mortgage brokers in the local area or nationally as well. So that's another reason to look at. But ultimately the best approach is to have a balance. If you're starting out, prioritise your Google reviews absolutely for that SEO boost and then add the Trustpilot reviews once you're ready to expand your marketing reach. So we've looked at benefits, consequences, how to start collecting reviews.
Speaker 1:The next thing is making the reviews part of your process. So how do you consistently get client reviews? And the key to this is make it part of your client journey, make it part of your process. It's not like a bolt-on or an afterthought, it's ingrained in your process. The first thing you need to do is ask at the right time. For me, the right time for review is mortgage offer absolutely good news. You've done your job. You've got them the mortgage offer. Need to get the review and get them from two. If you've got a joint application, get them from two clients absolutely, because timing is everything.
Speaker 1:The best time to ask for review is after you've delivered that excellent service and the mortgage offer is that time where you've got them. You've done your job. So that's when they're more likely to be enthusiastic about sharing their feedback. You then need to make it easy for them, so provide a direct link to your google review page or your trust pilot profile. You can do that on your social media, on your website qr code, as I said. The easier you make it for clients, the more likely to leave a review, and which then moves on to automating the process. If possible, integrate review requests into your CRM system or your email marketing platform. Set up an automated follow-up email that thanks the client and asks for the review at the mortgage offer when you're emailing that out, and then you must follow up If the client doesn't leave your review after your first request. Don't be afraid to follow up politely. Sometimes just people forget and a simple reminder can work wonders and have a massive benefit to your business.
Speaker 1:The podcast last week was talking about numbers and review. I didn't talk about reviews in the podcast last week, but reviews are something you should absolutely be tracking. You should be tracking how many clients you've got, how many you've sent out, what the conversion is of people leaving those reviews, because you should be tracking how many clients you've got, how many you've sent out, what the conversion is of people leaving those reviews because you should be working to 100%, absolutely. I know not every client's not going to leave your review, because some people just don't leave reviews full stop, but if you're being proactive and got a part of your process, they're more likely to leave a review. So you should be aiming for 100% and then, when you've got those reviews, you should be showcasing them.
Speaker 1:Once you've collected the reviews, don't let them just sit idly by or unused. Make sure you use them. Add them to your website, especially your home page or testimonial page. Share them on social media. Turn a positive review into a graphic. If you're using something like canva, then have a template for reviews. Make sure you get every single one in that same template and then post it on LinkedIn, instagram, facebook, wherever you want to post it, and you can also include them as well in your email signature, like a snippet of a recent review can reinforce your credibility every time you send out an email. Showcasing your reviews is about reinforcing your expertise and keeping that positive momentum going. So that's it.
Speaker 1:That's today's episode and this week's the Mortgage Broker Broadcast. Hope this has given you like a new perspective on the importance of reviews and how they can transform your business. Remember, getting reviews isn't just a nice to have, it's a must have. Make it part of your process, showcase them proudly and use the feedback to grow and improve. If you've enjoyed this podcast, don't forget to subscribe and, obviously, leave us a review and share it with other brokers who can benefit from this podcast. If you're looking to become a self-employed mortgage broker or looking to start your own mortgage brand and business, or simply looking to accelerate the growth of your existing business, visit my website, craigskeletoncouk, and chat me on a call. Send me a WhatsApp, just get in touch and let's have a chat about how I can support you in achieving your goals in 2025. And, as always, don't forget to run your own race.