How to Get Google Reviews: The Complete Guide for Local Businesses

How to Get Google Reviews: The Complete Guide for Local Businesses

In 2019, Bright Local conducted a study that states 82% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses, with the average customer reading at least 10 reviews before feeling they can trust a business. Another relevant statistic states, “Research shows that Google is the fastest growing online reviews platform in the world and is acquiring new reviews at a much quicker rate than its closest rival, Facebook.”

To put it simply, online reviews are influencing how and where consumers decide to spend their money and Google is where most people find these reviews.  

How Do You Search for Service Providers?

If you think about it, I’m sure you have been through the process yourself. You need someone to fix a leak in the kitchen sink, so what do you do? Most likely, you head to Google and in the search bar type something like “plumber las vegas”. Then you find yourself scrolling through the Google search results in the map pack and instinctively start assessing the best candidates for your job. Looking through average star ratings, good reviews and bad reviews you finally come to a decision. How many of you can relate?

Jamie Pitman, Head of Bright Local’s content team, writes, “Online reviews are as powerful as word of mouth recommendations that add credibility and trust to your brand.”

Important Questions to Keep in Mind

Understanding the importance of online reviews, here are a few questions you should be able to answer:

    • What are people saying about your business online?
    • How can you prompt someone to leave a review on their experience with your business?
    • How can you get more reviews?
    • How can you increase the number of positive reviews while reducing negative reviews?

If you’re looking for the answer to any of these questions, read on to learn more and find out how to address these pressing questions for your business. 

How to Get Google Reviews from Customers in 3 Simple Steps

Now that we know that reviews play a critical role in consumer decisions, and that Google is where most people find reviews, let’s discuss how to get a Google review for your business.

Step One: Have Happy Customers

First things first. You need happy customers!

We cannot stress that enough.

While that may not be surprising to you, if you spend enough time reading reviews online, you’ll find businesses that don’t seem to understand this. Now is a good time to acknowledge a simple fact: most consumers only feel compelled to leave reviews when they have a negative experience. This means they are more likely to go out of their way to leave a negative review, rather than a positive review. So, if your customers are not happy, you’re going to get a large number of negative reviews, and very few positive reviews. Not only will a bad experience most likely lead a customer to leave a bad review, that bad review could deter potential customers from choosing your services.

But you’re reading this article to learn how to get positive Google reviews, so let’s get back to that!

You need happy customers because happy customers will leave positive reviews about their experience with your business. These reviews are the kind that you need, and that consumers love. However, getting these reviews depends on the quality of service that the consumer experiences. The better the service, the more likely your customer will be to leave a review and mention something positive about their experience with your business. It’s not just about getting the review; it matters what they say in the review.  Remember, consumers do not just look at overall star ratings, they read online reviews.

Step Two: Ask Customers to Leave a Review

In a perfect world, a customer would leave a review with no prompt or request on your end; but as discussed above, this is most likely to happen for negative reviews, not positive reviews. The best way to get positive, 5-star reviews is to simply ask for them.

There are plenty of ways to ask for reviews. Asking customers in person while still on-site along with reminders through email, calling and text messaging are some of the most effective ways to prompt a customer to leave a review and provide feedback in general. Do not rely on just one method of reaching out to your customers; take advantage of a variety of communication channels to ensure you are reaching as many of your happy customers as possible. 

Step Three: Show Customers How to Leave a Google Review

When asking happy customers to leave a Google review, don’t assume they know how to do it. Rather, provide an easy step-by-step guide with screenshots that they can follow.

If you are asking for reviews in person, you could have the step-by-step instructions printed on the backside of a business card for customers to refer to. That same information can be included in an email, text message or be explained in a conversation over the phone. Once you document out the process the first time, you can use it in a variety of ways to help improve the chances of receiving positive, 5-star reviews from your happy customers.

Here’s step-by-step instructions on how to leave a Google Review for your business to use:

    1. Open your internet browser.
    2. Search Google for “[Insert Your Business Name Here]” (or provide them the link to your business listing on Google).
    3. Click on the “Write a Review” button, found by scrolling down to the review section on a business’s listing, or by clicking on their reviews in Google Maps.
    4. You will need to be signed into your Google account to leave a review. If you’re not signed in, Google will ask you to sign in via a pop-up.
    5. After signing in, you will have the option to select the number of stars to rate your experience with our business and write out details of your experience(s). Five stars is considered “excellent” and one star is considered “poor”.
    6. Click “Post” after selecting a star rating (and leaving a written review, if you choose).

[BONUS] Step Four: Respond to All Customer Reviews

Ready to take your Google reviews to the next level? Respond to every Google review your customers leave, good or bad. It’s a simple step that takes only a few minutes and shows potential customers you take your business seriously.

What’s worse than a negative Google review? A negative Google review with no response from the business. When a potential customer sees a negative review with no response, it signals to them that the business doesn’t care, or doesn’t take customer feedback seriously.

Other Considerations on How to Get Google Reviews

Even with everything discussed above, there are still a few more considerations you will want to make when it comes to getting Google reviews. Here are two important things to keep in mind:

Request Reviews in a Timely Manner

Strive to prompt customers to leave reviews right away with a maximum of three to four days after the customer utilizes your business. If you fail to reach out in a timely manner, you run the risk of customers losing enthusiasm around their experience with your business.

Be Aware of Other Review Platforms 

While Google is the fastest growing review platform out there, it is very important to maintain a well-balanced review profile by also encouraging customers to leave reviews on other review platforms that are pertinent to your business. According to the study referenced earlier, 70% of consumers look at multiple review sites before choosing a business to contact.

What Should You Do Now?

Now you know how to get your happiest customers to leave amazing 5-star Google reviews for your business, and drastically increase your average star rating and review count. However, the most important step is to implement this process in your business today!

If this process sounds overwhelming, we understand! If you don’t have the right tools and processes in place, then this can feel like a lot. Fortunately, at KAHA, we are a team of digital marketing experts. We have 15+ years of experience helping businesses grow through meaningful digital marketing. We have the system and tools already assembled, ready to be implemented in your business today!

Why Partner with KAHA to Get More Google Reviews?

At KAHA, we understand the importance and need for businesses to have first-rate reviews in order to be competitive. Online reviews are becoming much more significant in influencing consumers of where to spend their hard-earned dollar. Building credibility and a reputation of trust through online reviews, such as Google, is more important now than ever.

We provide an online review service that effectively prompts customers to leave reviews and educates them through an easy-to-follow guide. Our process is fast, simple, and can be done from a phone. It can also be leveraged to get 5-star reviews on every review platform that is relevant to your business.

Our online reviews service gives you the process and tools to:

    • Ask customers to leave reviews, while in person or via your website, email or text message
    • Educate customers on how to leave reviews, with step by step instructions for each review platform (not just Google)
    • Monitor your reviews in real-time, so you can respond to all customer reviews
    • Let your customers choose which platform they review your business on
    • Help you request reviews in a timely manner, and automates follow up to help get more reviews
    • Help reduce the number of negative reviews by helping customers contact the business first to resolve the issue
    • Automatically share your best reviews to your website or Facebook to build social proof

Interested in Working with KAHA to Get More Google Reviews?

Let us help you generate, monitor, and showcase online reviews in a smooth, simple, and effective way. Our services are competitively priced and easy to use. Learn how to transform your online reviews with KAHA and book your FREE strategy session ($1,000 value) today!

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