Get More Google Reviews

Solutions by Design

Google reviews have become a critical factor in shaping the online reputation of businesses. Potential customers frequently check reviews before deciding whether or not to engage with a business. In fact, positive Google reviews can enhance your credibility, improve local SEO rankings, and even increase sales. If you're wondering how to get more Google reviews for your business website, here are some effective strategies to boost your review count and build trust with future customers.

1. Ask Customers Directly - One of the simplest and most effective ways to get more Google reviews is by asking your customers directly. Satisfied customers are often more than willing to leave a review, but they might need a little nudge. You can ask them in person, through email follow-ups, or even after a service or purchase.
2. Make It Easy to Leave a Review - Convenience is key when it comes to collecting Google reviews. If the process is too complicated, customers may not follow through. Provide clear, step-by-step instructions on how they can leave a review, and make sure to include a direct link to your Google Business profile.
3. Offer Incentives - While it’s important to follow Google’s guidelines and avoid offering discounts or gifts in exchange for reviews (as this can be seen as manipulating reviews), you can still motivate customers through other incentives. Consider running a giveaway where each review enters the customer into a prize draw. This doesn’t directly pay for reviews but encourages more interaction and engagement with your review system.
4. Respond to Existing Reviews - Responding to reviews, whether positive or negative, shows that you value customer feedback. Engaging with existing reviews also demonstrates a level of care that potential reviewers will notice. When customers see that you're attentive and responsive, they’re more likely to leave a review themselves. Make sure your responses are personalized, polite, and constructive, especially when addressing negative reviews. A well-handled negative review can actually strengthen customer trust in your business.
5. Promote Reviews on Social Media - Leverage the power of social media to encourage reviews. Share the best reviews you’ve received across your social platforms and ask your followers to leave their own reviews. Sometimes seeing other positive feedback can inspire others to do the same. Include the direct link to your Google review page in the posts to streamline the process.
6. Use QR Codes - QR codes can simplify the review process for in-person customers. You can create a QR code that links directly to your Google review page and display it in your store, on business cards, or even on receipts. Customers can quickly scan the code and leave a review in seconds, eliminating the need for them to search for your business online.
7. Provide Excellent Customer Service - No strategy for getting more Google reviews will be effective if your customer service isn’t up to par. The best way to encourage reviews is by delivering an exceptional experience that people want to talk about. Whether you’re selling a product or providing a service, make sure your interactions with customers are positive and memorable. Happy customers are more likely to leave positive reviews on their own.

Google reviews are a powerful tool for building trust and attracting new customers. By making the review process simple, asking at the right moments, and engaging with your current reviewers, you can steadily grow your Google reviews. Every review you collect will not only improve your online reputation but also boost your business’s visibility and success.

 

How To Get More Reviews on Google

Solutions by Design

At Solutions by Design, one of the many services we offer to our clients is Search Engine Optimization and Social Media Management. In all of our years doing this, we can’t tell you how many times we’ve been asked “How can my business get more reviews on Google?”

Google Reviews are one of the most important aspects of online marketing for businesses of all types, and why you should put more effort into getting them.

Let’s think about it…when you are looking for a product or service in your area, what’s the first thing you do? If you are like most people, you probably go to your computer and do a quick Google search. According to Forbes “More than 60% of customers check Google reviews online before they visit a business.”

The popularity of Google as a search engine means that Google reviews are more widely read. Getting positive reviews from your customers on Google is important because:

• People are more likely to visit your website or your business if they see good reviews.

• If Google sees that you have good reviews, your website will be ranked higher in search engine results because Google can see you are popular and offer customers an enjoyable experience.

• Good reviews improve brand trust. People trust Google, so they trust reviews found on Google.

How Can You Gain More Positive Reviews on Google?

1. Ask for Reviews From Happy Customers – It’s a good idea to ask for a review just after someone has had an excellent experience.

2. Explain to Customers How to Leave a Review - Some customers won’t know how to leave a review so it’s worth explaining the process to them.

3. Include Links to Your Google My Business Page on Your Website – Encourage customers who visit your website to click on the Reviews link and write a review of their experience with you.

