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Google reviews play a pivotal role in shaping your business's online reputation as it influences consumer decisions and even improve search engine ranking. Learning how to write effective reviews, encourage more customer reviews, and edit existing reviews is crucial for businesses striving to maximize their digital footprint. We all want success for our business, which is why we will show you how to master Google reviews and how you can use them to elevate your business's online visibility.
What Is A Google Review?
A Google review is a review written by a user or consumer of your product or service that they leave on Google about your business, product, or services. Google reviews appear on the Google Maps app search, are integrated into Google My Business, and appear next to a Google business profile in Maps and Google Search results.
When you leave a Google review about your experience with a product, it provides useful information to potential customers about the quality of that product - influencing their decision to buy the product.
Why Do Google Reviews Matter For A Business?
There are several reasons why Google reviews matter for a business. They can influence consumer decisions, affect search engine ranking, improve online visibility, and provide valuable feedback you can use to improve your product.
Positive reviews are essential for building trust and credibility, attracting more customers, and ultimately increasing your business's sales. In comparison, negative reviews can deter new customers, ultimately decreasing sales. However, when you handle a negative Google review with professionalism, you demonstrate your business's commitment to customer service to your audience.
How To Write Google Reviews?
You can write reviews through your phone or using a computer.
Using a computer:
- Log in to your Google account.
- Search for the business you want to review on Google.
- Find the "Write a review" line in the reviews area, which is usually located near the star rating or in the sidebar of your Google search result.
- Click on the "Write a review" link.
- Rate the business from 1 to 5 stars, with higher numbers indicating a positive experience and, consequently, a more positive review.
- Write about your experience in the review box.
- Click "Post" to submit your review.
- Remember you can always delete review if the company has resolved your problem. Trust me; it will mean a lot to them if you delete negative Google reviews about the business.
Using Google Maps on your phone:
- Open the Google Maps app on your phone.
- Search for the business you want to review.
- Click on the place or address from the search result.
- Scroll down and find the Review section.
- Click on the "Review" button.
- Rate the business by selecting the number of stars you want to give and write your review in the box directly below the star rating.
- Click on "Post" to submit your review.
Should Business Owners Respond To All Reviews?
Yes, it should be a priority for a business owner to respond to both positive and negative reviews. When you respond to positive reviews, it shows appreciation for satisfied customers and can encourage them to return. It is also a great way to maintain a positive customer relationship and increase customer loyalty.
The same can be said for negative reviews. When you address negative feedback professionally, you can help address customers' concerns and potentially turn a negative experience into a positive one. It also shows other potential customers that your business cares about customer satisfaction and is willing to address any issues that arise - it's one of the easiest ways to build confidence in new customers.
How To Get More Google Reviews?
Here are some tips that have worked for me in getting more Google reviews:
- Ask Customers For Reviews: This is the easiest way to get more reviews. You can simply reach out to customers and ask them to leave a review on Google. Ask them in person, via email, social media, or SMS.
- Share Your Google Review Link: Make leaving Google reviews of your business easy for the customer. Add the link to your website, share it via email and SMS, or leverage feedback surveys to get Google reviews.
- Respond to Existing Reviews: This will show engagement and that you value their feedback, which can encourage them to leave more reviews.
- Use Professional Reputation Management Services: Platforms like Eclincher offer tools to help you manage your reviews and get more reviews.
- Just Be Nice: Providing excellent customer service can lead to more positive reviews and encourage customers to recommend your business to others.
Is It Ok To Ask Your Customers For Reviews?
Yes, it's common to ask customers for reviews - I do it all the time! You can ask them after they've purchased your product or used your service. However, please ensure you do it ethically without offering incentives or manipulating positive reviews. Doing it ethically ensures that your customer base grows organically and that you don't get any backlash by providing incentives, which can damage your reputation.
How To Edit Google Reviews?
To edit a Google review, you can follow these steps:
Using a computer:
- Open Google Maps.
- Click on the "Menu" with its three horizontal lines.
- Select "Your Contributions."
- Click on "Reviews."
- Navigate to the review you want to edit and click "More" with three dots next to it.
