Category: Reviews
5 Tips On How To Get Google Reviews For Your Business
Why Google Reviews Are Important For Business
We can all agree that Google’s Search Engine is the most visited and used site on the Internet. For most people, Google is the first stop or starting point when they open their browser. After each search, any relevant Google Business data are displayed on the right hand side of the results page. You’ll see a Google map with pins, link for directions, business name, website link, reviews, phone number and other information.
A business with no reviews, isn’t attractive or suggestive to the person behind the keyboard or mobile device. In fact, no reviews denotes that the business is either new, too small, or not using modern Internet services. As you can see, this is vitally important to generating leads or attracting business.
Negative reviews denote that the business is getting real reviews but don’t usually reflect positively and therefore it is important to generate plenty of positive reviews to offset any negatives.
Who Reads Google Reviews For Business
I must admit that I never scroll past the first few reviews and I won’t even read them if the business has 4.5 stars average or higher. I usually assume that it is a business I can trust or at least worth my time to visit. It is the negative ratings that draw my attention.
Case in point: My wife and I were looking for a Vietnamese Pho restaurant and we had been eyeing a local spot. Unfortunately, for the business, the Google reviews and ratings were terrible. Fortunately for us, before we even got into the car, we decided to try a different spot and that restaurant is permanently off our list.
How To Get Five Star Reviews On Google
Tip 1: Don’t pay for false reviews or a review service. Amazon.com just reported that they are suing some false review services and their clients are paying the price, a second time!
Tip 2: Natural is best. There are folks out there that love to give reviews. There appears to be some sort of Reviewer subculture. They love to write reviews. Yelp used to have features and competitions. Google gives weight to the review depending on an algorithm applied to the reviewer’s account. So a frequent “reviewer” will have more effect on your ratings. Therefore, your true customer relations and business if positive, will reflect in your natural ratings.
Tip 3: Request reviews. This is not an ethical problem because businesses thrive on word of mouth. A good business practice is to remind your customers/clients that their opinions matter.
Tip 4: Make it easy. Don’t forget to send your Google Business link to your clients in email footers or include a shortlink in printed material. (For a free shortlink service try out bit.ly)
Tips 5: Use incentive. Reward your good client reviewers randomly and advertise it. For example, you could reward a random reviewer with a coupon and make it known. Post on your social media accounts that Joe was this month’s random review winner and got a $20 coupon on his next $50 purchase!
The Power Of The Google Review
Google Business reviews can attract new business or drive them away before they even contact you! Generating positive reviews are often overlooked as a business goal.