8 Tips On How to Increase Google Reviews for Your Business
Ready to take your business up a notch? If so, consider getting more Google reviews! Collecting customer feedback is essential. With reliable online reviews, achieving success in this digital world will be easier.
That’s why we’ve put together eight helpful tips on how to increase Google reviews — giving your brand the recognition it deserves!
If increasing visibility and improving sales are at the top of your list, read this article and learn how another stellar review could power up your business goals today!
The Benefits of Getting More Google Reviews
First, why should you care? Can’t you just run a good business and hope for the best?
While you certainly can do that, Google reviews are essential in marketing your business the right way.
Let’s take a quick look at the benefits of getting more Google reviews for your company.
Spread the Word
Think about it: when someone is trying to decide between two businesses, which one are they going to choose?
Most likely, it’s the one with the better reviews — which means more than just the number of stars a business has. It also means reading what other people have said about their experience with that company.
Having lots of positive reviews on Google is like free word-of-mouth advertising for your business. It helps new customers make an informed decision before they choose your company.
Increase Visibility
The higher up your page is in search results, the more likely someone will click on it.
Since Google considers reviews when ranking pages, having positive credibility can help boost your search rankings and give potential customers a better chance of finding you online!
Build More Trust
Online reviews are the modern-day gold standard when customers are deciding where to shop, what restaurant to visit, or which vacation destination to choose.
It’s almost as if we consider reviews from strangers more reliable than the personal recommendations of our friends and family!
It makes sense, though. If you operate a business, you must know what people say about your product or service online. After all, who knows us better than ourselves?
Improve Customer Service
Having honest feedback from real customers means you hear it straight from the horse’s mouth. After all, who can give you a better report card on your services or products than your customers?
Understanding what people think of your business allows you to improve customer service and address future issues so that customers experience fewer hiccups with your company.
It also helps you create a more stable bond with each customer, helping them get the best possible experience above all else. Having honest feedback is like having a superpower for your business!
Increase Engagement
Reviews are like having a matchmaker in the virtual world. You’ll be surprised how many potential customers are won over just by seeing plenty of positive reviews for your company.
Additionally, if your business has many great reviews, your search rankings will improve, too, making it easier for more people to find what your business offers.
How to Increase Google Reviews: 8 Tips
There are several ways to get more reviews for your business, and here are just a few of our favorites.
Tip #1: Do Good Work!
The most crucial part of getting more reviews is ensuring you deliver a great product or service. People are more likely to leave a positive review if their experience is positive, so it’s essential to ensure that you’re doing the best work possible.
It also helps to let customers know what to expect when they choose your business—being upfront about pricing, timeline, and delivering quality products will go a long way toward encouraging customers to leave reviews.
Tip #2: Ask for a Review After Completing a Project
Once you’ve completed the project and have delivered what you promised, take the time to ask for a review! Most people are happy to help if they’ve had an enjoyable experience with you, but some need an extra push in the right direction.
A simple email reminder or social media post will do the trick!
Be sure to include links to where customers can leave their reviews — they may not be aware of where they should go, which will save them time trying to figure it out on their own.
Tip #3: Make It Easy for Customers to Leave a Review
You want customers to leave reviews as quickly as possible, so remember to make it easy!
Make sure your website has all the necessary information listed so that potential reviewers know precisely which page or platform to visit to leave a review.
Additionally, don’t forget about including direct links or QR codes that allow reviewers one-click access—it’s an incredibly helpful way of streamlining the process and encouraging people who wouldn’t usually take the time out of their day otherwise!
Tip #4: Say Thanks for Every Positive Review
One of the simplest — and most effective — ways to get more Google reviews is to say thank you for every positive review you receive.
Showing appreciation makes your customers feel valued and encourages them to leave future reviews or share their experiences with family and friends.
It can also incentivize other customers to leave a review because they know their effort won’t go unnoticed.
Tip #5: Respond Quickly to Negative Reviews (And Try To Resolve the Issue)
It’s not uncommon for businesses to receive negative reviews, but responding quickly and professionally can help turn a bad situation into an opportunity.
When responding, acknowledge their feedback and apologize for any inconvenience caused by their experience with your business.
