As consumers, we rely on reviews to help us make purchasing decisions. From searching for a new restaurant on a Friday night to finding someone who can do car repairs, we need a fast way to know that we can trust a business to provide us with exactly what we need.
That’s where Google reviews come in handy—and businesses can use them as a tool to help customers feel confident about working with them.
Why do Google reviews matter?
Google reviews are a free and easy way to help improve the credibility and visibility of your business, especially in comparison to your competitors. Often, consumers will even skip your website and go straight to your Google My Business page to see what people are saying, how past customers have fared, and what level of service they can expect.
How do customers use Google reviews?
One look at the stats, and it’s easy to see why Google reviews are becoming such an important part of your business’s online presence.
- 95% of customers read reviews before they buy anything.
- 94% of customers avoid a company because they saw a bad review.
- 84% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
- 72% of customers use Google reviews to find a business.
How do Google reviews help my business?
Apart from the numbers, here are a few more reasons why Google reviews matter to your business.
1. Google reviews can help build trust.
If you want to build credibility, your Google reviews are a great place to make a good first impression. If someone doesn’t know your business by name, seeing multiple 5-star reviews can reassure them that others have had positive experiences with you.
2. Google reviews can increase your ranking in search results.
Businesses that focus on gathering Google reviews can get a leg up on their competitors, especially when it comes to local SEO in your community. Multiple good reviews show Google that people like your business, which can lead Google to rank your business higher than businesses with few or poor reviews.
3. Google reviews help you stay in touch with your customers.
How do customers really feel about your business? Google reviews are a great way to get transparent feedback from your customers to see how you did and how you can improve. Even negative reviews are a learning experience to see how you can improve, or an opportunity to connect with a customer if you need to make things right.
4. Google reviews can help you market your business.
Your Google reviews don’t just have to stay on your Google My Business page. Once you’ve received feedback, take advantage of it and share it in other places where people are interacting with your business, such as on social media and your website. The more people see positive reviews, the more interested they’ll be in working with you.
How can I improve my Google reviews?
1. Ask for reviews.
This critical first step is the easiest, but it’s often the one most neglected by businesses. If you serve your customers well, they’ll be more than happy to leave a Google review and let others know that they enjoyed working with you. To make sure you’re getting reviews when their amazing experience is top of mind, have a system—such as an email drip or text message—to follow up and ask for their feedback.
2. Focus on quality AND quantity.
While it’s important to have good reviews, Google’s rankings also focus on how many total reviews you have. That means a business with 40 positive reviews will be prioritized over a business with only 5 reviews. So keep at it when the first few reviews start trickling in and continue building that credibility!
3. Respond to all reviews.
If a customer is unhappy with their experience with you, don’t ignore their negative review and hope no one notices. Instead, take this opportunity to reach out to the customer and see how you can make things right. You can also respond to positive reviews and thank customers for working with you, which shows other prospective customers you’re engaged and listening to them.
Ready to boost your Google reviews?
Google reviews are an easy way to make a great first impression with potential customers. Don’t have a Google My Business profile, or feeling stuck on how to start asking for reviews? Book a free 15-minute Discovery Call with TwoTone Creative to find out how we can help you take advantage of this valuable free tool.
As our creative copywriter, Melanie helps craft what you want to say in the way you want to say it. With experience in social media management, feature writing, blog posts, and more, she’s passionate about connecting the dots between small details and big-picture ideas. Whether you need a snappy tagline, a compelling email message, or a social media post that keeps people coming back for more, she enjoys transforming ideas into stories that impact and inspire. She’s in her element when she gets to revitalize tired old ideas into fresh, new content, and loves tackling writing projects covering any topic.
