The Importance of Google Reviews

Are you a local business owner looking for a free and powerful way to attract new customers? Then your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) should be a top priority. And for those on a budget, it doesn’t cost a cent if you take care of it yourself – so it’s the perfect marketing strategy to focus on!

A well-optimised Google Business Profile (GBP) listing – combined with a solid collection of customer reviews – is, in my professional opinion, THE most effective way to appear at the top when someone searches for your services or products in your local area.

Why Google Reviews Matter

How’s this for a statistic: 77% of local consumers actively read online reviews before deciding which local business to choose. 77%! And of these, half trust the reviews as much as they would personal recommendations from friends and family.

What an amazing opportunity this presents for you to influence potential clients to choose you over your competitors!

Further, Google takes reviews into account when ranking businesses – so the more high-quality reviews you have, the better your chances of appearing in local search results.

And here’s something you might not expect: Negative reviews aren’t always a bad thing! They tend to get more attention, and your thoughtful response can actually enhance your credibility. A mix of reviews can make your business appear more authentic, showing that real customers are engaging with your services.

How to Get More Google Reviews

The key to getting more Google reviews? Just ask! Many satisfied customers simply need a little nudge. Make it a habit to request reviews at the right moment – straight after a successful service or when a client expresses their appreciation.

Here are some simple ways to keep the process smooth and effortless:

• Automate it – Send a follow-up email or text with a direct link to your review page.
• Use QR codes – Print them on business cards, signage, or receipts to make leaving a review quick and easy.
• Follow up – If a customer agrees to leave a review but hasn’t done so after a week, a polite reminder can make all the difference.

A proactive approach like this will dramatically increase your chances of success.

At Front Page SEO, we can even do the asking for you. We can contact your customers, request a review, and send them the link – plus follow up if they haven’t left one yet. No awkward conversations required!

The Importance of Replying to Google Reviews

A local business near us – a beauty therapist with a home salon – learnt the hard way that you neglect your Google reviews at your own risk. She had over 100 glowing reviews, but because she never replied to them or actively maintained her listing, Google flagged them as spam and removed them all! That’s when she came to us. While it’s possible to get Google to investigate and reinstate missing reviews, she chose to start over from scratch. What a devastating loss.

To avoid this, we recommend responding to every review and keeping a screen shot of them. If any disappear, you’ll have proof to show Google, which may help with recovering them.

This approach came in handy with our own Front Page SEO Google Business listing a year or two ago. We alerted Google about a missing review, and they reinstated not just that one – but quite a few we had never even seen before!

No Gmail Account? No Problem

Got a customer who doesn’t have a Gmail account? They won’t be able to leave a Google review – but that doesn’t mean you have to lose their feedback.

Encourage them to leave a review on your Facebook page, Linked In profile, Trustpilot, or another review platform instead. These will still boost your brand (and SEO) by building trust, increasing visibility, and generating fresh user-generated content that search engines value.

If you’re not leveraging your Google reviews yet, now is the time to start. And if you’d like some guidance – Front Page SEO offers both a budget-friendly DIY online training module, and a done-for-you GBP management service from our award-winning Google experts – both designed to drive more clicks, calls, and customers your way. Contact us today to learn more!