Reviews are the most prized commodity in today’s world dominated by the internet. A good review from a satisfied customer works as a stamp of approval. Consumers often perceive online reviews, be it on social media or Google, as more authentic and trustworthy than traditional advertising. They rely on the experiences of others to make informed decisions.
There’s another advantage of good reviews: search engine optimization. Positive reviews boost a website’s credibility and push it upwards on the search engine ranking pages. Naturally, this results in more visibility and higher organic traffic to the website, which translates into higher sales and more revenue. Therefore, it is vital for businesses to boost Google reviews by getting more customers to rate their products and comment about them.
The art of getting a review
While reviews massively help businesses improve their credibility and get more customers, sourcing positive feedback for your brand is not always a piece of cake. See, users don’t readily leave reviews no matter how much they like a product, so it is up to the brand to make them do it.
So, the question is how to get more reviews on Google. Here, timing is the key. If you time your request for a review shortly after a positive experience, such as after a successful delivery or once the customer has had time to use the product, you have a better probability of getting a positive review.
When asking users for a review, make sure your request has a personal touch. Whether it is an email or a message, address the customers by their name and mention the item they purchased. This makes the request feel more genuine and less automated and will prompt the customer to leave a review.
What are Google reviews, and how do they work
Google reviews is a feature of Google Maps that allows users to give their opinions about a product or a service. It’s a popular platform for customers to share their experiences with local businesses, from restaurants and shops to services like hotels and salons. For businesses, these reviews are vital as they provide potential customers with insights into the experiences of previous customers.
Users with a Google account can leave reviews for businesses by searching for the business on Google or Google Maps. Once they find the business, they can click on the “Write a review” button to rate the business (usually from 1 to 5 stars) and leave comments about their experience.
The system is based on a 5-star scale, where 1 star is the lowest rating (indicating a poor experience) and 5 stars is the highest (indicating an excellent experience). The overall rating of the business is an average of all the ratings it has received.
9 tips to boost Google reviews
While business owners are aware of the importance of Google review and how much value it can add to their business, they always grapple with a few questions:
- How to get more Google reviews?
- How to get better Google reviews?
- How to get positive Google reviews?
In this blog, we will answer these questions and list 9 strategies to get Google reviews. Businesses can follow these tips to convince more customers to leave Google reviews and improve their ratings.
1. Deliver exceptional customer service
The first step to getting a positive review is delivering exceptional customer service and experience. As a business, you should always aim to exceed customer expectations. Positive experiences naturally lead to positive reviews. To improve customer service, you must ensure that they can reach out for assistance at any time. Always strive to address customer concerns and requests promptly, professionally, and to their utmost satisfaction.
2. Ask for reviews at the right moment
The key to increasing reviews on Google is to ask for them at the right time. You can request a review after a successful sale or positive customer interaction. This is when customers are most likely to leave a favorable review.
A survey by the Harvard Business Review stated that the majority of online customers today take around two days to post a review after getting a product, while only 8% review the product on the same day.
If a customer doesn’t leave a review, you have the option of sending a follow-up email after a purchase or service completion and politely asking for a review. The message should have a link that redirects the users to your Google review page. This makes it easier for them to rate your product or service.
3. Make the review process easy
According to research by Trackmage.com, customers often don’t leave reviews because the process is long and complicated. This means even when a customer clicks on the link to leave a review, they abort the process midway because of the complications.
You can avoid this by providing customers with a link to your Google business listing. You can include this in emails, on your website, or in a post-purchase communication. Some customers may be unfamiliar with how to leave a Google review, and you can help them by providing simple instructions on how they can rate your service.
Another way for you to increase Google reviews for your business is by creating QR codes and putting them on physical locations or printed materials. Customers can scan with their smartphone, which will take them directly to the review page. This is especially useful in packaging inserts, receipts, or thank-you notes.
4. Offer ethical incentives
Offering ethical incentives is one of the best ways to get Google reviews. However, it is important to be mindful of the fact that you are incentivizing the customers in ethical ways and not in a way that dupes them into leaving reviews. Unethical means to source reviews also violate Google’s policies, which prohibit offering money or gifts in exchange for positive reviews.
