Google Reviews? You Can’t Live Without Them!
Today more than ever before it’s important for businesses to get good reviews. Not only from Facebook, Trip Advisor, and dare I say…Yelp, but the biggest and best review that your business will receive online- that can literally make or break your business is a Google review. A good Google review can give your business a considerable boost, and also give your business much credibility. A bad Google review can be a detriment to your business, and make people think twice or not at all about buying your products or using your services. In the age of public opinion, you should be striving to get good reviews online.
Why Are Google Reviews Important?
Google reviews increase trust and credibility: About 85% of people trust authentic online reviews as much as they trust recommendations from family and friends! Google is one of the most used, and most trusted search engines. People are more likely to have trust and give credibility to Google reviews more than reviews from any other source. So, understanding how to get Google reviews is very important.
Google reviews influence purchase decisions: A lot of times Google reviews can be just what a consumer needs to push them from consideration to purchase. When consumers read Google reviews they’re looking for confirmation that they are making the right decision. Positive online reviews do just that! But, a negative review will dissuade a potential customer from even calling you, let alone visiting your location. If your business has a low star rating or a lot of recent negative Google reviews, customers will go to your competitor. Knowing how to get Google reviews and also how to understand what your reviews mean is a big deal. A recent survey said that 13% of consumers wouldn’t even consider purchasing from a business with a 1-2 star rating. We don’t blame them! Neither would we! Or, you…we’re guessing.
Google reviews improve local search ranking: One of the biggest benefits that online reviews bring to your business is a boost in local search ranking . This is important because customers need to be able to find the business they’re looking for. If they can’t find you, they can’t use you. The impact of reviews on your Google Maps listing helps your business stand out from the crowd bringing better Google ranking and more revenue. More importantly, it gives your business credibility and highlights your business in a good light- that you offer a great service or a great product, and that customers trust and love you.
So how do you get more Google reviews?
Realize now the importance of collecting more Google reviews but not sure how to get started? Below is some easy instructions on how to get started by setting up your Google My Business page, which will let you start collecting Google reviews.
Claim your Google Business listing
Navigate to business.google.com
Search for your business by name and address
Fill out basic information about your business
Submit for verification
The verification process is easy. Google will send you a postcard within 5-7 days with a PIN number. You’ll go back to your Google My Page at this time to enter that PIN number, and your listing will be verified. It is very important that you finalize this verification with the PIN, otherwise your Google listing will not be made public. And, Google also uses this process to ensure that only the right people have access to update and can manage your business listing on Google.
Make Your Listing Look Good
Now that you have the ability to update your business listing, put some effort into making sure that it looks good and is populated with all the pertinent info about your business. Also, make sure it has your branding on it (logo) and attractive photos so it’s enticing enough for searchers to want to click on it. Having Google reviews attached to your business listing will also help to make it stand out and bring real customer feelings to the forefront:
Add relevant information about your business
Upload high resolution, intersting photos
Include your hours of operations (change them as needed for holidays, etc.)
Start collecting more Google reviews and interacting with customers
Ok. So, you’ve claimed your listing, it’s verified and you have filled it with all your important information…now it’s time to start collecting Google reviews and interacting with customers. They will come in organically, but you can also make a proactive effort to ask all of your customers to write a Google review for your business.
About 70% of consumers are more than willing to leave a review for your business if you ask them to! So, just ask. Ask all of your customers personally, give them a link to take them exactly where they need to go. If they have a Google account (Gmail), it will be easy for them to do so! If not, there is always Facebook and other online listings to leave a review, although none are nearly as effective as a Google review.
Get More Google Reviews
Determine the right timing of the invitation: You know that you need to ask your customer to leave a review, but the problem you run into is it’s not always clear when the best time to invite your customers. In our experience, the best time to ask is when there’s some positive interaction between you and your customer. Just had a great meeting with a client…ask for a review. Had a great interaction with a customer…ask for a review.
Set some expectations for the review: After you’ve determined the right time to invite your customer, set expectations for what you want them to do. Let them know:
Why online reviews are important for your business
How they will be receiving the invite (text or email)
When they will be receiving the invite
Eliminate barriers: The harder it is for customers to leave reviews, the less likely they will leave a one. That’s why you need to make it as easy as possibleExplain how to do it, and send a link that will bring them exactly where they need to go in order to write their Google review.
And, One Very Important Last Step: Make sure you respond to all your reviews- in a positive way. Additionally, if you get a bad review, reach out to that person to see what you can do to make it better. Do not just ignore it, and by no means leave negative comments in reply to it. It only makes you look bad.
Google reviews should be an integral part of your digital marketing strategy. They help increase your visibility, build trust and credibility with consumers, and help push consumers through every stage of the buying process. If your business is taking proactive steps to secure reviews, it should see both an increase in traffic to its website as well as to its physical location.
And, as always, if you need help sorting it all out, just give us a call!