Do You Regularly Ask For Google Reviews?
Are you fully capitalising on the value that Google reviews offer when you receive them?
In this article, we outline how you can unlock long-term value from customer reviews for your business with Google Business Profile.
While posting videos and pictures of happy customers on social media channels attracts temporary attention, customer reviews, particularly on recognised review platforms like Google Business Profile, offer more potential to generate ongoing value and build a trustworthy reputation.
Google is still the number one customer review site, with 81% of consumers using it to evaluate a local business. (Facebook comes in second with 45%.) Therefore, Google reviews improve a business’s relevance and ranking in search results. Higher search results translate into better visibility and increased enquiries and sales.
Bright Local Local Consumer Review Survey Findings
It is accepted that online customer reviews play a significant role in shaping a business’s reputation and success. The Bright Local Local Consumer Reviews Survey 2024 identifies some critical findings about how consumers interact with customer reviews.
Google builds the local pack results from Google Business Profile listings, so pointing your customers to the Google reviews feature on Google Business Profile has numerous benefits.
Observations from the Bright Local survey:
- 57% of consumers will only use a business with four or more star ratings.
- 91% of customers read a review before purchasing
- 93% of consumers would expect a business to respond to their reviews.
- 50% of consumers trust reviews as much as personal recommendations from friends and family.
- 88% of consumers would use a business that replies to all of its reviews, compared to just 47% who would use a business that doesn’t respond to reviews.
- 77% of consumers use at least two review platforms in their business research.
- 71% of consumers would not consider using a business with an average rating below three stars,
- Most consumers expect a business to have between 20-99 reviews (59%),
- The top three methods for asking for reviews are email (32%), in-person (28%), and social media (27%).
Benefits of a Consistent Flow of Reviews
Because a Google Business Profile directly impacts a business’s visibility in search engine results, it is worth noting the benefits of a consistent flow of Google reviews.
- Builds Trust and Reputation: Positive customer reviews demonstrate a commitment to customer satisfaction and customer service and provide unbiased insights into the quality of goods and services.
- Visibility in search results: Google places significant emphasis on customer reviews, a vital ranking factor. A steady stream of positive reviews leads to increased visibility and exposure to potential customers, which drives organic traffic to your website and physical location.
- Social Proof: Reviews serve as endorsements, encouraging potential clients to choose your company over competitors. Google Business Profile provides a platform for these reviews, directly impacting a business’s visibility in search engine results.
- Customer Insights and Feedback: An added bonus of regular customer reviews is that they provide valuable information on how your customers view your products, services, and customer service. It is a way to identify areas needing improvement, and by listening and reacting to customers, your business stays more in touch and can adapt quickly.
- Competitive edge, Customers compare businesses before making a purchasing decision. Reviews form a large part of that process and will differentiate your business from your competitors.
So, by all means, make a video of the happy customer and post it across your social media, but don’t forget to send that customer the link to leave a Google review.
To learn more about how reviews can help your business attract more customers, check out our blog, What makes customer reviews so powerful?
💡Tip: Make it easy for customers to leave reviews by sending them a review link. Your Google Business Profile has an “Ask for review link,” which you can copy and drop into your emails, invoices, or when sending a thank-you message.