20 May How to Ask Customers to Leave Your Business a Google Review

The Importance of Asking for Google Reviews

Google reviews are important for businesses for a variety of reasons. They help you show up higher in search results, they can help attract new customers, and they can help boost your business’s credibility.

If you have a lot of positive Google reviews, it makes you look like a credible business. And if you have negative Google reviews, it can drive potential customers to think twice about doing business with you.

That’s why it’s important to solicit Google reviews from your customers and to respond to them appropriately – whether they are positive or negative.

Why Are Google Reviews Essential for Your Business?

There are a few reasons why Google reviews are essential for your business:

Show Up Higher in Search Results

People trust businesses that have a lot of positive reviews, and they are more likely to do business with them.

Help Attract New Customers

People who are looking for a business like yours will be more likely to choose one that has good reviews.

Boost Your Business’s Credibility

If you have mostly positive reviews, it will make potential customers trust your business more.

How to Solicit Google Reviews from Your Customers

The best way to get Google reviews is to simply ask your customers for them. You can do this in person, over the phone, or even through email.

When you ask for a review, make it easy for your customer by giving them a link to your Google listing. You can also send them an email after they’ve made a purchase with a link to your listing.

Here are some creative ways to ask your customers for Google reviews:

Ask For a Review After Providing a Service

If you provide a service, such as home cleaning or car repairs, you can ask your customer for a review after you’ve finished the job.

Give Your Customer an Incentive

You can offer your customers an incentive, such as a discount on their next purchase, for leaving a review.

Make It Easy to Leave a Review

When you ask your customers to leave a review, make it easy for them by giving them a link to your Google listing. You can also send them an email after they’ve made a purchase with a link to your listing.

Include a Link for Google Reviews

In your communication with your clients, such as newsletters, emails, or invoices, include a link where they can easily leave a review.

Add a Link to Social Media Posts

If you’re active on social media, add a link to your Google listing in your profile or your posts. However, don’t include a link to reviews on every post as this will come across as spammy.

Common Mistakes Businesses Make When Asking for Reviews

Now that you know how to ask your customers for Google reviews, let’s take a look at some common mistakes businesses make:

Not Asking for Reviews

The most common mistake businesses make is not asking for reviews. If you don’t ask, you won’t get any reviews. It’s as simple as that.  It can be intimidating to ask for reviews but remember that this simple task can have a tremendous impact on the trajectory of your business.

Asking for Reviews Too Often

While it’s important to ask for reviews, you don’t want to do it too often or else you will come across as spammy. Once or twice per month is usually sufficient.

Only Asking Your Best Customers

If you only ask your best customers for reviews, then your Google listing will only have positive reviews. It’s important to have a mix of positive and negative reviews as this will make you look more credible.

Not Responding to Reviews

Another common mistake businesses make is not responding to their reviews – both positive and negative. If you don’t respond, it makes you look like you don’t care about your customers.

How to Respond to Positive Google Reviews

When you get a positive review, make sure to thank your customer for their feedback. You can even offer them an incentive, such as a discount on their next purchase.

If you have a lot of positive reviews, it’s a good idea to showcase them on your website or social media pages. This will help attract new customers and show potential customers that you’re a credible business.

Here’s an example:

Thank you so much for your positive review! We’re glad you had a great experience with our customer service.

How to Respond to Negative Google Reviews

If you get a negative review, don’t panic. It’s important to take the time to respond professionally and politely.

First, take a deep breath and try to see the situation from your customer’s perspective. Then, reach out to them directly and try to resolve the issue. If you’re able to resolve the issue, make sure to follow up with them and thank them for their feedback.

If you can’t resolve the issue, publicly respond to their review professionally. Explain what happened and offer an apology. This will show potential customers that you care about your customers and their experience with your business.

Here’s an example:

I’m sorry to hear about your negative experience. We would appreciate it if you could please contact us directly so we can try to resolve the issue. Thank you for your feedback.

How Many Google Reviews Does Your Business Need?

There’s no magic number of Google reviews that your business needs. However, the more reviews you have, the more credible you will look to potential customers.

If you don’t have any Google reviews, start by asking your family and friends to leave you a review. Once you get a few positive reviews, reach out to your happy customers and ask them to leave you a review.

Over time, as you continue to provide great service to your customers, you should start to see an increase in the number of reviews you get.

Do You Need a Google My Business to Recieve Google Reviews?

No, you don’t need a Google My Business listing to receive Google reviews. However, having a GMB listing does make it easier for customers to find and leave reviews for your business.

If you don’t have a GMB listing, you can still get reviews by adding a link to your Google Reviews page on your website or social media profiles. We recommend that every business sets up a Google My Business listing to boost its online visibility.

Establishing a Google My Business Strategy for Your Business

If you want to increase your chances of getting more Google reviews, then you need to have a solid GMB strategy in place. This includes optimizing your GMB listing, adding photos and videos, responding to reviews, and monitoring your GMB Insights.

By taking the time to establish a strong GMB presence for your business, you’ll be able to attract more customers and get more positive reviews.

In Conclusion

The bottom line is that if you want to get more Google reviews, you need to start by asking for them. Asking for Google reviews from your customers doesn’t have to be difficult.

And responding to both positive and negative reviews can help boost your business’s credibility. So don’t forget to ask – and to thank your customers – for their feedback!

At McWilliams Media, we have seen firsthand the tremendous impact that positive Google reviews and an active GMB listing can have on a business.

If you need help getting started with your GMB strategy, or thinking of creative ways to ask your customers for reviews, we’re here to help! Contact us today to learn more about our services.