4. Share a Google Review Link - To make it easier for customers to leave a review, send them a link to your Google business page.

5. Thank Customers for Leaving a Review - Thanking a customer for a good review shows that you care what customers think about you and are grateful for their business.

We all want tons and tons of amazing reviews on Google, but the most important thing you can do is… As tempting as it may be, NEVER buy reviews. It’s all about authenticity and search engines and SEO algorithms, can recognize reviews and determine which ones are authentic. Do not fall into the trap of buying reviews, as this can cause serious consequences such as your business being fined or your Google account being shut down. Not to mention, it is also illegal according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Google Reviews are a big deciding factor for potential customers and by leveraging this simple tool, your business can benefit greatly. Need help getting positive reviews for your business? Contact us for more information at info@solutionsbydesign.com.

 

3 Tips to Get Google Reviews

Google Reviews are one of the most important aspects of online marketing for businesses of all types. Not only is it easy to manage and set up, but it also brings plenty of benefits to your online listing, when potential customers are searching for a product or service you offer.

The value aspect of Google Reviews is the high ratings and the volume of reviews, which can be a challenge for most people. Depending on what type of business or practice you own, getting Google Reviews can be difficult. Here are a few ways to gain positive Google Reviews:

Tip 1: Include links to your Google My Business on your website – Do not make it hard for someone to find you on Google. Encourage those who visit your website to visit your Google My Business listing and write a review of their experience with you.

Tip 2: Use Communication: Asking customers for a review via email after they have visited you, is a great way to get reviews and remind them to rate their experience.

Tip 3: Don’t Buy Reviews: It’s all about authenticity in the online world of Google and search engines and the ever-changing SEO algorithms, can recognize reviews and determine which ones are authentic. Do not fall into the trap of buying reviews, as this can cause serious consequences such as your practice/business being fined, your Google account being shut down. Not to mention, it is also illegal according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Google Reviews are a big deciding factor for potential customers and by leveraging this simple tool, your business can benefit greatly. Need help with social media or some tips, contact us for more information at info@solutionsbydesign.com.

All About Google Reviews

Reading reviews on a page, a business or a product are ingrained into our mind before clicking the purchase button. Whether it is Yelp, Facebook, product reviews, Google or the various review sites, each plays a large part in our decisions when it comes to doing business. For a potential customer, a review can be the deciding factor for trusting you.

We know the importance and value of a positive review and a positive reputation. There is no doubt that Google Reviews is the overall leader in reviews in large part because of Google being the main search engine and when people search in maps.

Google Reviews are reviews and ratings out of 5 stars left by Google users that appear with your business listing, on Google Maps and when someone searches for you on Google. This instant feedback from your customers is influential in helping others decide to do business with you.

Negative reviews will affect your business and how others see your customer's services, product or services overall. It can greatly affect your SEO and listings on Google Maps. This can have a similar effect if you lack any reviews at all.

Google Reviews is a great easy way to gain trust with customers and potential customers also. By responding to Google Reviews, it shows you value both the customer feedback and criticism, taking in their responses seriously. It also provides value to your SEO strategy with an increase in visibility and rankings.

If you want to get started on Google Reviews, you first should create a Google My Business listing. A Google My Business listing is the listing that pops up when you search for a specific service in your area. This shows up regardless if you customize the listing or not. Google My Business allows you to customize your listing with all the right information from business hours to a description of your business, to photos for potential customers to view. Google My Business is your first interaction many people will see. Just like Google Reviews, a lack of photos, business hours and overall engagement will affect your business negatively.


How to Make a Google Review? 

• The first step in adding a Google Review to a business is to sign in to a Google account.
• Google and click on the business location location 
• Click "Write Reviews" which is near the bottom of the business’s listing 
• Rate and leave a review 
• Click Post 

Google Reviews are a big deciding factor for potential customers and by leveraging this simple tool, your business can benefit greatly. Need help with social media or some tips, contact us for more information at info@solutionsbydesign.com.  

