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How to Collect and Manage Google Business Reviews?

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Google customer reviews matter. They have the ability to make or break your brand or business. Whenever a potential client or customer looks up for your services or products on the search engine, Google business reviews pop up. These recount the experiences your previous users, clients or purchasers had with what you are selling. Hence it is obvious that reviews contribute heavily to the first impression. The more reviews you have, the more impressed the searcher will be. This indicates that you are a popular choice and even if you have mixed reviews, the sheer volume of reviews will have a psychological impact on the prospective customer who will be more inclined to try out the service or product your business offers.

So, in a way, Google business reviews are a certificate of trust. In this article, we will explore the different ways to collect more Google customer reviews and to manage them.

Power of Google Business Reviews

Google customer reviews are hard to miss. Whether the customers are simply Googling you or asking Google maps for directions to your office or store, they see the reviews. This is why Google business reviews have higher visibility than reviews posted on other platforms.

Having more reviews on Google sends out a message that you have experience and your customer trust you.

It will also enhance your click-through rate and direct more traffic to your official website. How? Because Google customer reviews are linked to SEO (search engine optimization). The more reviews with vital keywords get featured in Google, the more likely the search engine is to suggest your website when someone searches using those keywords.

Let us first explain how you can manage your business reviews.

Managing Google Customer Reviews

You need to create a platform or a Google business review link where your customers can leave their reviews. So, how do you do it?

Simply, go to Google My Business Reviews, click on Manage Your Reviews and follow the steps below:

• Create a business with the name of your company
• Mention your business category
• Add the link to your shop or office that will show up on Google maps
• Mention the location where your services will be available
• Add your contact details
• Add a business description

You can get your verification from Google by providing your postal address. Now, your Google My Business Reviews account is created. You can forward a shortened URL to your customers.

With your Google My Business profile, you will be able to promote your business with posts and pictures, keep a tab on business analytics, understand your customers and their needs, and comment on your Google customer reviews.

It is important to keep an eye on your Google My Business account or profile. Using this platform, you can easily keep track of what people are saying about your business. However, Google My Business is not the only place you get customer reviews. You will get your reviews through social media, your feedback page, email etc. It may become difficult for you to handle all of these reviews. There rises a need to manage these reviews efficiently and we have a solution for it. Appy Pie’s workflow automation software Connect allows you to combine all your social channels under one interface.

How to get reviews on Google?

The first rule of generating more Google business reviews is to ask for reviews. There is a conundrum here. Like all businesses, you too possibly have many satisfied customers. But, you may have noticed that the number of reviews falls way short of this number. Why? Because people simply don’t want to look up your business’ Google My Business account and type out their thoughts and opinions.

In fact, only angry customers would feel motivated enough to hunt down your profile and rant against you. This creates a problem, most of your Google customer reviews will be unflattering.

So, what you do is devise a strategy that will encourage your customers to write a review.

Convenience is the key

The whole point is to make the process easy for customers. So, why not craft exciting e-mails or even cleverly worded text messages and send them out to your clients with the link to your review page? All that the customer has to do is click on the link and type out the review.

Another trick is to use Google to shorten your link. The lengthy string of characters that Google My Business produces can be quite off-putting and a short crisp link is more convenient for you and your customers alike.

Timing matters

This is a psychological trick. You need to send out requests for Google customer reviews soon after your client or customer has interacted with your company. The experience needs to be fresh in their minds. If their memory of your service or product is allowed to be dulled down, then the chances of them responding to your request are slim.

Your Google My Business Reviews account will help you keep track of who visited or purchased and when. So, monitor your profile constantly.



Add the review link to your website

An even simpler way to get reviews on Google is to attach your Google business review link to your website. When your customers visit your website again to browse more products or services, they will see the link that can take them to the reviews page. If they see it, chances of them acting upon it are higher as well!

Reply to reviews

A simple act of replying to your customers’ comments can go a long way in fostering good relations between you and them. Customers love it when you thank them for their reviews. In fact, a survey found that customers expect you to reply to their reviews. If you don’t, it conveys that you don’t really care about customers’ opinions. This might make them and any future reviewers abstain from reviewing.

Google business reviews – what not to do?

While Google customer reviews are a great way to win brownie points with customers, there are a few activities that should be off-limit.

Don’t make any attempt to incentivize your reviews or offer rewards in exchange of reviews. This may be deemed unethical and frowned upon by the customers and prospects alike.

Under no circumstances must you purchase any Google business reviews. If word gets out that you pay for reviews, it will destroy your credibility and the goodwill with your customers. Chances are, you may even be penalized by Google.

Can Google customer reviews be removed?

If you are managing Google customer reviews, then you may find yourself asking this question, especially if you come across an unfair review. But no, you cannot tamper with Google business reviews. What you can do is, flag the review as inappropriate from your Google My Business Reviews.

Google can delete reviews but only if the review in any way violates Google policies.

You can also manage negative reviews by responding to the adverse review. A ‘sorry’ message and a swift solution to the customer’s problem often induce the person to remove an unkind review.

Google offers you everything you need to make your business visible. In an era where opinions are swayed by the Internet, only by learning the ropes of online promotion and management can you outsmart your competitors. Google business reviews are an excellent way to connect with your customers these days.

Conclusion

Google Reviews are great for increasing online exposure, brand trust, and traffic to your website. Now that you know the power of Google business reviews, how you can get the reviews and manage them, it’s time to make the best out of the customer reviews you get.
What else? You can also follow the same process to get reviews for your business app on Google Play and improve your business like never before.