Post by High Priestess on Oct 6, 2015 14:34:33 GMT
Laura asked in October 2015:
Another review question!
Hi All, Just wondering what the general pros and cons of commenting on your guest's review might be. I have been making public replies on my first 5 reviews and now realize most hosts don't seem to do that. Does it seem pandering? Is there merit to only replying if there are issues to address? Or is it (as I previously assumed) just a nice, social response? I'd love to hear from y'all!Thanks!
Kim:
I don't respond to any reviews. I think most just respond to reviews they need to clarify something a guest said. But it's your page, you can do whatever you want with it
Cynthia:
I dont respond only because I feel like it clutters up the review section and all I'd be saying is "Thanks!" which doesn't really provide prospective guests with any additional information.
Clare:
I agree with Kim. It's entirely up to you to respond or not. If you do respond, keep it short and sweet...no 5 part stories. People won't read long drawn out responses.
Ed & Hugh:
I reply to reviews as an indication to potential guests know that we are leaving reviews (which I think guests appreciate).
Fleur:
I only reply if there is an issue that needs to be addressed. I think it comes across as a bit 'needy' if you reply to each review.
Deborah:
I agree with Fleur, that it is better to not respond to every review, as you wont' really have something sincere and meaningful to say in response to each guest on the public page. Saying thank you to each and every review seems, as Cynthia pointed out, to not add much, and can come across as hokey. I usually respond if I am genuinely moved to respond. Sometimes I respond to 3 reviews in a row, sometimes I leave 10 -15 reviews without a response. I will respond to any critical or misleading, inaccurate comment but also will respond if a guest has clearly been delighted with their stay at my house and wrote an effusive review. I like to publicly express my appreciation and highlight such a review by responding. I usually dont' respond to the one-liner cookie-cutter reviews, which both hosts and guests receive.
Susan:
I respond to mine assuming I remember even if it's "You Rocked, come back anytime!" If it was a bad review, or even mediocre, I'd definitely respond. Good advice from this forum...you're not responding to whomever left the review, but to future guests.
Fiona:
I think you hit it, it is a nice, social response. I respond to every review. I think if you only do it for negative reviews you make those stand out disproportionately. If you only respond to some, some guests you don't respond to might feel you didn't connect with them or that there was something wrong. It's the cherry on top of the stay.
Rachel:
I agree with Fiona. It's good manners to respond to a review and only responding to reviews that are negative merely makes them more noticeable. I think it shows that you have taken the time to consider each guest individually, haven't just forgotten them and rushed on to the next guest. That is what makes us different from hotels - it's that personal touch.
Bekah:
Personally, I think that responses to each and every review looks cluttery and starts to sound kind of hokey after awhile. Once you've got 20+ reviews it all starts to look canned and insincere. When I've looked for places to stay I really don't like seeing host responses over and over and over on each and every review. Gets in the way of the info I'm looking for.
I've publicly responded to clarify guest reviews that I thought were misleading or off-base (once, maybe twice in three years?) and I've also responded to the super-amazing reviews left by people we really gelled with. I do think it's bad form to ONLY respond to negative reviews because it makes them stand out and it looks defensive.
Another review question!
Hi All, Just wondering what the general pros and cons of commenting on your guest's review might be. I have been making public replies on my first 5 reviews and now realize most hosts don't seem to do that. Does it seem pandering? Is there merit to only replying if there are issues to address? Or is it (as I previously assumed) just a nice, social response? I'd love to hear from y'all!Thanks!
Kim:
I don't respond to any reviews. I think most just respond to reviews they need to clarify something a guest said. But it's your page, you can do whatever you want with it
Cynthia:
I dont respond only because I feel like it clutters up the review section and all I'd be saying is "Thanks!" which doesn't really provide prospective guests with any additional information.
Clare:
I agree with Kim. It's entirely up to you to respond or not. If you do respond, keep it short and sweet...no 5 part stories. People won't read long drawn out responses.
Ed & Hugh:
I reply to reviews as an indication to potential guests know that we are leaving reviews (which I think guests appreciate).
Fleur:
I only reply if there is an issue that needs to be addressed. I think it comes across as a bit 'needy' if you reply to each review.
Deborah:
I agree with Fleur, that it is better to not respond to every review, as you wont' really have something sincere and meaningful to say in response to each guest on the public page. Saying thank you to each and every review seems, as Cynthia pointed out, to not add much, and can come across as hokey. I usually respond if I am genuinely moved to respond. Sometimes I respond to 3 reviews in a row, sometimes I leave 10 -15 reviews without a response. I will respond to any critical or misleading, inaccurate comment but also will respond if a guest has clearly been delighted with their stay at my house and wrote an effusive review. I like to publicly express my appreciation and highlight such a review by responding. I usually dont' respond to the one-liner cookie-cutter reviews, which both hosts and guests receive.
Susan:
I respond to mine assuming I remember even if it's "You Rocked, come back anytime!" If it was a bad review, or even mediocre, I'd definitely respond. Good advice from this forum...you're not responding to whomever left the review, but to future guests.
Fiona:
I think you hit it, it is a nice, social response. I respond to every review. I think if you only do it for negative reviews you make those stand out disproportionately. If you only respond to some, some guests you don't respond to might feel you didn't connect with them or that there was something wrong. It's the cherry on top of the stay.
Rachel:
I agree with Fiona. It's good manners to respond to a review and only responding to reviews that are negative merely makes them more noticeable. I think it shows that you have taken the time to consider each guest individually, haven't just forgotten them and rushed on to the next guest. That is what makes us different from hotels - it's that personal touch.
Bekah:
Personally, I think that responses to each and every review looks cluttery and starts to sound kind of hokey after awhile. Once you've got 20+ reviews it all starts to look canned and insincere. When I've looked for places to stay I really don't like seeing host responses over and over and over on each and every review. Gets in the way of the info I'm looking for.
I've publicly responded to clarify guest reviews that I thought were misleading or off-base (once, maybe twice in three years?) and I've also responded to the super-amazing reviews left by people we really gelled with. I do think it's bad form to ONLY respond to negative reviews because it makes them stand out and it looks defensive.