7 Ways to Generate Google Reviews for Your Business
Once upon a time, the art of writing a review tended to be a privilege reserved for the literary elite, predominantly catered toward various forms of creative expression like cinema, music, and literature.
Today, giving a thumbs up or thumbs down isn’t solely reserved for movie critics, and while everybody is entitled to an opinion, there’s never been a more prevalent and accessible time to share your critiques with the rest of the world. For the past decade, online reviews have not just altered the way businesses approach their digital marketing strategies – they’ve completely reshaped how consumers carry out their purchasing decisions.
In fact, 90% of consumers read and analyze online reviews before making a product purchase or enlisting a company’s services, while nearly 80% of consumers say that online reviews are just as trustworthy as personal recommendations.
It’s easy for business owners to be wary of online reviews, especially managing and responding to negative ones. But the reality of the situation is that the more online reviews you can generate – specifically through Google – the more credible, authentic, and attractive your company will be in the eyes of your desired target audience.
The more Google reviews your business receives, the more marketing advantages you’ll be able to reap the benefits of:
- Higher rankings in local, organic search results
- Increased click through rates and website traffic
- Higher lead generation and conversion rates
- Create more user-generated content
- Receive more resourceful customer feedback and more
The bottom line? More Google reviews equal more customers. But how do you get people to continuously write (hopefully positive) online reviews for your business?
Here’s a hint: You don’t have to show up on their doorstep and beg them.
To help boost your brand and get more customers in the door, check out these seven ways you can generate more Google reviews for your business.
1. Go Straight To The Source
While most people will feel completely satisfied by their experience in working with or purchasing from your company, odds are they won’t be entirely motivated themselves to write a positive online review. But with a little encouragement and persuasion, you can increase the amount of your company’s Google reviews by tenfold!
Every time you’re interacting with a satisfied customer, be sure to direct them to leave a Google review regarding their experience. Don’t be afraid to explain to them how Google reviews are helpful to your business and express how much their feedback means to you.
Whether you’re on the phone with another over-the-moon customer or someone is giving you words of in-store encouragement, never hesitate to ask a client to share their satisfaction with the rest of the digital world.
2. Optimize Your Feedback For Accessible Feedback
Sometimes a customer’s experience will compel them to go the extra distance and leave an online recommendation. But if it isn’t apparent how they can do so, that impulsive inspiration can quickly wear off.
Your company’s website should be completely optimized for making it convenient to leave an online review for your business. Add apparent and visible review widgets, so it only takes a few clicks for a website visitor to leave you a Google review.
You should also take the time to verify your Google My Business listing, so your contact information and previous online reviews will appear when your company is searched through Google Maps, Search, or other Google services.
3. Follow Up Via Email
Whenever you’ve completed a transaction or provided a service with a customer, it’s imperative that you obtain their contact information, specifically an email address, upon receiving their business.
Creating an email database of previous customers allows you to stay in touch and maintain relevance in their minds, providing a direct channel to compel them to leave a Google review.
Your email should be personalized, addressing each customer by name while thanking them for whatever service or product they invested in. From there, explain why their online review would be much appreciated.
Even if you don’t hear back from a previous customer right away, it never hurts to check in every few weeks or months to inquire whether they’ve reviewed your services on Google.
4. Incentivize Writing A Review
Sometimes you need to approach your customers with a little “scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” logic when it comes to compelling them to write a Google review.
Review incentives are an easy way to motivate previous customers to leave your business an online review, especially if they’re repeat customers who have proven to be drawn to your services or products.
Coupons, discounts, gift cards, raffle prizes, free steak dinner – whatever it takes to get some more Google reviews rolling in can do wonders increasing your amount of online reviews!
5. Have An Active Social Media Presence
It doesn’t matter if you’re the Los Angeles Lakers or a local basketball socks manufacturer – every brand needs an active social media presence to engage with and monitor customer feedback.
Out of all the advantages that an efficient social media advertising strategy can provide, utilizing your company’s social media platforms to encourage followers to write Google reviews of your business can add dozens of online reviews every month.
Aside from getting a better understanding of customers’ perception of your business, It’s also a channel to share all the latest glowing reviews of your company with followers and provide subtle reminders of how much you appreciate their responses and comments.
6. Monitor & Respond To Existing Google Reviews
Whether someone is expressing tears of joy regarding their latest customer experience with your company or they’re throwing an all-capitalized letter tantrum, how you monitor and respond to existing Google reviews can have a profound impact on how your business generates more online reviews moving forward.
Responding to positive or negative reviews in a timely, considerate manner can help establish your company as a compassionate, caring, and accommodating enterprise.
Many consumers look at how businesses respond to Google reviews as a make-or-break verdict in regards to choosing whether they wish to do business with you. This is why coming across as encouraging and appreciative in response to both positive and negative reviews will only compel more customers to share their experiences of working with you online.
7. Use Professional Review Management Services
Sometimes there’s simply not enough time in the day to spend the adequate amount of effort necessary to try and boost your company’s number of Google reviews. That’s where enlisting the services of a reputable online review management company can allow you to focus on your daily tasks at hand while leaving experts in charge of generating more online reviews and digitally enhancing your company’s online reputation.
At Triton Commerce, we specialize in providing small businesses with custom review management solutions intended to get you more glowing, positive Google reviews and help you stand out amidst the competition.
From increasing your Google My Business ranking to reducing the amount of negative reviews aimed at your business, contact Triton Commerce today to learn more about how our review management services will boost your company’s reputation faster than you can say “five stars!”