Why Reviews Matter and How to Get More of Them

Everybody, grab your wallet … we’re going to spend some money. 

For this exercise, I want you to think like my adult children, who seem to love new restaurants, non-traditional services like acupuncture, and products that promise to fix things you don’t even perceive as broken. They are also relatively young and have few developed brand loyalties. 

     Step one: Search for said restaurant, service, or product.

     Step two: Check reviews.

     Step three: Spend money like it’s on fire. 

Everyone reading this is living in a capitalist-driven, free-market society with lots of options for almost every product or service that a business or consumer might need. This creates competition, regulates prices (sometimes), and forces companies to market themselves to their clients. 

In the United States, $450 billion is spent each year looking to convince you to buy, try, and remain loyal to a specific brand.

That kind of money can make things more challenging for companies that have a limited amount of resources to market their products or services. If your budget is limited, please read on … if it’s not, call me immediately.

There are numerous ways that a business can attract and retain customers without spending money. Securing high-rated Google reviews is one of them.

Why Google Reviews are Important

Today’s consumers are search-driven. When they seek products, services, or experiences outside of the ones that have established loyalty to, they conduct an online search. This is made easier by the fact that nearly everyone in the world has a computer in their hand. This behavior is highly conditioned, as once a search is conducted, all sorts of information is provided. That information includes a relatively real-time assessment of your business, replete with details.

Essentially, this makes Google reviews a new and more powerful form of word-of-mouth advertising. 

Your rating and the comments associated with it shape public perception, and often determine whether a potential customer chooses you or keeps scrolling. 

But wait, there are more benefits to positive Google reviews beyond the obvious.

Here’s How Your Business Can Get More Google Reviews

Most customers who have a positive experience are more than willing to leave a review. Unfortunately, the same holds for customers who have a negative experience. The idea is to magnify your positive reviews while minimizing (and responding to) bad reviews. Here are a few tips to help you garner more reviews:

1. Ask at the Right Time
   Timing matters. The best time to ask for a review is when a customer is feeling good, after a successful service, a positive interaction, or when they’ve just complimented your team. Capitalize on that moment. Timing is everything in both life and advertising.
2. Make It Easy
   Don’t make your customers search for your Google listing. Use a direct link (you can generate one here) and shorten it with a tool like Bitly. Drop it in emails, texts, or thank-you pages. Email is our favorite way to say thank you and to remind customers to come back to see us again!
3. Personalize the Ask
   Generic asks get ignored. Instead of “Please leave us a review,” try:

“It was great working with you! If you have a minute, I’d love it if you could share your experience on Google. Here’s the link – thank you!”

4. Automate the Process
   If you use a CRM or email platform, set up automated review request emails to go out post-purchase or post-service. Keep it short, friendly, and mobile-friendly.
5. Train Your Team
   Frontline staff can be powerful advocates. Make sure they know how (and when) to ask for reviews in person, especially after resolving a problem or going above and beyond.
6. Respond to Every Review
   Replying to reviews, good or bad, shows you care. It encourages others to leave their feedback and helps you maintain a trustworthy online presence.

It’s against Google’s policies to offer rewards in exchange for reviews. That said, you can run general promotions (e.g., “Thanks for supporting our business! We’re giving away a $50 gift card this month to a random reviewer”) as long as it doesn’t require a positive review to qualify.

Please Review This Blog

OK, just seeing if you’re paying attention. Google reviews help to remind you that you’re doing business right and that you are exceeding the needs of your clients. Google reviews power your reputation, increase your visibility, and help to attract people who think money will catch fire if it sits in your purse or wallet too long.

If you haven’t already, start making reviews a part of your marketing plan. Because when your customers talk, the world listens. If you’d like to learn more or discuss how your company can garner more positive reviews, contact me at ed.olsen@rethincadvertising.com or give me a call at 602.284.6722.