90% of consumers read reviews before visiting a business. In fact, online reviews can have a big impact, influencing 67.7% of purchasing decisions. The team at FindReviews note that showing real customer reviews should be a priority for any serious business.
Without reviews, however, you're missing out on an easy opportunity to boost your company's credibility. Instead, consumers will look toward your competitors for the products and services they need.
Unsure if it's worth the effort? Here are seven advantages of Google reviews. By attracting more online reviews, you can even the playing field and boost your business.
These days search engine optimization (SEO) is an essential digital marketing strategy. More people use search engines like Google to find the answers they need every day. To get in front of these customers, you can optimize your content to rank higher on search engines.
A higher ranking on Google tells consumers you're a credible resource.
It also ranks you ahead of competitors, promoting consumers to click on your website first.
One of the advantages of Google reviews is that it can increase your local SEO. Google reviews impact Google search results by helping your company rank higher on search pages. As a result, consumers will have an easier time finding you online.
Google's search algorithm focuses on signals that are focused on review:
Local SEO helps local customers find your business. If you have a storefront, improving your local SEO can also ensure consumers see your Google My Business listing. This listing takes up prominent space on Google search pages.
As a result, consumers will see your business name before anyone else.
Google My Business listings also display your name, address, phone number, and Google reviews. After clicking on your address, users will get directed to Google Maps for directions. By improving your local SEO, you can also increase foot traffic to your store, too!
Brand awareness has two primary components: brand recall and brand recognition. These two aspects operate in distinct ways, in which brand recall is more on retrieving memory, and brand recognition involves deciphering one company’s product or service to another.
Creating a disruptive social brand involves brand dominance, the third component of brand awareness. It involves a strong emotional connection when a target audience becomes brand advocates. Businesses can boost this third aspect of brand awareness by building partnerships, reconsidering brand packaging, embracing social media, and prioritizing SEO.
By improving your local SEO, you're also increasing your online exposure.
The more often customers see your company name, the more likely they'll remember and recognize your business. Improving brand awareness and recognition can help you remain top of mind with customers.
As a result, they'll think of your company before anyone else's.
If you don't have money available in your marketing budget for expensive advertising campaigns, Google reviews can help. By encouraging customers to leave reviews, you can improve brand awareness. As a result, you can keep up with your biggest competitors!
Wondering how to see your Google reviews? Click on your Google My Business listing. There, you'll see star ratings from customers as well as their comments.
Positive and negative reviews can provide you with valuable feedback from your customers. You'll learn about their experience with your business and the impression you left. You can then use these insights to make improvements to your business.
Businesses can proactively gain customer insights and respond to online reviews efficiently and promptly using Reviews Sorted or reputable customer review software. A customer review software program can help manage a company’s online reputation. It boosts Google reviews and communicates customer feedback to potential customers.
Furthermore, an online reputation management system monitors online reputation on social media. When customers leave feedback on social media platforms, businesses can respond properly and receive more positive Google reviews.
By having such software and gaining customer insights, you can also learn about how your employees are performing or which products/services customers like most.
In addition to improving your online reputation, these insights can also indicate product use and popularity.
Consider every negative review as a chance to improve. Don't forget to respond to these reviews as well. Let unhappy customers know you're listening and want to right the situation.
Responding to unhappy customers can help you mend relationships. Otherwise, customers might think you're unwilling to make improvements.
Responding to Google reviews also tells consumers you want to remain transparent. With so many privacy concerns popping up over recent years, maintaining transparency is essential. Otherwise, you'll fail to establish brand trust, and in turn, brand loyalty.
Show consumers you're transparent by responding to positive and negative reviews. If they have questions or concerns, answering them within Google reviews will show consumers you want to remain open and honest.
By remaining transparent, you can offer consumers peace of mind. This quality equates to honesty, integrity, and discipline. If you want to gain more loyal customers who will serve as your brand advocates, offer excellent products and services to build a good online reputation in Google Reviews and other dedicated review platforms.
Then, they might feel inclined to make a purchase.
84% of people trust online reviews as much as they do a personal friend. They see them as trustworthy though some may be fake Google reviews as well. One of the key advantages of Google reviews is its ability to build brand trust.
By remaining open and transparent with customers, you're providing social proof that your brand is trustworthy.
Google reviews also show customers how you do business.
Treat your customers with respect online. Show people who leave negative reviews that you're willing to respond to their needs. In addition to building brand trust, you're also building a foundation based on happy customer experience.
After reading your Google reviews, potential buyers might feel inclined to visit your website. Getting someone to click on your link from a search engine will increase your website traffic. This also tells Google you're a relevant, credible resource, which will further improve your SEO ranking.
Increasing your number of Google reviews can help you improve your click-through rate. At the same time, those reviews increase clicks to your website. As a result, you're encouraging people to explore your site and learn more about your business.
If they like what they see, you might even turn those visitors into paying customers!
People choose to buy from businesses they trust. If they're researching businesses they've never heard of before, what reason do they have to trust them?
Reading online reviews provides consumers with peace of mind. As you strengthen brand trust, more people will feel comfortable clicking from your reviews to your website. There, they'll see all your company has to offer. Then, they'll feel enticed to make a purchase themselves.
One of the lesser-known advantages of Google reviews is it can help you increase conversions.
When people see you're a top-rated business, they'll feel inclined to trust you. Then, they'll make a purchase. Since you didn't have to pay for expensive advertising, you're also improving your company's ROI with that sale!
Boost your business and stay ahead of the competition. Experience the advantages of Google reviews for yourself by reaching out to your customers today!
Searching for more business tips? Explore my latest Digital Marketing posts to get more information.
