Because Google reviews are such an important element to any Local SEO campaign, it’s important to generate reviews on a regular basis. Reviews help convert searchers into customers, and help generate more engagement to your Google Business Profile, which can help to maintain or improve rankings.
1. Get your Google Review link
Now that you have the link, it will need to be incorporated into the customer journey. Generally, this is done at the end of the buying cycle at a point where the customer feels most elated about their decision. For some, this will be later down the road in the post-post purchase stage. And for others (such as iPhone screen repair shops), a good time to ask for a review is generally immediately once the job has been completed.
2. Get reviews from your network
For new businesses, one of the easiest ways to get reviews is to tap into your personal or business network. This can include peers, family, friends, and any vendors or partnerships that exist in your business.
3. Ask for reviews in-person
For businesses that have developed a personal relationship with their customers, one of the best ways to ask for reviews is in-person. This applies to niches like coffee shops, home service businesses (such as plumbers or HVAC contractors), and iPhone repair shops. With this method, it’s important to gauge customer satisfaction before asking for a review. Once the customer has communicated that they’re satisfied, request that they leave a Google review for your business!
4. Create an email campaign to get more reviews
For businesses that rely heavily on email communications, incorporating a Google review strategy into your email campaign can be a great way to increase reviews on your Google Business Profile. This can either be done manually or included as a part of an automated email sequence.
5. Ask for reviews via text message
6. Add Google review opportunities to feedback surveys
Customer feedback surveys can be a great way to collect and segment useful feedback.
7. Generate reviews from social media engagement
Often, prominent businesses generate a lot of engagement on social media platforms like Facebook and / or Instagram. Transforming engagement into Google reviews can increase the value of customer engagement on social media platforms
8. Follow-up with past customers
Reach out to satisfied customers who have not yet left a review, especially those who have already shown or displayed a high level of satisfaction
Addditional Tips.
Respond to Google reviews
Be sure to respond to both negative and positive reviews. This will reinforce that you value your customers, their feedback, and show that you are willing (and hopefully capable) when it comes to dealing with negative feedback.
Buying Google reviews
It’s against Google’s guidelines to purchase reviews from 3rd party websites and vendors (see Prohibited and restricted content). You can also see our latest blog post on latest Google Business Profile reviews policy updates Feb 26.