- Select "Edit review."
- Make your changes and save them.
Using your phone:
- Open the Google Maps app on your phone.
- Tap the "Contribute" button.
- Scroll to the "See All Reviews" tab.
- Find the review you want to edit and tap on it.
- Tap the three dots icon.
- Select "Edit review."
- Make your changes, depending on your experience, and save them.
Note: You can only edit or delete a review if you posted the review.
Can Negative Google Reviews Be Deleted?
Yes, negative Google reviews can be deleted. However, to ensure a fair and unbiased customer experience, Google has made strict requirements on who can delete a review. The only people who can delete Google reviews are those who created them, and after you have formally submitted a claim to Google detailing that the review is spam or indecent, requesting it to be removed. You can not remove someone else's review. Here is a great guide on how to remove a Google review.
Are There Tools To Manage Google Reviews?
Fortunately, you do get tools to help you manage your Google reviews. Tools like Google My Business (GMB) is the primary tool Google provides for managing your business's reviews across Google Search and Maps.
However, I found GMB to be lacking in certain areas, which is why I turned to third-party tools like Eclincher. This tool is the perfect social media management tool. After you start using it, you won't need any other tool. It effortlessly collects all your customer interactions, such as social media comments and Google reviews, into a single, easy-to-interpret dashboard. Gone are the days when you tirelessly jump between social media accounts, Google reviews, and review sites to address customer reviews.
What Types Of Businesses Need Google Reviews?
Any business can capitalize on Google reviews, but Google reviews are particularly important for local businesses as they can improve their local SEO and attract more customers in their area. Here are some of the local businesses that benefit the most from Google reviews:
- Restaurants and Cafes
- Home Services (Plumbers, Electricians, etc.)
- Medical and Health Services
- Legal Services
- Automotive Services
- Real Estate Agencies
- Entertainment Venues such as movie theatres and recreational parks
- Hotels and B&Bs
- Retail Stores
- Fitness Centers and Gyms
- Beauty Salons and Spas
- Educational Institutions
- Local Attractions
- Professional Services (Consultants, Accountants, etc.)
What Other Tools Does A Business Need To Manage Their Social Presence?
Managing your business's social presence is a full-time job, which is why you need tools to help you manage it more effectively. Tools I incorporate into managing my social media presence include:
- Social Media Management Tools: Eclincher is my go-to app for managing my social media accounts. They do everything, from scheduling posts to monitoring interactions and analyzing performance across multiple social media platforms.
- Review Management Tools: As already mentioned, review management tools help monitor and respond to reviews on different platforms.
- Customer Relationship Management: These tools help manage customer data and interactions.
- SEO Tools: Tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs help you optimize your online content for better search engine results.
- Content Creation: If you need to post a lot of content on social media, you need a tool that can help you create engaging visual content. I recommend Canva for this job.
Are There Other Review Sites Aside From Google?
Yes, some of the most popular review sites besides Google include:
- Yelp, G2, and Trustpilot - Variety of businesses
- TripAdvisor - Helping with travel and restaurant-related businesses
- Amazon and Facebook - For products
- Zomato - Another review site for restaurants
- Glassdoor - A review site for employers
- Angie's List - For service providers like plumbers
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Review Site Is The Most Popular?
The most popular review site is Google. With three-quarters of all online reviews posted on Google, it has become the go-to platform for online reviews.
Do Google Reviews Create More Sales?
Yes, customers are more likely to buy your product if they see positive reviews of your business on Google. It also helps with SEO - the more positive Google reviews you have, the better your search rankings.
Is There Any Type Of Business That Does Not Need Google Reviews?
No, any type of business can benefit from Google reviews as they can influence the sales of any business regardless of size or industry.
The Bottom Line
Mastering Google reviews - knowing how to write good ones, encourage more of them, and understand how they tie into your business's visibility - is a game changer for your business in this digital age. Additionally, you can use tools like Eclincher to further leverage the power of customer feedback to build a positive online reputation and enhance customer engagement. If you are interested in using this powerful tool, feel free to reach out to us. It was a game changer for me and can also be for you!
