Why are Google Reviews Important for Your Business?
The first and most obvious reason is that potential customers are using your reviews to judge the quality of your business and using this as a key factor in choosing to engage with you. At the end of 2019 research showed that positive reviews make consumers 91% more likely to use a business and 76% trust online reviews as much as recommendations from family and friends. On top of this only 53% of people would consider using a business with less than a 4-star review average.
Positive reviews also have a strong impact on your search result rankings. Google’s algorithm looks at multiple factors when determining ranking order on a search results page and reviews are considered as part of this. Think about it this way – Google’s main aim is to provide search results that give the best answer to a user’s search query. If a user is looking for a podiatrist or a plumber in their local area, Google will prioritise the businesses that have evidence showing they provide a quality service.
As you can see, putting your energy into maximising your review profile is time well spent. The next question you’re probably asking is how to get your customers to leave you a positive review – after all, isn’t it up to them if they want to provide feedback? Maybe so, but there are a number of ways you can increase the probability of this happening.
1. Request a Review
2. Generate a Review Link
3. Add a Review Request to your Website and Email Signature
4. Send a Follow Up
Respond to Existing Reviews
This is the step that is most commonly overlooked but can provide a huge return on the small amount of time it takes to implement. Of the 82% of users that read online reviews for local businesses, 97% of them also read the response posted by the business. While it may be tempting to only respond to negative feedback in order to set the record straight, the best practice is to respond to all reviews.
A simple thank you for their feedback is good, even better is to respond directly to a point they have made in their review or mention a specific detail about the job that you remember from your interaction with them. Personalising your response is far stronger than a generic copy and paste answer and doesn’t take much more time to do.
How you handle a negative review can also be a make or break factor in how a potential customer sees your business. Read our simple guidelines on responding to a negative Google review.
When used effectively, Google reviews are a strong asset to your online marketing strategy. Start implementing some of these tips today and see the results as your review profile grows. For more information on Google Reviews or to discuss your digital marketing strategy, contact practiceedge.
