Google reviews are not just a nice-to-have, they're your ticket to standing out in the vast sea of online competition. Ignoring them could mean invisibility in the eyes of eager customers and the all-powerful search engines alike. They don't just influence your rankings; they're the billboard for your brand when a potential customer embarks on a digital quest for your services. Feeling left behind in the review race? Fear not! Our comprehensive guide is your treasure map to accumulating and harnessing the power of Google reviews, propelling your business to become the standout star.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

1. 5 proven ways to make collecting Google reviews effortless

2. Sample review request templates that you can start sending to customers today

3. Tips and tricks for dealing with negative reviews (and limiting the damage they can do to your brand)

4. And much more!

Interested? Here’s a Sneak Peek

What are Google reviews?

Google reviews are reviews of location-based businesses posted by customers that appear on Google properties such as Google Maps and Google search. Since both these platforms are so widely used by customers worldwide, Google has become the single most important review site on the Internet.

In this guide, we’ll talk about the importance of Google reviews for your business. We will also dive into how you can get new Google reviews, better respond to them, and leverage them to the fullest to supercharge your growth. The strategies we’ve laid out in this guide are the same strategies used by thousands of our customers to improve their online reputation and be found in relevant search results.

Why are Google reviews important?

Here are four reasons why your business should actively spend time collecting and managing Google reviews.

Customers trust them. 

Studies show that 92% of consumers read online reviews before visiting a business. While all review sites are important, Google’s reviews have the most impact because people turn to Google more than any other search engine or review site.

Google trusts them

Google trusts reviews for a simple reason: they want to give their users the best and most relevant search results. If there are thousands of people giving you 5-star reviews, chances are that your team is delivering great services — and Google responds by making sure you’re showing up whenever customers make relevant searches.

More reviews mean more information for Google’s algorithm

Google also aims to give searchers relevant information. When a customer review contains relevant keywords about your business (“Awesome estate planning!”), that will help Google better understand the kinds of services that you provide. According to Moz, review signals makeup 15.44% of your local search ranking.

How reviews impact your click through rate

We’ve seen that businesses with a higher overall star rating see up to a 35% higher clickthrough rate. That means more traffic to your website and more attention from potential customers. Of course, there’s one thing any business needs to start collecting Google reviews: a Google My Business profile.

Google My Business explained

In order to start collecting Google reviews, you’ll need to claim your Google My Business (GMB) profile. Your GMB profile is what will show up when someone searches for your business on Google.

Your Google Business Profile looks is a card-like display of your business that gives your customers essential information like location, working hours, reviews, ratings, and the services you provide.

Google My Business (GMB) is a free tool from Google that helps you manage how your business appears in Google search and Google Maps. Once you’ve claimed your profile, you’ll be able to send review requests, respond to reviews and update your business information like address and hours of operation.

There’s one big reason why Google My Business matters for any business: SEO. Google My Business is crucial for getting your business discovered by new customers. According to Moz, Google My Business is the single-largest factor determining your business’s local search ranking.

Optimizing your Google My Business profile for more reviews

The more you optimize your Google My Business profile, the better your chances of ranking high in search results. This in turn helps you get more organic reviews from customers. So let’s talk about how you can ensure that your GMB profile is getting more views and more clicks.

Step 1: Claiming your business profile

If your business has been around long enough, you can find your listing simply by searching for your company’s name. Once you find it, all you need to do is claim the profile. Check out our guide on setting up/claiming your Google My Business profile for more details

Step 2: Updating your listing with accurate information

Make sure that your business is updated with relevant information, such as name, address, hours of operation, phone number and email address. This will make it easier for customers to find you and get in touch with you.

Step 3: Add a Google My Business description

Google My Business allows you to write a 750-character summary of the services your business provides. Adding this description is a great way to help customers better understand the value that you deliver. Be honest and upfront about what your business has to offer, and let potential customers know how your service differs from the competition.

Step 4: Add relevant Google My Business categories

Finally, take time to set some relevant Google My Business categories so that you can rank higher in relevant search results. Google allows you to select up to 10 categories for your business, so you’ll want to choose any categories that may be relevant. For example, a realtor that also does appraisals can choose categories like "real estate agency" and "real estate appraiser.” Once you’ve set up your Google My Business profile, you can start taking steps to collect Google reviews from your customers.

More inside you don’t want to miss:

-Five tips to start collecting Google reviews

-Three things to avoid at all costs in Google reviews

-Why you should respond to customer reviews

-Sample review templates

-How to write a perfect review response

-How to delete Google reviews

Download the complete guide to read on.