LinkNow Media | Customer Reviews

The Web is Waiting For You

Tag: Google Reviews (Page 1 of 6)

Hello

Simple Tips to Get Reviews for Your Business

By Joshua Wilson

Whether you’re a local business trying to break into the industry or a national corporation with decades of success, business and SEO experts agree that customer reviews matter.

Not only do customer reviews affect SEO rankings, but they also create an impact on prospective customers. An active, healthy review profile can demonstrate your willingness to engage with your customers and positively impact your reputation. They can also help you calibrate and refine your services to satisfy customers better.

Here are some simple tips from LinkNow to help you get reviews for your local business!

Why Reviews Matter

Before we jump into our helpful tips for growing your business’s reviews, we should clarify why exactly customer reviews matter.

While it’s undeniable that good recommendations can positively impact undecided customers, negative feedback and constructive criticism can be valuable as well. In fact, having positive and negative reviews can be equally helpful in demonstrating your company’s ability to manage conflict and address gaps in your service.

With this in mind, taking steps to secure customer reviews can have a far-reaching impact on your business and reputation. Here are some reasons why reviews matter:

Establish Social Proof

Social proof is a psychological concept that refers to the human tendency to copy the behavior of others in certain situations. When customers see that someone else is satisfied with a service, they’re more likely to choose the same service. Reviews can function as social proof and give credibility to your company over a competitor.

Increase Business Visibility and SEO Ranking

Having a good number of reviews on Google and other websites can make your business easier to find and increase your rank on Google Search. The more reviews you have, the more likely you’ll show up when someone is looking for your service.

While this is only one piece of the larger SEO puzzle, it never hurts to have more reviews. If you are looking for an easy way to boost your ranking, consider asking more clients to leave an online testimonial.

Reviews Generate New Leads

Perhaps it goes without saying, but good reviews are a powerful tool for converting potential customers to work with you over your competitors.

Consider your own process for finding a service provider: are you more likely to work with a company with 100 five-star reviews or a business with zero reviews and no online presence?

Increase Customer Loyalty

Reviews can be an excellent resource for engaging with your customers and listening to their concerns. Whether the review is negative or positive, responding to customer feedback can make them feel valued and personalize your brand.

The more satisfied your customers are, the more likely they’ll return to you the next time they need your service/product.

How to Get Reviews for a Local Business

So, we now know that reviews are important, but how do you go about getting them?

The answer is simple: ask and encourage your customers.

Unless you happen upon a very active Yelp or Google Business user, chances are your customers may not even consider leaving a review. Making an effort to build up your reviews may seem awkward, or you may worry about annoying your customers, but if you don’t ask, chances are you won’t receive them.

However, we’re not suggesting you should stop every customer on the way out the door and beg for a positive review. We encourage discretion and have a few tips for getting reviews without bugging your clients.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask

As we said, if you don’t ask, you won’t receive. No matter how exceptional your service is, many customers won’t offer to leave a review unprompted. There’s nothing wrong with asking for customer reviews—just make sure you’re polite and asking the right clients.

Send Digital Follow-Ups

This is a great strategy for targeting a wider range of customers and prevents you from putting customers on the spot. Scheduling follow-up emails, texts, or posting on your socials can gently remind your customers that you appreciate and value their feedback.

Plus, this is a great way to receive reviews from customers who are happy with your service but may not think to leave a review on their own.

Attach the Request to Your Email Signature / Printed Materials

Adding a link for reviews to your email signature and a QR code to official company materials can prompt your customers to leave a review while minimizing the amount of work required by them.

Build Relationships with Your Clients

While this may seem like a no-brainer for savvy business owners, building relationships with your customers increases their loyalty and makes them more likely to recommend your service to their peers.

It’s also much easier to ask a client to leave a review when you have a relationship with them. The volume of your reviews matters, but so does their quality. Personalized reviews can go a long way in building up your social proof and generating new leads.

Make Sure You Respond to all Reviews – Even Negative Ones

This last point is crucial: make sure you respond to all reviews!

Even if it’s just a quick thank you, responding to your customers can demonstrate your willingness to listen to your customers and express how much you appreciate them.

The same applies to negative reviews. You can use a less favorable review to show your ability to change or highlight your accountability and honesty.

What NOT to do

Before ending, here are a few basic rules we encourage all our customers to abide by:

  • Don’t pay for reviews
  • Don’t leave fake reviews (for yourself or your competitors)
  • Don’t delete negative reviews
  • Don’t ignore your reviewers

Need Help Getting Reviews? LinkNow Media Can Help!

