Reviews matter, and Google reviews especially matter. A 2018 ReviewTrackers report found that 63.6% of consumers are likely to check online reviews on Google before visiting a business. That’s more than any other review site.
Not only does having Google reviews matter, but so does getting customers to review your business. According to the Pew Research Center, about 38% of Americans never leave reviews on products or services. So you’ll have to come up with some ways to get those reviews.
Alternatively, you can contact OppGen Marketing to help you with review strategies.
But first, let’s start by making sure your business is capable of getting Google reviews.
How to Start Getting Google Reviews in 2 Simple Steps
If your business isn’t getting Google reviews, it’s time to make sure it does. The following instructions will put you on the path to getting reviews and more customers.
1. Sign Up for Google My Business
If you don’t have one already, you should definitely sign up for a Google My Business account. You’ll need one in order to get Google reviews, but its benefits go beyond that. It can help you rank higher in local search results, provide accurate information about your business, and helps you against competing businesses.
You can create an account by going to the Google My Business page.
If your business has already been established as a Place on Google Maps, you can type in your business’s name and claim it from the dropdown list. If you can’t find it, click the Add your business to Google link.
From there, you’ll be asked to select a business category, whether or not you have a physical location for your business (assuming you do, click Yes), and to type in your address. It’s very important to make sure you type in your address correctly. If you serve a specific area or neighborhood, you can include that information, too, using a city name or zip code.
You’ll be asked to add your contact information. Like the address, it’s also very important to make sure this information is correct.
2. Verify Your Google My Business Account
One of the reasons why it’s important to have the correct address and contact information is so Google can verify your listing. Google offers a couple of verification options:
- A postcard with a verification code sent in the mail
- Phone call
- Text
The postcard is the most common option, as the other verification options are not available for all business types.
If you fail to type in the correct contact information, then it will be more difficult to get the verification code.
When the code arrives, go to the left menu and click Verify location. You’ll enter the code and submit it.
Now you have a verified Google My Business listing! This means you can edit your business’s information, respond to reviews, and add photos, and post various other updates.
It also means it’s much easier to get more Google reviews.
How to Get More Google Reviews
Create a Google Review Link Shortcut
With a Google My Business listing, you can make it much easier for customers to review your website. Google My Business listings have access to a Google review link shortcut that can take customers right to your business’s Google review page.
Shorten the Review Shortcut
Use a link shortener like bit.ly, especially if you’re handing out cards as reminders to review. Typing the full review URL can be a pain. But a link shortener can make it much easier for people to review, especially if they’re reviewing on their phone. Keep in mind that bit.ly does have a set number of links you can shorten, but as long as you’re just using the same link for the review page, that shouldn’t be a problem.
Create a Google Review Page on Your Website
Reviews can be very persuasive, so why not have a review and testimonial page on your business’s website? Your website may have the capabilities to even have a Google review widget that lets website visitors scroll through the reviews, which will update on its own without having to copy and paste reviews whenever your business receives a new one.
Leave a Google Review CTA and/or Widget in Your Website’s Footer
In the world of marketing, a CTA is one of the most important things. A CTA, or Call To Action, essentially sums up the action you want your audience to take.
In this case, the desired action is for your audience to write a Google review. By adding a Google review CTA in your website’s footer, they’ll see that as a reminder on every single website page.
Depending on your website, you may also be able to use or create a footer widget that links to the review page, too.
Ask for a Review In-Person
Asking for a review in-person is not rocket science, but it’s effective.
If you ask a customer or patient for a review, they’re more likely to leave a review. You can ask them in-person at the end of an appointment or when the service is complete.
Sometimes you may have to entice them to leave a review — try offering a discount for their next session or the next time they use your service.
Don’t forget to tell customers how to leave a review for your business. You could even show them how to do it on their phone.
Request a Review Digitally
A good rule of thumb when asking for a review is to ask for it in the same medium they used to reach out to you. If a customer emailed you initially, reply to their email and request a review toward the end of the email. If they messaged you on social media, ask them to leave a Google review on the same social media channel they used.
Respond to Google Reviews
You should respond to Google reviews — especially the negative ones. Although that seems counterintuitive, replying to a negative review can actually do a lot more good than bad, but that’s only when it’s done right.
Avoid using the same copied-and-pasted script when replying to bad reviews. That implies to customers that you don’t really care about negative experiences and just want to address it and sweep it under the rug. Replies that are different and acknowledge and address the problem directly will receive a much, much better reception.
Replying to all reviews shows those reading these reviews that you care about customers’ feedback and genuinely want them to have a good experience. This makes customers more likely to return and will likely persuade new customers to become regulars.
Contact OppGen for More Information
Google reviews matter a lot. They help customers choose where to go for products and services. They show that you care about customers and their feedback and genuinely try to make sure they receive the best possible service. They can create a certain image or perception of your business. These are all things that can affect the number of leads and customers coming into your business.
Being able to understand how Google reviews work is just the first step to getting more reviews. The next step is to contact OppGen. We can help you set up a Google My Business listing and discuss even more strategies and ideas for getting more Google reviews.
