Google reviews are a great tool not only for converting searchers into customers, but also for achieving higher rankings.
There are certainly local SEO and overall business benefits to encouraging customers to leave keyword-rich reviews. Customers often leave reviews even if you ask them to.
Even negative reviews can have a positive impact if handled quickly and positively. The worst thing a business can do is not respond to reviews to show the customer you are listening.
In addition to their impact on conversions, reviews are local factors that can boost or hinder your ranking based on a number of factors.
Learn more about how local reviews affect your mapping package and local organic search rankings.
Customer Review Benefits
Customer reviews are a strong indicator of a local business' presence in the community. Who better to advise Google on business value than its customers?
The events of the last two years have caused many users to go online. Their peers will certainly understand what businesses they buy from or work with.
In fact, a BrightLocal released a Local Survey in December 2020 found that 87% of consumers read reviews of local businesses by 2020 – up from 81% in 2019.
Another BIA/Kelsey and Constat local consumer survey found that 97% of consumers use online media when researching local products or services.
Search engines are used by 90% of people, whereas Yellow Pages are used by 48%, live sites by 24%, and comparative shopping sites by 42%.
Google and other search engines naturally reward businesses with high positive reviews by placing them higher in search engine rankings in organic search results.
It accounts for over 30% of search results and over 70% of online organic search traffic.
The Maps Package (or Local Package) lists the top three Google Business Profiles that are considered the best qualified, based on their star rating, customer reviews, and business listings.
In a recent survey of 5,624 businesses by Local Pack's SEMrush, the average star rating was 4.1, with businesses in first place receiving more favorable reviews than those in second and third place.
In other words, consistent positive reviews have a positive impact on business rankings, visibility and local traffic.
Going one step further, the WhiteSpark Ranking Factors 2021 report, based on a survey of 42 SEO experts, breaks down the importance of tracking features for PackMap rankings as follows.
Star rating (eg 4-5).
Keywords in Google reviews.
Number of Google reviews.
SEO experts surveyed by WhiteSpark also mention the importance of tracking conversions on your Google Business Profile, which shows that customers are taking action (eg, clicks, calls, etc.).
At this stage the following observable features are considered in the transformation of the pound parliament:
Star rating.
Positive sentiment in the review article.
Number of Google reviews.
again
Owner responds repeatedly.
Number of positive evaluation behaviors.
Another benefit of customer reviews is that when customers comment on a business (brand), product or service, it creates keyword-rich content relevant to local brands.
This content should not be created by the owner/managers.
However, there is an advantage to responding to business reviews, which we will discuss in a moment.
Based on all of this, if you own or operate a local business, you should take advantage of the potential benefits of customer reviews.
How will the decisions affect packages and local standards?
There are some differences in how Google interprets a review depending on where it appears in the Maps package and where it is placed on the local search engine pages.
WhiteSpark reports a 17% package rate, but only 5% of local organic prices.
While map ranking focuses more on the quality of the Google Business Profile page, local organic ranking is related to both on-site and off-site factors.
Regardless of percentage, reviews play an important role in how a business appears in organic search results.
Several experts highlighted "Keywords in Google Native Reviews" and "Number of Native Google Reviews" as key areas to improve visibility in the WhiteSpark 2022 report.
Where can I find a review?
For most local businesses, the most valuable reviews you can find are Google Reviews through their Google Business Profile page.
According to ReviewTrackers, Google reviews account for 57.5% of all online reviews, while Facebook reviews account for 19%.
Certain businesses may find value in evaluating industry or local oriented websites.
Reviews from these sites, by definition, carry less weight in terms of organic search rankings and should not be actively searched for.
How can I get a review?
A 2020 report by BrightLocal found that "72% of US consumers have written a review for a local business," meaning that many consumers are willing to review their positive or sometimes negative experiences.
So the first natural key to getting (positive) reviews is to offer valuable products and services to your customers.
However, sometimes you want to specify or recall servers. Here are some things you can do to encourage customers to leave reviews:
Ask: Don't be afraid to ask customers for feedback directly, especially after you've had success with a product or service. Some businesses send a review request via text or email after a customer makes a purchase, uses a service, or completes an appointment.
Other businesses include links to their Google Business Profile, Facebook page, or other review sites on their digital or paper invoices. Technology solutions are available to small businesses to automate the typically time-sensitive, post-shipment review and response process.
Advertising: Display your banners, logos or links to your favorite display sources to keep your customers coming back. Your website, shopping cart, email signature. Also, check out the survey and ask questions offline. In a retail setting, this could be a link to your doorstep or to browsing websites.
It's also a good idea to provide product, service, location or other reference details wherever you ask for a review (which they think you deserve).
The goal here is to give clients an idea of potential search engine keywords and phrases for their business. A small but effective SEO trick.
In short, the easier it is to leave a customer review, the better. Additionally, reviews reflect an overall positive experience with your business.
But what if my business gets a negative review?
This is discussed and why some local businesses do not participate in the first inspection. Every business (at some point) will experience a negative review despite the best efforts of their employees.
The key is to deal with bad reviews and resolve customer issues as quickly as possible.
In fact, an honest business owner sees a negative review as an opportunity for accountability and customer service. Savings customers pay close attention to this.
A survey by ReviewTrackers found that "53.3 percent of users expect a response to their review within seven days" and a survey by RightLocal found that "20 percent of users expect a response within one day of posting a review."
Note that there are no positive or negative comments here, which means that most users expect some kind of response to their comments.
If a customer leaves a negative review, these percentages should definitely increase. Fast responses and solutions are critical to customer retention and engagement.
According to a 2018 Harvard Business Review study that "examined tens of thousands of TripAdvisor hotel reviews and responses," guests who responded to reviews saw a 12% increase in visits and a slight increase overall. Rating
Moreover, it does not matter whether these answers are rated as good or bad.
If you maintain a profile and manage sites like Yelp and Tripadvisor, Google reviews should be your main focus. On a third-party website
Although the organic exposure of these sites is limited, the overall impact on your brand and audience is real.
As mentioned earlier, there are technologies that can manage observations quickly. In other words, negative reviews stand out and are prioritized for immediate removal.
Google understands the potential for negative reviews when considering a business's reputation and trust.
A few negative reviews won't hurt your rating, but if those reviews go unanswered, they can. Additionally, unresponsive negative feedback shows a lack of customer service and can hurt your business.
A few bad reviews, as you might expect, have a negative impact on any business and its ability to rank in the search engines. If this is the case for you, it's time to rethink the way you run your business.
Social proof is changing the digital world.
Regardless of the environment, one thing that has never changed is that people want to do business with other people and companies they trust.
They often turn to family, friends and neighbors to ensure their recommendations are credible.
As modern marketing evolves, online reviews are an extension of this process into a relatively new medium.
Google recognizes this and accepts, monitors and effectively serves its customers' organic search results.
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