The Future Is Voice Search

A Burger King commercial caused a bit of controversy recently, not for anything racy or disturbing, but for being too invasive. The 15-second ad starts with a Burger King employee holding up the sandwich saying, “You’re watching a 15-second Burger King ad, which is unfortunately not enough time to explain all the fresh ingredients in the Whopper sandwich. But I’ve got an idea. OK, Google, what is the Whopper burger?”

If a viewer has the Google Home assistant or an Android phone with voice search enabled within listening range of the TV, that last phrase - “Hello Google, what is the Whopper burger?” - is intended to trigger the device to search for Whopper on Google and read out the finding from Wikipedia. Admittedly, it’s a clever marketing campaign and the first one to make use of what’s fast becoming a standard in many homes - the personal voice assistant.

Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Home assistants sold at a rapid pace last year, and this year the sales are expected to grow even more. With both assistants able to do everything from record notes to control lights and appliances by simply speaking to them, people are discovering the value in owning these assistants. And one of the biggest uses of these devices is the ability to search for information or businesses simply by speaking.

Moms can look up recipes and have the assistant read them back as she’s making dinner. Dads can ask the assistant for the nearest automotive store. The kids can ask about upcoming concerts or video game releases. The possibilities are endless - and convenient. All you do is simply speak.

And it’s not just these assistants that are becoming the go-to devices for voice search. Smartphones are now a big part of the voice search landscape. Voice search can be enabled on both Android and Apple smartphones, and Samsung is releasing their Bixby voice assistant with the new Galaxy S8 this month. Even Microsoft is entering the game with their Cortana voice assistant which can be enabled on computers and tablets.

What does this mean for your business? First of all, it’s important to have a solid SEO strategy in place that can capitalize on this emerging search arena. When people type a search phrase into their browsers, most of the time they use simple truncated phrases to save on typing. For example, if someone is searching for an orthodontist in Dallas they may simply enter, “orthodontists Dallas.” This is especially true on a mobile device where typing can be tedious.

But a voice search uses more natural language, and most people aren’t concerned about truncation. The same person searching for an orthodontist may say, “What is the closest orthodontist to Jefferson Elementary?”, or “What are the top five orthodontists nearest to my home?” Natural language searches like these open up new challenges for SEO.

Here at Solutions by Design, we are fully aware of this new future in search, and are positioning our SEO efforts to meet this new challenge. Part of our SEO strategy will be to make use of this new “natural language” search in our optimization efforts and guide our clients in understanding the implications and benefits. It’s an exciting transition in the world of search and we want our clients to be prepared.

Easy Way To Get Google Reviews

Google reviews are extremely important for businesses nowadays because of consumer influence. Businesses know they need to be accumulating as many positive reviews as possible for various business marketing reasons, though many don't know how to do so or where to start. As Google is constantly changing, it’s important for us at Solutions by Design to keep our clients ahead of the game and educated on how Google reviews work, as well as conquering the task of getting more reviews from current and past patients.

Where to start?

The first thing you need to do is a Google search with your business name in the search box. As long as you’ve already claimed your "Google My Business" page(s) and you’re easily found in that kind of a search, you’ll see the Google Maps and "Google My Business" page appear to the right of the screen. Once you get here, click on the map and you will be taken directly to your “Google My Business” public page. This page is where your patients will go to write a review. Persons leaving the review must have a Google account and must be signed in to do so.

The question we hear is how do you get your patients through this journey of finding your "Google My Business" page easily? We suggest you simplify the search for the patient by linking your Google place page on your website or email the link in an e-blast. To do this, find the "embed map code" and provide it to the person designated to update your website, or use the short link for an e-blast or hyperlink on your website.

How do you find the link?

1. Find your Google place page.
2. Click the menu option.
3. Click share or embed map. 
4. A pop-up to share the link will appear, click the short URL and use this for e-blasts or hyperlink on your website.
5. To embed map on your website, click “Embed Map” and provide this code to the designated person. 

We suggest you add this to your website to help increase the number of Google reviews on your "Google My Business" page. If you are a Solutions by Design social media client, talk to your social media manager about this update as it is included in your monthly subscription if it is not already done. If you are not a social media client, give us a call to add have your maps code embedded to your website. All Google Maps website updates starting at $150.