Your Google Business Profile (previously known as Google My Business, Google Places and Google+ Local) is your business listing on Google. When someone searches for your business, your Google Business Profile appears to the right of the search results, providing key information, including your address, contact details, website, business hours, and Google reviews.
A Google Review is a star rating out of 5, with optional text for a customer to recap and inform prospective customers of their experience dealing with your company.
How valuable are Google reviews?
To answer this, we’ve researched statistics on the value of reviews and their function with consumers in 2022.
- 9 out of 10 customers read reviews before buying a product or service (Trustpilot)
- 94% of customers say they’ve avoided a business due to a negative review (Review Trackers)
- Star rating matters more than the number of reviews (Find Stack)
The benefits of Google Reviews
Consumer Influence – Leads and Sales
Reading reviews has become a part of the sales process – the reviews on your profile influence the decision to purchase a product or engage a service-based company.
Consumers are wanting to read reviews to verify that your previous customers’ experience aligns with the messaging your marketing conveys.
Google Rank
A business’s reviews play a significant role in the Google algorithm for search engine ranking. Like customers, Google wants to know your company is trustworthy before sending their traffic to your website.
Third-party, independent reviews of your services provide this credibility and reassure customers that you do what you say you do.
Valuable Feedback
Feedback from customers (good or bad) is how we grow as a business. A negative review (or constructive criticism) provides you with an opportunity to review your product or service against the needs and expectations of your customer.
As the business owner, Google Reviews also allow you to respond to any reviews on your profile. And you should!
By thanking customers for positive reviews, you demonstrate an appreciation of your customers and the importance of their opinion. Conversely, responding to a negative review in an open-minded, professional and timely manner shows you are attentive and committed to your customers.
Asking for Google Reviews
Start growing your reviews by reaching out to customers and asking for a review. According to BrightLocal, 72% of people asked to write a review will do so.
- Ensure you are logged into the Google account managing your Google Business Profile.
- Do a Google search for your business name.
- Click on the “Get More Reviews” button.
- Copy the review link to send to your customers.
The easier you make this for your customer, the more likely they will help!
How to write a Google Review
Leaving a Google Review is free, and it doesn’t take very long to do. However, the value it provides a business, particularly local businesses, should not be underestimated.
If you would like to write a review for a business, here’s how to do it:
- Make sure you’ve signed into your Google account.
- Search for the company on the Search or Maps page.
- Click “Write a Review”.
- Provide a star rating, and write a few sentences about your experience: the more information, the more valuable the review.
- Write about the product or the service provided and your experience as a customer.
Creating your Google Business Profile
Focus’d Media Studios help clients to establish and optimise their Google Business profiles. Google Business Profiles are an increasingly important part of the digital marketing environment, and we’re here to help you with yours.
For help in establishing your Google Business Profile, or for assistance optimising your existing profile – get in touch.