Why Are Google Reviews Important?

When researching Google Reviews, it’s important to be aware of:

• Where to find your reviews
• Why they're important
• How can they help your rankings?
• How can my business get this?
• How can EDGE help?

Google reviews may be the first piece of information a potential client reads when deciding whether to enquire about your services. They can also help improve local SEO. This means it’s important that your reviews show your business in the positive light it deserves.

If you own a small business, you’ll know how important word-of-mouth recommendations are to attracting a chain of new clients. Reviews can showcase these recommendations to a much wider audience.

Where can I find my Google Reviews?

Your Google Reviews section will appear as part of your Google My Business listing. This can be displayed on the right-hand side of a Google search results page for your business. They also appear in Google Maps.

Why do Google Reviews matter?

More and more consumers turn to online search when making purchasing decisions. By having high quality and positive reviews, potential customers can get a glimpse into what it’s like to deal with your business. Think: would you purchase something you saw online without reading the reviews first?

Glowing feedback from satisfied customers that highlight your reliability, quality and level of customer service will help generate a sense of trust and familiarity between you and potential customers.

Not only do Google Reviews act as an advocate for your business, but they can also have a positive impact on local SEO. This is because according to Google, “high-quality, positive reviews from your customers will improve your business’s visibility and increase the likelihood that a potential customer will visit your location.”.

How do Google Reviews help rankings?

Google Reviews signal that your business is real, functioning and, if they’re positive, trustworthy. This can help influence your ranking by showing to Google that other people are interacting with your business.

When more people interact with your business and click on your website, it signals to Google that you are relevant to the customers who see you in search. This can help increase your rankings – so the better your reviews, the more people are likely to click through to your website.

Reviews also help rankings by providing Google with more content to analyse. For example, if your business offers a particular service that you’re trying to rank in search for, positive reviews that mention that service can make a positive impact on your ranking.

How can I get Google Reviews for my business?

The answer to this question is simple – just ask for them directly. Get in touch with a customer who has recently dealt with your business and politely ask for them to leave their feedback on Google.

There are no quick fixes to increasing your reviews or star rating. This is because they need to be as authentic and as trustworthy as possible, and by taking the time to reach out to satisfied customers individually, you’ll get better results that will boost your online reputation.

Don’t be tempted to leave fake reviews on your Google My Business profile or pay for positive reviews. Google can spot patterns in fake reviews and can swiftly remove ones they deem to be untrustworthy. This can have a negative impact on your search engine optimisation (SEO).

Remember – when it comes to your SEO process, authenticity is key. The more detail a review is able to give about the customers’ experience, the better.

How can EDGE Creative help?

As a Google Partner, we’ve supported clients across a wide range of business sectors with the management of their reviews. This involves formulating a strategy to assist with driving positive reviews, and responding swiftly to reviews when they come in.

For example, we’ve helped Finance Brokerage Finance 4 Business and Estate Agents Taylor Cole to contact satisfied customers, advising on wording and strategy. This has helped rapidly increase their reviews.

Our work on proactively increasing Google Reviews has also meant that we are now one of the top agencies in Sutton Coldfield for Google Reviews. Just look us up!

If you’d like support with your business’s online review management, whether on Facebook, Trustpilot, Google or Feefo – contact us. Call 0121 355 8092 or email info@edge-creative.com to talk to a member of the team.