7 Reasons why Google Reviews are important for your business

Google My Business (GMB) reviews are one of the most effective ways for local businesses to attract new customers and build trust with existing ones. In fact, a recent study found that over 90% of consumers read online reviews before visiting a business. In this blog, we’ll explore why GMB reviews are important for local businesses and how you can get more reviews to improve your GMB performance.

7 Reasons why Google Reviews are Important for your Business

1. Improve Local search Rankings(Local SEO):

Google uses various factors to determine the search rankings of businesses in a local search, and one of these factors is the number and quality of their online reviews. Businesses with a higher number of positive reviews are more likely to appear at the top of local search results.

In addition, Reviews with relevant keywords can increase a business’s chances of ranking higher in local search results. When customers use relevant keywords related to a business’s industry or location in their reviews, it sends a strong signal to Google about the relevance and credibility of that business.

Example: If a customer leaves a review for a local restaurant that includes keywords such as “best seafood in Pondicherry” or “amazing dining experience in Pondicherry” it can help that restaurant to rank higher in local search results for those specific keywords.

2. Reviews Increase Brand Trust and Credibility:

Positive reviews can help build trust with potential customers and establish your business as a credible and reliable option. When customers see positive reviews from other satisfied customers, they are more likely to trust your business and choose it over competitors.

Example: If a customer is looking for CCTV installation services and comes across a business with dozens of positive reviews, they are more likely to trust that business than one with only a few or no reviews.

3. Increase the Possibility of Clicking your Business Profile:

Google reviews can also increase the likelihood of potential customers clicking on your business profile. The more positive reviews your business has, the more likely customers are to click on your profile to learn more about your business.

4. Positive reviews Influence Purchase Decisions:

Reviews can also influence the purchasing decisions of potential customers. Positive reviews can act as social proof that your business offers quality products or services, which can encourage potential customers to make a purchase.

Example: If customers are looking to buy monthly groceries and come across two similar business profiles, but one has a higher number of positive reviews, they are more likely to choose that option.

5. Increase Interaction with Customers:

Responding to GMB reviews can help increase interaction with customers and show them that you value their feedback. This can help build stronger relationships with customers and encourage them to continue doing business with you.

Example: If a customer leaves a positive review for your business, responding with a personalized thank you message can show them that you appreciate their business and value their feedback.

6. Feedback helps to understand your Business Issues:

Customer reviews can also provide valuable feedback on your business’s strengths and weaknesses. This feedback can help you understand what they like about your business and identify areas where you may need to improve.

Example: If multiple customers mention that your coffee shop’s service is slow, you may want to evaluate your processes to improve speed and efficiency.

7. Helps to Showcase to your Offline Customers:

While online reviews are important for attracting new customers, they can also be a powerful tool for showcasing your business to offline customers who may not have found you online. By printing out positive reviews and displaying them in your shop or sharing the link to your reviews with your offline customers, you can provide social proof of the quality of your products or services and encourage them to visit your business.

By doing this, you can not only attract new customers but also turn existing customers into repeat customers by demonstrating your commitment to providing a high-quality experience.

How to get more reviews to your business?

Now that you understand the importance of GMB reviews, here are some tips on how to get more reviews for your business:

1. Ask for reviews:

One of the oldest ways to get more reviews is to ask customers for feedback after they have made a purchase or used your services. You can do this by sending an email or text message, or by providing a link to your GMB profile on your website or social media pages.

2. Make it easier to leave a review:

Ensure that your GMB profile is easy to find and navigate. Provide clear instructions on how to leave a review and make the process as simple as possible.

You can include a link to your GMB profile on your website’s homepage and provide step-by-step instructions on how to leave a review.

Or, you can display a QR code in your shop that leads customers directly to the review section of your GMB profile. This makes it even easier for customers to leave a review while they’re still in your shop, which can help to increase the number of reviews you receive.

3. Offer incentives:

You can encourage customers to leave a review by offering incentives such as discounts, freebies or loyalty points. If you run a coffee shop, you could offer a free cup of coffee to customers who leave a review on your GMB profile.

4. Respond to reviews:

Responding to reviews, whether positive or negative, shows customers that you value their feedback and are committed to improving their experience. This can encourage more customers to leave a review.

5. Provide excellent customer service:

The best way to get positive reviews is to provide excellent customer service. This can encourage customers to leave a review without being asked.

Hire Digital Marketing Agency to do your work

If you don’t have the time or resources to manage your GMB profile and encourage reviews, you can hire a digital marketing agency to do it for you. A professional agency can help you optimize your GMB profile, monitor your online reputation, and encourage customers to leave reviews. This can be a great option for businesses that want to focus on their core operations and leave the digital marketing tasks to the experts.

If you need help with getting more reviews and improving your GMB performance, you can contact RM Sky Tech.