One of the incentives could be a small discount or coupon for a future purchase in exchange for leaving a review. You can also offer a free sample or a small gift for the review. This works well in industries like cosmetics, food, or apparel.
Another way to entice customers to review your product or services is through contests or giveaways. If you have a loyalty program, offer points as a reward for leaving a review. This adds value for the customer while maintaining an ethical approach.
5. Leverage social proof
If you have just started a new venture and are thinking about how to get Google reviews for your business, you can try a technique called leveraging social proof. It is a powerful way for businesses to encourage customers to leave Google reviews.
Social proof, in essence, is the idea that people are influenced by the actions and opinions of others. The positive experience of other people reassures potential customers, and they get easily convinced and hence are more likely to make a purchase and leave a review.
You can start by displaying positive Google reviews prominently on your website, especially on key pages like the homepage, product pages, and checkout pages. Seeing these reviews reassures potential customers and can prompt them to leave their own feedback after a purchase.
Another method to leverage social proof is by posting positive reviews on your social media accounts. This not only builds trust with your audience but also encourages other customers to share their experiences.
Include reviews and feedback in your email marketing campaigns. For instance, after highlighting a positive review, include a CTA asking recipients to share their experiences by leaving a Google review.
6. Encourage user-generated content (UGC)
UGC works wonders, whether it is for promoting a product or convincing people to leave a Google review for your business or product. Informally, this trick could also be called Google review marketing. You can ask clients to share photos or videos of your product in use, along with a Google review. Feature this UGC on your website or social media, giving credit to the original poster. This not only builds credibility but also incentivizes others to contribute.
Additionally, you can partner with influencers who have a substantial following to use your product and ask their followers to leave a review. These types of campaigns encourage customers to share their experiences online using a specific hashtag and combine this with a request to leave a Google review.
7. Respond to positive and negative reviews
If you are wondering how to improve your Google reviews, start by engaging with the customers who have already posted a review on your business listing. You can thank customers for their reviews, regardless of the rating. This will build your image as a brand that values its customers’ feedback.
In case of any negative reviews, you should handle them professionally and promptly. If a customer had an unsatisfactory experience with your brand, offer a sincere apology. In the next step, you can rectify the situation or provide next steps to address the issue.
In the case of both positive and negative reviews, the key is to personalize your response. If you are engaging with a review, give reference to specific details from their review to show the customers that you’re paying attention. For example, your response could be something like this: “Hi [the person’s name]. We’re glad you loved our [specific product or service]! We look forward to serving you again.”
8. Follow-up communication
Utilizing follow-up communication is an effective Google review booster strategy. This approach involves engaging with customers after they’ve purchased a product or used a service and gently guiding them toward leaving feedback.
If a customer hasn’t left a review after receiving the product, you can send a follow-up communication. If the customer doesn’t respond to the first follow-up, schedule additional reminders a few days or a week later. This gentle nudge can be effective without being overly pushy.
Once again, personalization is the key to getting a better review. Your follow-up email should address the customer by name and reference their specific purchase or service. This makes the communication feel more genuine and less like a generic mass message. Start the follow-up request with a sincere thank you for their business, as it would create a positive impression and make the customer more inclined to leave a review.
Include a clear and prominent link or button that directs the customer straight to your Google review page in your message. This simplifies the process and removes barriers to leaving a review.
9. Automate the process to request a review
Another sure-shot way of increasing reviews on Google is automating the entire process. You can set up an automated email campaign that is triggered by specific customer actions, like a purchase, service completion, or a specific period after delivery. The email can thank the customer for their trust in your brand and request a review.
There is also an option to Use an SMS marketing platform to send automated text messages requesting reviews after a purchase or service interaction. Text messages can have a higher open rate than emails, making them an effective method for reaching customers.
Many Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems offer the ability to automate review requests. By integrating Google Reviews into your CRM, you can automatically trigger review requests based on customer interactions, purchase history, or other criteria.
Conclusion
Businesses can boost Google reviews by understanding how they work and utilizing them effectively. Always remember that customers are not naturally inclined to leave a review, but they will do so if asked nicely and, in some cases, incentivized to do so. These are some of the strategies you can use to create a steady stream of positive reviews, which will not only boost your online reputation but also enhance your business’s visibility in Google search results.
