Thanks for stopping by! Following my last blog about your Google Business page, I wanted to share some creative ways to ask for reviews to help build your credibility with Google.
DO YOU FEEL GUILTY ASKING FOR REVIEWS?
DON’T! Asking for reviews can sometimes feel pushy, but don't let yourself feel guilty for promoting your business. People rarely think about leaving reviews on their own, even though they are more than happy to do so – especially if they’ve expressed gratitude for your product or service.
The average customer has no idea how helpful written reviews are for your business, so make sure to remind them to leave a review! Happy customers will be eager to share their experience with the world to help promote you.
There are creative ways to ask for reviews that your clients will appreciate and will make it easier for you both.
HOW CAN I ASK FOR REVIEWS?
There are a few different ways you can ask for reviews, but I am going to cover the two I find that work the best.
1. YOU CAN’T GO WRONG KEEPING IT OLD SCHOOL
In the past, the way to get feedback on your business was by word of mouth, and this still never fails. If you have a client raving to you about their experience, let them know they can leave you a review on your Google Business page to help promote your business.
All you have to do is tell them to Google your business and click “Write a Review” under your listing. Even offer to send them a link to make it even easier, or help pull it up on their phone as you talk about it.
2. PICTURES SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS
My favorite way to push reviews is by using the Marketing section in your control panel. Here, you can create a branded landing page and a link to your reviews section. This makes leaving a review super quick and easy for clients. It also gets more attention because it is visual and easy to use from any device.
You can also share this on Facebook to remind past clients that it's never too late to leave a review!
How do I create this?
We have some great articles in our support hub to walk you through creating your first landing page, and our lovely support agents are here Monday-Friday from 9:00am-8:00pm Eastern time if you have questions or want help walking through this together.
Learn how to create a Landing Page
Give us a call at 1-866-463-7620
Where do I find the link for my reviews?
As you are building your landing page with your logo, images, and information, you will see there is a button section to add a link.
It is easy for you to find the link for reviews, and you will only need to do this once.
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Go to Google’s PlaceID Finder: https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/examples/places-placeid-finder
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In the search bar on the map, it should say “Enter a Location.” Click here and type in your business name.
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As long as you have set up and verified your Google Business page, this should come up as a location for you to select
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Copy the unique Place ID provided
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Use this code: https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=PASTE PLACE ID HERE
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You would now have a link that looks like: https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=ChIJX8aJ2joZU4gRDKwBm99cCdc
- Paste this link as the button link and you will have clients directed straight to your reviews section
Will this cost me extra?
No! You can share this on Facebook as much as you would like for free, and you can also individually email this out to clients for no extra fee.
How to email to an individual client
Sending an email follows the same steps as sharing on Facebook, except when you select the email icon you will have the option to customize the email subject and message.
You can also send out a mass email to many clients at once, which will let you track the success of the campaign. You get 100 free emails a month to use, and you can always upgrade this in the future if you do want to invest for newsletters, Billing Reminders and more.
How to send to send a mass email
ARE THERE ANY TIPS TO GET MORE REVIEWS?
Make it sound quick and easy:
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Clients are usually just as busy as we are, so when asking for reviews let them know how quick and easy it can be.
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All they have to do is click the link you send them and take 30 seconds to rate their experience.
Offer Incentives if you are having trouble with people following through on a review:
While you can’t influence the outcome of a review (you will be penalized), you can absolutely use offer incentives to encourage people to follow through on writing one.
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Offer to feature clients in blogs that you will share on Facebook after their honest review is submitted
Tagging clients in blogs shared on Facebook not only makes them feel special, it’s also an effective way for new users to learn about you and your website.
Add a button to your reviews page on your website and link to Google business review section:
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Use the same steps above to get your unique URL and add a button to the bottom of your reviews page for clients to share their experience
This was definitely a longer post than usual, but I am always happy to share helpful information with you guys so we can watch your business grow.
Reviews are a big way to gain credibility with Google and users, and this can provide some helpful feedback on how to possibly improve things in the future. Don't feel bad or pushy for asking for feedback on your business, this is something that will help you create the best experience for clients.
Just remember “Ask for reviews and you shall receive”.
Molly M.
Google Certified SEO Marketing Expert
Molly M is Google Analytics (GAIQ) certified and has a technical & creative background in web design, business administration, SEO and digital marketing. Having 2 degrees in Business Administration with a focus in marketing, Molly is able to provide creative strategies to improve both your online presence and the confidence you have in your business.
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