Getting A Ranking Boost In Google Local Results: Google Reviews

Google’s local search algorithm is a constantly changing beast. Just when you think you have it figured out, they go and change things up again. However, one thing has remained consistent over the years:  reviews are important. So what does this mean for small businesses? Let's find out!

• Google review = Business visibility
• Google business review: a cornerstone for small businesses
• Google reviews & local SEO: the perfect match
• How to get more Google reviews for business google reviews?
• Ask Customers For Reviews In Person
• Send Review Links In Follow-Up Emails
• Ask past customers to leave Google reviews
• Respond to all reviews, both positive and negative
• Make your own business stand out with online reviews

Business reviews are one of the main factors that contribute to a business' visibility in Google Local search results and Google Maps app. A recent study conducted by Joy Hawkins showed that one key factor in local ranking is the number of reviews a business has. According to this, a client of hers stopped asking for reviews and her ranking dropped in the local search results.

They made the business owner ask for recent reviews again, and eventually the rankings went back up. This was done over a period of 3 months (April-June).

Is not a secret that google search is the most powerful tool on the internet, since it has more than 3.5 billion searches per day. Then, if a local business wants to be visible in google, it is important to have a good Google business profile online.

A Google business listing is the first step, but a complete business listing with all the correct information is not enough. Business credibility is also essential, and that comes with reviews.

Small businesses depend on local customers for a large portion of their revenue. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you are doing everything you can to rank high in local search results. So, if you own a small business and are not actively asking your customers for reviews, you could be missing out on valuable traffic and potential revenue.

Google's algorithm uses many factors to determine the order of its search engine results. But two of the most important factors are:

1. Relevance: how well a local listing matches what someone is searching for.
2. Distance: how far the business is from the person searching.

For example, if you’re searching for “coffee shop” and there is a coffee shop down the street from you, it is more likely to show up higher in the search results than a coffee shop that is across town.

Local businesses have a distinct advantage when it comes to ranking in Google’s local search results. But even if you have the perfect location, there is still one other important factor that will determine your ranking: reviews.

Businesses with at least 10 reviews saw a significant boost in their ranking compared to those with fewer reviews. This stresses the importance of actively managing your online reputation and encourages businesses to start collecting customer feedback.

Collecting customer feedback can be done in a number of ways, such as through surveys, comment cards, or review sites like Google My Business or Yelp. Asking customers for feedback is a great way to get honest insights about their experience with your business. It also shows that you care about providing quality service and are constantly looking for ways to improve.

You might be interested: The Local SEO Ranking Factors That Matter for Local Business

Getting your business online is the first step, but it is not enough. You need to make sure your listing is complete and accurate, and that you are actively collecting and managing reviews to improve your ranking.

Here are a few tips on how to get Google reviews for your business:

One of the best ways to get more online reviews is to simply ask your customers for them. When they’re paying their bill or picking up their order, let them know that you would appreciate if they write a review on Google, Yelp, or wherever else they might be active online. This personal touch can go a long way towards getting more positive reviews. Usually, they can add photos too, which is an excellent way to show off your products or services.

Another great way to encourage customers to leave reviews is to include links to your business’s review page in follow-up emails. For example, if someone books a hotel room through your website, you could send them a confirmation email with links to your Google review request. By making it easy for customers to leave a Google review, you’ll increase the likelihood that they actually do it.

If you have happy customers from the past, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask them to leave a review. This is a great way to get positive reviews from people who have already had a good experience with your business. This is also a good opportunity to resolve any issues that they may have had so that their review reflects their current opinion of your business or if they have any suggestions of how you could improve.

It’s important to respond to all reviews, both positive and negative. Thanking customers for their positive reviews shows that you appreciate their feedback and are committed to providing quality service. Responding to negative reviews gives you a chance to turn a dissatisfied customer into a satisfied one and shows other potential customers that you are willing to listen to and address any concerns they may have.

By responding to reviews, you can turn a bad review into a positive review, since potential clients will see that you are willing to listen to and address any concerns they may have.

You can learn more about it here: How to Improve Your Local Ranking by Managing Reviews

The bottom line is this: if you want to improve your ranking in the local search results, you need to make sure you're actively encouraging your customers to leave reviews. Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can do that. By following the tips above, you should be able to get more positive reviews—and see your ranking improve as a result.

If you’re looking for more ways to improve your ranking in the local search results, manage your online business reputation, or encourage customers to leave reviews, we can help!

Get in touch today to learn more about how we can help you get the most out of your online presence. Our team of experts are always happy to chat about your unique needs and how we can help you achieve your goals. Call us now at  +1 956-370-5150 or schedule a free initial consultation!