But how can you do that? Here are a few things you can do to address negative reviews.
- Acknowledge the Reviewer’s Feelings: First, it’s essential to acknowledge the feelings of the reviewer. Even if you disagree with their point of view, it doesn’t hurt to sympathize with them and show that your business cares about their experience. A simple “I apologize for your experience…” can go a long way in showing that you care about what they have to say and that you value their opinion.
- Explain Your Side of Things: The next step is to explain your side of the story without arguing with the reviewer. This will help clarify any misunderstandings or confusion surrounding the incident in question. Be sure not to get defensive or aggressive when doing so. Instead, present your case clearly and respectfully while offering an apology. This will show potential customers that you are open-minded and willing to listen and address concerns. Explanations could go a long way in gaining customer loyalty in the future.
- Offer a Resolution: Finally, offer a resolution for the issue at hand. Whether it’s issuing a refund or providing additional services or products, ensure that your response is quick and appropriate for the situation. People want answers quickly, so ensure that you provide one as soon as possible to give customers confidence in your ability to handle issues promptly and professionally. Try to take the conversation offline by offering to address the issue via email or phone rather than continuing back and forth in public comments on Google reviews. This gives you more control over handling the situation instead of dealing with it publicly. It also allows you to have a more personal interaction with your customers so that they feel their concerns are being taken seriously.
Tip #6: Mention Your Business in Emails and Letters
Another great way to get more Google reviews is by mentioning your business in emails and letters after completing each purchase or service.
This gives customers who had a good experience with your business an easy avenue to leave positive feedback on Google—without having to search around for where they can leave one quickly!
Plus, mentioning how much their input means helps incentivize people to leave positive reviews of their own volition.
All businesses should strive towards achieving this since organic growth is always better than forced growth in marketing techniques!
Tip #7: Leverage Social Media Channels
Social media is a great way to drive traffic toward your website and encourage more people to leave reviews for your business on Google.
Post regular updates about new products or services and discounts or promotions you may be offering — anything that will grab people’s attention and interest them.
When sharing content from other websites or sources, always remember to link back to your website so people can easily find it while searching online. (This is also a good SEO practice!)
You can also use social media channels like Twitter or Facebook Ads Manager for paid campaigns targeting specific audiences interested in leaving a review on Google for your business after seeing your ad.
Tip #8: NEVER Buy Google Reviews!
Last but not least, it’s important to remember that buying Google reviews is a no-go! This is not only against Google’s Terms & Conditions but also shows potential customers that your business isn’t genuine and trustworthy.
The best way to get more reviews for your business is to provide outstanding customer service, always be available when customers need help, and leverage the power of word of mouth both online and offline.
This will ensure that all the reviews left on your pages are 100% legitimate — a must if you want to ensure potential customers take you seriously!
How Many Google Reviews Does Your Business Need?
We get this question a lot, and the simple answer is that it depends.
One way to think about this is by considering the competition in your industry.
- What are other businesses doing?
- How many reviews do they have compared to yours?
If you want to stay ahead of the competition, you should aim for more than what they have — but don’t worry if you can’t get ahead of them immediately.
It takes time to cultivate customer relationships and encourage them to leave positive feedback.
Another factor is how often people search for your type of product or service online.
The more often people search online for what you offer, the more reviews you should have. This ensures that potential customers accurately understand who you are and what they can expect from working with your company.
That said, even if only a few people are searching for what you offer, having some reviews will help build trust with those who come across your page.
Finally, consider where potential customers live or work relative to where your business operates. If most of your customers come from a particular area or city, focus on collecting Google reviews from those locations before branching out further (e.g., countrywide).
Prioritizing local areas can help establish trust among those closest to home before expanding into other markets.
Elevate Your Digital Presence With Search Click Grow
It should be clear by now that Google reviews are a valuable asset for any business looking to improve its online presence. While getting customers to leave a review can seem daunting, following the tips above will put you on the fast track to success.
What are you waiting for? Start collecting those five-star reviews and watch your business take off!
If you need help getting started, our team at Search Click Grow is always here to help. We’re experts in digital marketing and know all the ins and outs of boosting your website’s visibility.
