Google Reviews: A Complete Guide for Businesses

Let’s say you are craving coffee, and you search “best coffee shop near me” on Google. Two places pop up. One has a 4.5-star rating with customers saying about the good services, while the other has a 3.5-star rating with complaints about bad taste, long waits and bad services.

Now, if one asks, which one would you go for? The answer will definitely be the first one, right?

This is what Google ratings and reviews do! Customers depend on it for anything, be it to shop, eat or get a service. Remember the last time you picked a business without looking at its reviews? Bet that you have neither.

If you have a business, a single review can make a huge difference. A good one can bring in more customers, while a bad one can push your prospects away.

So, how do you get more reviews, how do you respond, how do you optimise, or how do you deal with the negative ones?

In this guide, we’ll break down everything.

What are Google reviews?

Google reviews are online reviews that customers leave on a business’s Google profile. These reviews usually include a star rating (from 1 to 5). While the five stars signify that they loved their experience with your business, one star leads to their less impressive experience. In addition, the customers can share details about their experiences and explain why they gave a certain rating. Customers can add photos as well.

Why are Google reviews important?

Google reviews play a major role in how people choose businesses.

Here’s why it matters:

• Customers do trust businesses that have high ratings and positive feedback.
• Google also ranks businesses that have more positive reviews in search results.
• Google ratings and reviews for businesses also help in understanding what customers love and what needs improvement.
• More positive reviews lead to more sales and growth.
• It improves click-through rates on your website.

7 game-changing benefits of Google reviews:

1. Boosts visibility & local SEO

Google reviews directly impact your business’s local search rankings. There are multiple factors Google considers when determining which business will appear at the top of Google search results, and customer reviews are one of the most important ones. When Google sees reviews, it takes it as a sign of the trustworthiness, relevancy and popularity of your business. As a result, businesses that have more high-quality reviews appear in the top 3 listings in local searches.

2. Builds stronger brand credibility

In today’s digital world, most potential customers evaluate a business’s reputation based on what others have said. According to statistics, around 7 in 10 consumers state consumer reviews at least “frequently” influence their purchase decisions. So, with a strong Google review profile, you can build one of the biggest trust signals for potential clients.

3. Provides actionable customer insights

With Google reviews, you can easily get your customers’ thoughts and experiences. You will get unfiltered feedback on what you are doing well and what you don’t while understanding customer preferences, pain points and areas where your business excels or falls short. Also, by listening to your customers actively, you can differentiate yourself from competitors.

4. Enhances website click-through rates

Click-through rate is an important metric in digital marketing as it measures how often people click on your website link after seeing it in search results. Positive reviews show that other customers have had positive experiences with your business. This makes potential customers click through to your website. More clicks to your site mean more leads, inquiries, and potential conversions.

5. Drives higher revenue

Google reviews have a direct financial impact on businesses because more positive reviews lead to higher sales, repeat customers and increased revenue. When customers see a business with high ratings and positive feedback, they tend to spend more money as they feel confident.

6. Encourages customer engagement & loyalty

Google ratings and reviews for businesses work as a bridge between businesses and customers as they foster engagement, trust and long-term loyalty. This way, customers feel heard and valued. When the customers see that a business is actively responding to reviews, it reassures them that their opinions matter and they care about their satisfaction. This increases their chances of returning.

7. Gives you a competitive edge

Google reviews can be a deciding factor when it comes to choosing between similar businesses. Companies with a higher rating and more reviews are considered more trustworthy and credible. And this encourages prospects to choose your business over a lesser-known competitor.

How do you get more Google reviews?

One of the most effective ways to get more Google reviews is by asking the customers directly. But you have to be strategic enough when requesting. For example, instead of sending a generic request, you have to be polite, personal and clear. Tell them directly how much their review will mean to you. Another thing is you have to simplify the process of leaving a review. Like, you can directly share a link or create a step-by-step guide for customers who are not familiar with how to leave a review.

Often, customers just forget to leave a review. So, you can go for a gentle reminder by sending follow-up emails and texts. For the physical store, you can use in-store signage to encourage customers to leave reviews.

If you are planning to offer incentives to motivate your customers to leave reviews, you have to be careful because Google’s policies prohibit offering rewards in exchange for positive reviews. So, you have to make sure that you can encourage reviews without influencing the content or tone of the feedback.

How many Google reviews does my business need?

For this question, there is no such “one-size-fits-all answer”. Even if your business has a higher number of reviews, if the quality of the reviews is low, those won’t be effective compared to a few high-quality, detailed reviews. In general, you can aim to have around 20 to 40 Google reviews to make your business seem trustworthy and established.

Again, there are some industries that are more review-driven than others. So yes, the number of reviews can vary depending on the field as well. It is better to aim to create a realistic and consistent review-gathering strategy instead of focusing on a specific number of reviews.

How to deal with negative Google reviews

Here are some ways you can try:

• It is a must to stay professional when responding to negative reviews. A calm and respectful tone will show the potential customers that you are willing to improve.
• Make sure to express gratitude for their feedback and apologise for their negative experience. Even though the review is not entirely accurate, you must acknowledge the issue to make the customers feel heard.
• Don’t argue or make any excuses. Otherwise, it will worsen the situation.
• Once the issue is addressed, offer a solution or show the steps you have taken to prevent similar situations in the coming days. This will show your commitment to improvement.
• Instead of a lengthy or over-explained response, try to keep it concise, respectful and focused.
• If the issue is too complex, you can share a phone number or email to share a more in-depth discussion.
• Try to learn from the reviews as they identify the weak points in your business that you might have overlooked.

How to optimise your Google business profile listing for more reviews

The very first step is to complete your Google Business Profile because a well-maintained profile makes it easier for customers to find, contact and trust your business. All the key elements, such as business name, categories, address, phone number, business hours, and photos, have to be in place.

Next, simplify the review process to skip any sort of friction. You can generate a custom URL to take customers directly to your review page. Make sure to place the link prominently on your review page. It can be in the footer, contact pages or on a specific “Reviews” page.

You can even add the link in emails or receipts. Try to engage with customers who leave reviews, be it positive or negative. Show appreciation for their feedback and address any concerns to encourage them to leave their own reviews. Also, you can use Google posts to keep your Google Business Profile active and engaged.

Wrapping up

In the end, Google Reviews are a game changer for businesses when it comes to building credibility, enhancing their online presence or connecting with customers. With a complete and optimised profile, you can boost your visibility in search results while attracting more customers and improving your local SEO. So take full advantage of Google Reviews to stand out and keep your customers coming back!