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Google is usually the first point of contact between a customer and a company. From finding organisations nearby to itineraries that are planning upcoming trips to finding out about a forgotten phone number, we plug keywords into Google to help us with any thing we want to know. And we Google to find out about other people’s experiences if we want to find out how one business compares to another.

Recognising this need, Google has created its own reviews feature, which allow users to write reviews directly on the business’s Google or Google Map listing. Since Google reviews are obviously favoured by the search engine and show up upon every appropriate result, if your business would like to have a good placement on Google, the best place to begin is by getting more Google reviews.

Why your company should care about Google reviews

Before I overwhelm you with facts to convince you with the associated significance of Google reviews, allow me start with a very common example. Let’s say we were looking to grab lunch somewhere in west london; a quick google search shows me a listing of restaurants in the area that provide lunch.

Right away, I can see user ratings and number of reviews of local restaurants prominently displayed in both the search results and also the accompanying map. I can also see brief summaries of the latest reviews shown alongside all the essential information, such as the business’s location, hours of operation, and phone number if I choose to click on the place pin of the restaurant.

That’s it! If I was new to the area and, say, didn’t have buddies around to personally recommend me a spot, this is all I would need, to get my lunch. If the restaurant is open during the time of my search, nearby, and features more ratings that are positive reviews than many other comparable businesses, it would be the winner of this Google query. Thus, for the small business competing against comparable places in an identical neighborhood, Google reviews can often be the crucial tiebreaker between equidistant businesses.

This example illustrates the first and a lot of benefit that is obvious of reviews: customer reviews are among the initial things individuals see once they search up your company category on Google or Google Maps. Furthermore, it is been shown that positive reviews provide a greater boost to conversions than any other local Search Engine Optimisation effort.

For small enterprises, online reviews bring the main benefit of social proof to your table—they help enhance (or decrease) the amount of trust felt for an unfamiliar business based on feedback from other people who have similar needs. In fact, a 2014 study discovered that 88% of consumers now trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations

Exactly the same study also found that the more reviews the company has, the more trustworthy it really is considered; and a lot of consumers read as much as six reviews to help make up their mind concerning the business.

However, if you’re simply starting out, your company may not have had the right time or resources to be concerned about Google reviews. To help you level the playing field against other businesses in the area, here’s ways to get Google reviews and guarantee they are in yoiur favour..

6 tips on just how to get Google reviews for the business

Verify your business on Google

The 1st step: so that you can verify your online business on Google, first your online business needs a Google+ page. If you already get one, you can claim your business on Google. The search engine favours verified businesses, so just take time to confirm the information Google has by postcard or phone; or, according to the size of your company, instant or bulk verification may be available.

Prompt your customers

For businesses, online reviews are among the best direct channels for customer feedback. However, a regrettable trend that has surfaced in several customer surveys over the past several years shows that negative experiences are more likely to inspire review posting than good ones—in some cases, as many as 95% of participants have shared a bad experience with a brand versus only 87% of those whom shared a good one.

These figures may seem worrisome in the beginning, but they truly are actually quite normal, but they probably won’t make a review posting to express “Keep up the good work!” if you simply take expectation into consideration: customers aren’t likely to notice if the business’s services or products have completely failed to meet objectives or exceeded Unless, needless to say, they got some support as you go along.

This might be why it’s important to create a point of telling your customers that their opinion is a contribution that is huge to the way you conduct business. Ask your prospects for feedback at multiple points of contact throughout their journey with your brand, and encourage them to share their experience online. Don’t be afraid, become straightforward with your intentions—use the information you’ve just learned about the significance of Google reviews to make your point. If you’re a little company trying to start in a fresh location, and your customers leave the business enterprise happy, they’ll be eager to assist you to grow.

Respond to reviews that already exist

When you encourage your web visitors to leave reviews, check their efforts are rewarded along with your attention. By having a Reputation Management System in place, you’ll monitor all reviews arriving through Google, along with other sources and respond to every one of them—especially the negative ones.

With the exception of a complete absence of reviews, there is nothing worse for your business that is social negative reviews left without a reply. This leaves the audience without your viewpoint regarding the problem, it can also be viewed as an absence of caring about what your customers consider about your service or product.

Knowing that, understand how you are able to respond to negative Google reviews in a way that leaves the reviewer and future clients satisfied. You may not manage to appease every disgruntled customer, but you should make the effort to show that feedback is important to you, and show that customers have actually a say in how your business is run.

Promote your Google web page on other social channels

Your social media-savvy customers likely won’t be in opposition to be visiting another online property to show admiration for your business. Once you have verified your Google Plus page let your audiences on other social networks know about this.

And, needless to say, it would help drop a hint about leaving a review!

Include a CTA on your own web site

Don’t be shy about reaching out to audiences who are usually interacting along with your company online—especially those who visit your official site. Add a call-to-action button in a prominent spot on the homepage, and encourage people to share their experience.

Sign it

Simply because you have left an indication about Google reviews in your online home, don’t neglect to do this within your brick-and-mortar business (unless you operate exclusively online, of course). a great place to place a sign encouraging customers to create a Google review is at the point of sale—or, if you run a restaurant, make a note in your menu.

If you want to sweeten the deal, offer a small discount to clients whom can show proof of having reviewed your company, no matter what the tone for the review. Remember the golden guideline of reviews: there are no bad ones, as long you see them all as opportunities to grow and improve as a business. Reward people for offering feedback, and who knows—even that small gesture often leads to improved reviews in the future.

Handle your Google reviews in one place with tools from Challenger Marketing and their Reputation Management System