In many cases, Google reviews will be the first impression many customers will have of you as they will be able to see a clear five-star rating system to instantly judge your business.
Getting lots of Google reviews can offer you many benefits, such as:
Improve your search engine ranking – Google appreciates businesses that stay in touch with their customers, and positive reviews will boost your search results.
Establish trust with new customers – Your positive reviews are like free testimonials.
Show your customers you care – Reaching out and responding to reviews will tell your customers you value their opinion.
Having many Google reviews can increase your sales percentage.
This is especially true if you're running a small or local business, so you kazakhstan phone number list need to sit up and take note! We've gone into more detail about how to market your small business here , but having more Google reviews is definitely going to set you apart from the competition.
Just think about your own Google searches when you are looking for a local service, you always tend to choose the one with the most (and best quality) reviews, right?
You may be tempted to start paying for Google reviews as a way to quickly boost your numbers, however, we have gone into great detail here explaining why you should never pay for Google reviews as the consequences can be serious.
Instead, let us guide you through some helpful tips to help you get more authentic and natural Google reviews.
How to get more reviews on Google
1. Set up and verify your Google business profile
If you haven't already, you'll need to verify your business with Google. They've outlined the instructions to follow here , if you don't you won't be able to manage your business information such as location, upload posts and photos, and of course respond to those all-important reviews.
Google will verify via mail, email, or phone, and then you're ready to go.
2. Simply ask for more reviews
We know this may sound obvious, but it's the simplest way to get reviews and also something that businesses tend to overlook. If you ask for reviews in a good way, you can not only increase the number of reviews, but also the quality.
You can follow up a couple of weeks after purchase via email, this will give the customer a chance to actually use the product and leave a detailed review.
You can also experiment with other means, such as texting the customer if you have their number or handing out business cards or brochures if the purchase was made in-store.
Start collecting reviews by entering your Google my Business address below to get started with Trustmary.
Search for a business or add a Google Maps URL
3. Keep track of requests
People tend to have a lot of distractions these days, so an email or text requesting feedback on a product often falls to the bottom of the priority list. Try following up your request by asking them, once again, if they would like to leave a review. The first request may have come at a bad time for them, and sending them a new request this time may encourage them to do so.
Don't do this more than once or twice, as you'll likely anger the customer and cause them to leave a negative review !
4. Create a link to your Google reviews page
Google has made it easier than ever to get reviews by offering you a link through your Google Business account. Add this link to all your correspondence with your customers, such as emails, text messages, postal mail, and brochures. This will make leaving a review a breeze, with just one step.
If you have a traditional brick-and-mortar store, you'll want to have QR codes and signage around the store to show that you're also on Google. For example, if you own a coffee shop, you can add this to your menus, allowing customers to scan the code and give you a review while the service is still fresh in their minds.
Don't forget to add the link to your website as well and position it in an easy-to-find space.
5. Personalize the review experience
This can be as simple as using your customer's name when you email them or you can even train your staff to build a relationship with customers before asking them to leave a review.
Remember that customers who leave reviews feel a personal connection to the service provided (whether good or bad) and the more personalized you make your service, the more likely they will be to leave a review.
6. Respond to your reviews
We've talked before about the importance of communicating with your customers when managing your reviews, so make sure you respond to as many of them as possible, whether they're positive or negative . Responding to reviews makes customers feel like their opinions are respected and can encourage other people who wouldn't normally leave a review to post one.
A good review can teach you a lot about your business and highlight areas for improvement that you should focus on. If you've learned something new or decided to do something differently because of a review, be sure to let the customer know about the impact their review has had.
7. Keep your customers happy
Also, something seemingly obvious, but again, something that organizations often overlook. Excellent customer service should be at the heart of every action you take. People don’t often come across companies that make an effort to keep their customers happy, so this might be a new experience for some people!
When they've experienced outstanding service, they'll be much more likely to leave a review (just remember to ask for them!).
