When considering using a service, making a purchase, exploring a restaurant or booking a hotel, what is typically our first step? We go online, research the brand in question and scrutinize its Google reviews. In fact, a 2021 consumer review survey revealed that 81% of US consumers consult Google reviews when evaluating local businesses. In today's digital age, online reviews, especially those on Google, undoubtedly have a large impact on purchasing decisions. Therefore, it is crucial for brands to devise effective strategies to boost their Google reviews and build a positive review score.
Below are seven proven tips that can help you improve your Google review score so you can more effectively connect with customers and encourage them to share their experiences. Let's dive into each strategy.
1. Distribute direct review links via email and SMS:
In today's digital age, sending a direct review link via email or SMS can be an effective way to ask customers for reviews. When you have completed a sale, you can e.g. automate a system to send a personal email or SMS thanking the customer for the purchase. The message should include a direct link to your Google review page to make it as easy as possible for the customer to leave a review. By doing this right after a transaction, when the experience with your brand is still fresh in the mind, you increase the likelihood of receiving a review.
2. Insert a review link on your website:
Your website is one of the first points of contact between you and potential customers. That's why it's a good place to ask for reviews. You can place a button or hyperlink that leads directly to your Google review page. The footer is a popular place for this, but you can also place it on your "Contact Us" page, "About Us" page, or even on a popup that appears after a certain amount of time on the site.
3. Use feedback surveys to encourage Google reviews:
Feedback surveys are an excellent tool for measuring customer sentiment. Consider sending a survey after a purchase asking for feedback about the product and the customer's experience. You can then take the opportunity to include a link to your Google review page and invite satisfied customers to share their positive experiences. Tools like Net Promoter Score (NPS) surveys can be particularly effective in identifying the customers most likely to leave positive reviews.
4. Engage in dialogue with customers on site:
For businesses with a brick-and-mortar location, personal interactions are essential. You can train your staff to ask customers for a review during a conversation. This strategy works well because it allows staff to measure a customer's satisfaction in real time. If a customer is visibly satisfied, staff can encourage them to share their experience via a Google review.
5. Hand out "Give us a review" card:
A more traditional but effective method is to hand out physical cards asking for reviews. The cards can contain a short message asking for a review, as well as an NFC chip that directs the customer to your Google review page. You can hand these cards out at the point of sale or include them in your product packaging.
6. Leverage Social Media to Collect Reviews:
Social media is a powerful tool to build your brand and connect with your customers. You can use your social media profiles to ask your followers for Google reviews. You can do this by including a link to your Google review page in your bio or by sharing posts that encourage your followers to leave a review.
7. Actively respond to reviews:
Last but not least, it is important to respond quickly to all reviews, whether they are positive or negative. Responding to reviews shows that you value your customers' feedback. It also gives you the opportunity to resolve any issues or complaints and shows that you are committed to customer satisfaction. It not only helps in retaining existing customers but can also attract new ones.
Summary There's no wrong time to start building your brand's Google reviews. But this process doesn't stop at just collecting more reviews. Engaging with reviewers and resolving any issues is critical to retaining customers and ensuring they feel heard, even after a less-than-ideal experience. The advantage of increasing the number of Google reviews is that it can provide significant benefits, such as to attract new customers, improve SEO and visibility and improve interaction with customers.
By implementing these seven strategies, you can significantly increase your Google reviews and improve your online reputation. Remember that the quality of your service or product must always come first. No matter how good your strategy is, the most effective way to get positive reviews is to provide a great customer experience.
