How to Get More 5-Star Reviews for Your Business (And Why They Matter More Than You Think)
A way for potential clients to choose your business is through reviews. When they go on Google and see competitors with better reviews than you, they most likely will go to them instead of your business. That’s how powerful reviews are and why you need to build a system for getting them. This guide tells you exactly how to get more Google reviews for your business.
Why Reviews Matter More Than You Think
There is much more to reviews than just an evaluation of your business. They make your business look credible and build trust with your potential customers. They also get to determine how visible your business can be in local search rankings as well as in paid ads. No matter how aesthetic or professional-looking your website is, a potential client may still skip your business for ones that have a higher rating and more reviews.
Review volume, recency, and rating are also something you should consider when collecting reviews. For one, having more than ten reviews three or four years ago may not be as appealing as having the same number of more recent ones.
How Reviews Affect Your Google Ranking and Your LSA Performance
Reviews are a great way for businesses to gain reputation. They are also a practical way to level up your marketing. Having quality reviews is useful for both SEO and paid ads strategies.
For Local SEO, a higher number and greater quality of reviews means a higher search ranking on Google. This makes it a core part of Local SEO. Google uses these reviews as a local ranking signal. They promote the business on local search in the long run when continuously collected.
Likewise, reviews are also helpful in terms of Local Services Ads (LSAs). Since higher-rated, well-reviewed businesses have an edge in terms of LSA placement, both the ranking and the cost of LSAs can be positively affected by reviews.
Why Most Businesses Struggle to Get Reviews
To be fair, getting reviews is really not as easy as it sounds. Despite the advantages mentioned, it can feel very awkward to ask for reviews, especially when satisfied customers do not necessarily think to leave one unprompted. It can also be a struggle without a dedicated system in place for getting reviews. This is all the more so without a system for following up.
However, it is important to note that happy customers are usually glad to help when asked at the right time and in the right way. Now, if you have customers who are more than willing to leave a review, what you really need is a fool-proof way to ask them.
Step 1: Ask at the Right Moment
Timing is everything. You probably won’t get that review when the timing is not right. This is why the best moment to ask is when clients are highly suggestible, that is, when they are happy. When satisfaction is at its peak, i.e. right after a successful result, a completed job, a compliment, or a good rapport, that is the moment to strike. Instead of an afterthought sent days or weeks later, your request for a review should naturally be part of the customer experience.
Step 2: Make It Easy to Leave a Review
No one wants to jump through hoops just to leave a review. Every extra click can cost you one. Try to simplify the whole review process. You can use a direct Google review link, share it via text or email, display a QR code where it’s most visible, and/or include it in follow-up messages. The less hassle clients have to go through, the more likely they are to leave a review.
Step 3: Build Review Requests Into Your Process
Now that you know when to ask and how to ask for it in the simplest way possible, it’s time to repeat the whole process indefinitely. Review requests should be a standard step in the customer journey and must be replicated. You can ensure this by including it in automated follow-up messages or during the onboarding or closing processes. Integrating the ask in the whole customer experience can lead to a steady flow of recent reviews, as opposed to sporadically gathering them.
Step 4: Respond to Every Review
The work should not stop at getting reviews. An underused trust signal, responding to reviews is also something your business should consider doing for growth and visibility. Responses, for Google, signify that a business is active and engaged towards its customers.
Whenever you get positive reviews, responding means that you’re able to show appreciation towards your clients. This would then encourage them to keep coming back and build their loyalty.
You should not leave negative reviews behind as well. Replying to bad reviews shows professionalism to future readers. The key is to keep your composure, acknowledge the concern, and offer to resolve the issue, preferably in an offline conversation.
What Not to Do: Review Mistakes That Can Hurt You
While it is highly suggested to get reviews for your business, it is also important that it comes as naturally as possible. That is, customers should be eager to give them. You just need to give them the extra nudge.
That being said, there are several things you should avoid when trying to collect reviews. Among these are buying reviews, offering incentives in exchange for reviews, selectively asking satisfied customers for evaluation, and posting fake reviews. Ensure that the reviews you get are legitimate; otherwise, violation of Google’s policies may cause the reviews to be removed, your profile suspended, and eventually lead to penalties that undo months of work. Some industries with specific advertising rules, such as law, medical, and financial services even have additional guidelines that need to be checked and followed.
How Mapless Helps Businesses Build a Review Strategy
At Mapless Marketing, we see reviews not as a trick. We see them as a result of a clear process and a great customer experience. This is why we integrated review generation in our two-part marketing strategy involving Local SEO and LSAs. We start first by evaluating your current review presence and setting up a simple and sustainable review request process. We then optimize your Google Business Profile and utilize the reviews gathered to amplify both SEO and LSA rankings. All these to achieve short-term and long-term growth for your business.
We fully believe that great work deserves to be seen. And reviews are a great way to make that happen. If your business hasn’t been asking customers for them, it’s high time to start. With our help, we can take a look at your current review situation and decide on a direction together.
Want more 5-star reviews, stronger local rankings, and more customers finding you first? Book your free Marketing Map Session and we will map out a clear plan to build your online reputation.
