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MLT Group Project Manager Presenting at 2nd Annual TEDx Event

MLT Group Project Manager, Ayodeji (Ayo) Awosika, will be presenting a speech at the TEDxZumbroRiver event Thursday, May 18th. TEDx is an independent, locally produced version of the well known TED conferences which encourage the sharing of ideas and positive change.

MLT Group's Project Manager, Ayodeji Awoskia, will have the honor of presenting at the upcoming TEDx event.
MLT Group’s Project Manager, Ayodeji Awoskia, will have the honor of presenting at the upcoming TEDx event.

Ayo has always been a fan of TED and TEDx talks, believing in the positive influence they have, and was thrilled when he had the opportunity to present.

“I believed I had an idea worth spreading and wanted to impact others the same way I’ve been impacted by other speakers.”

He became involved by attending TEDx’s pitch night, where he and 24 other speakers pitched their presentation ideas. Ayo was selected, along with three others.

The presentations will cover a wide variety of topics and ideas. Ayo will be speaking about imposter syndrome, in which individuals feel as if they are not qualified enough to be in their position, regardless of their success or accomplishments.

“The topic is important for me because I feel imposter syndrome all the time, specifically in my dreams I’m working on outside of work, which are becoming a full-time author and speaker one day. Impostor syndrome is ubiquitous, yet people don’t talk about it often enough. I think that now, with the way the economy is changing and with all the opportunities available to anybody, dealing with these feelings and overcoming them is important, because it’s a great time in our history to bet on yourself and take advantage of what’s in front of you.”

Ayo has been cultivating his speaking abilities as a member of Toastmasters International, an organization that helps members cultivate leadership and public speaking skills, but has taken additional steps to prepare for his presentation.

“I work with TEDx coaches on my speech. They give me tips on articulating my message, body language, vocal tonality, and several other nuances of giving a great talk. I also practice my talk relentlessly — pretty much every day, because I’m terrified, yet also excited!”

You can see Ayo and the other TEDx presenters Thursday, May 18th at Autumn Ridge Church in Rochester, MN. Purchase your tickets here!

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How to Respond to Online Reviews to Boost Your Business

Responding online reviews
Responding to reviews, both good and bad, can help business owners promote their business.

We’ve talked about the importance of online reviews before, but when you receive a review, what should you do? Should you respond or leave it alone? What if it’s negative? Responding to reviews requires tact and strategy. If done right, responding to reviews, even negative ones, can give your business a boost! Here, we’ll talk about the importance of responding to online reviews and how to respond to both positive and negative ones.

Why You Need to Respond to Online Reviews

It’s important to respond to both positive and negative online reviews. Responding gives your business a voice in the ongoing conversation consumers are having about your services. It also lets readers know that you’re engaged and care about what they have to say. Even if a reviewer was dissatisfied, a simple and polite response can make a world of difference. But how do you respond to reviews in a way that’s tactful and boosts your business?

How to Respond to Positive Reviews

Every business loves receiving a positive review, so responding is easy. But you can maximize this opportunity , connecting with your customers and promoting your business by remembering these key elements:

  • Remember your manners- Always thank a reviewer for taking the time to write about your business. It’s polite! “Thank you! We’re happy to hear you enjoyed your visit!”
  • Make it personal- Personalizing your response to each review shows customers that you read their reviews and care about what they have to say. To personalize a response, thank the reviewer by name and highlight specifics of their review. For example, if they appreciated your attention to detail, mention that thoroughness is something your business prides itself on. Doing this also allows you to re-emphasize the positive qualities of your business.
  • Invite them to come again- Inviting the reviewer to visit again shows that you care about their repeat business and makes them feel welcome. You can also use this as an opportunity to promote a special event or sale you have coming up. “Come see us again for our semi-annual sale starting on June 1st!”
  • Use keywords- Reviews can show up in search results, so utilize industry keywords and your business’ name when responding to a positive review so more readers will see it.

How to Respond to Negative Reviews

Receiving negative reviews hurts. However, they are a great tool for growing as a business, improving the customer experience, and even mending relationships. As expected, responding to negative reviews can be tricky, but with these tips, you can make negative reviews work for your business.

  • Understand what happened- What made this customer unhappy? Speak with your employees and try to piece together what happened or what went wrong. This will give you a better idea of how to respond and what you can do to remedy the issue. Was there a misunderstanding? Did your business drop the ball? Or was the customer in the wrong? This is something you should already be doing to improve your business and your customers’ experiences.
  • Remain calm- When responding to a negative review, it’s important to maintain a level head. Sounding angry or defensive will only reflect poorly on your business. Remaining calm shows that you are a professional and can take criticism.
  • Apologize and sympathize- Even if the customer was in the wrong, always apologize for their poor experience. This shows humility and acknowledges the reviewer’s feelings. This will also show other readers that your business cares about its customers and their experiences. “We’re sorry to hear you were dissatisfied with our services. We always try to put our customer’s satisfaction first, but it seems we’ve missed the mark.”
  • Take the conversation offline- Include your contact information and offer to resolve the issue outside of the review forum. This gives you the opportunity to make things right with the disgruntled customer and shows them that you value their patronage. It also shows readers that your business cares about its customers and takes their experiences seriously. If you are able to resolve the issue, politely ask the disgruntled customer to update their review to reflect this.
  • Don’t use keywords or your business’ name- As mentioned earlier, reviews can appear in searches. Avoid using keywords or your business’ name when responding to negative reviews so these reviews won’t be seen by other customers.

Reviews are an important part of any business. With these tips, you can maximize every opportunity to connect with your customers. Do you want more reviews for your business? Contact MLT Group at 507.281.3490 or sales@mltgroup.com and ask about our review campaign services.