If you’re having difficulty getting customers to leave reviews, the team at LinkNow can help. Not only do we boast a positive online reputation, but we also have a review generation tool to help your business thrive online.

Our tool is simple to use, and our team will happily walk you through it.

Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

 

US3

Reputation Recovery: How to Fix a Bad Online Reputation

In the age of the internet, your online reputation is more important than ever. One bad review can tank your business. So what do you do if you find yourself in the unfortunate position of having a bad online reputation?

Here are a few tips to get your business back on track:

1. Google Your Business

Whether you like it or not, your online presence is a big part of your overall reputation. If you want to maintain a positive image and make sure people see you in the best light possible, you must take the time to Google your business from time to time.

This will allow you to see exactly what others say about your product/service online – both good and bad.

If your online presence doesn’t look as good as you had hoped, don’t panic! You can still take steps to get your reputation back on track and ensure a brighter future for yourself online.

2. Create Positive Content

Once you know what people are saying about you, you can start working on creating positive content to counteract the negative.

This can be in the form of blog posts, articles, press releases, or even social media posts. Anything that paints you in a positive light will help to improve your online reputation.

These can help shift the narrative from negative to positive. With time and effort, you can use these kinds of content to shape your online reputation into something that truly reflects the best qualities of your business.

3. Reach Out to Your Critics

Getting criticism is never easy, but it’s important to listen to what your critics say, even if you disagree with their opinions.

By taking the time to understand their perspective and the reasons behind their critiques, you can gain valuable insights that will help you refine your approach moving forward.

And once you’ve addressed any issues raised by your critics, you can focus on winning them over by demonstrating that you’ve taken their concerns seriously.

Ultimately, reaching out to your critics will help build your reputation for openness and honesty and bolster your influence and impact in the long run.

So don’t be afraid to take that first step – critical feedback can help propel you to success!

4. Seek Professional Help if Necessary

If your online reputation is in shambles, you may be at a loss as to how to repair it. After all, building a positive online presence takes time and energy, and recovering from a few missteps can seem like an impossible task.

But rest assured that there is hope – no matter how badly things seem to be going for you online, you can always turn things around if you put in the effort.

One surefire way to give your reputation the boost it needs is to seek professional help. There are companies that specialize in managing online reputations, and their expertise and experience can make all the difference when it comes to repairing damaged standing.

In many cases, they will start by checking your posts and websites to determine exactly where things need to change. Then they will create a customized plan for getting your name back into good standing with your audience through targeted content creation or outreach efforts.

Final Thoughts

Bad things happen to good people—and businesses. If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of having a bad online reputation, don’t despair! You can turn things around with a little hard work and creative thinking and start rebuilding your good name.

Want more tips on how to improve your online reputation? Check out our other blogs for more helpful advice!

us1

Top Reasons You Need Reviews on Your Website [Updated for 2022]

In the age of digital marketing and Search Engine Optimization, there’s no shortage of ways for small businesses to attract customers. You can create an easy-to-navigate website, submit it to search engines, implement Google Analytics, and create a slew of social network business profiles.

But at the end of the day, the most significant determinant for whether a client will waltz into your store or walk on by isn’t something a savvy marketing agency can buy. It’s the customer review.

Here at LinkNow, we’re firm believers that every business owner should embrace the power of the customer review and its persuasive powers.

  1. Consumers Trust Other Consumers

Studies show that 84% of consumers trust a company’s online reviews as much as a recommendation from their own friends.

This might surprise you but trust us when we say it’s true. And it makes sense. When a customer posts a review online, they don’t have any agenda other than to share their own experience. Clients trust this, and it shows.

  1. Show, Don’t Tell: A Customer Review Shows Other Consumers How Great You Are

Any company in the world can say they’re the best at what they do. In fact, every single company says that, don’t they? When you look at these over-the-top claims from the vantage point of a consumer, they seem a little generic and fluffy, don’t they?

Consumers are smart, and they know that it is in your best interest to say you’re the best plumber in the area. What they want is proof that this is true. And what’s better proof than a 5-Star review from a satisfied customer?

  1. When You Embrace Customer Reviews, You Are Embracing Honesty and Transparency

74% of consumers polled in a 2016 study show that positive reviews make a business seem more trustworthy. Transparency is incredibly important to customers these days. And when you ask clients to leave reviews for your business and share reviews on your website, you’re embracing transparency to the fullest. You’re letting those who have first-hand experience with your company do all the talking (and advertising!) for you.

  1. Online Reviews Have a Positive Impact on Your Revenue!

2016 Harvard Business School study reveals that as your Yelp rating rises, your revenue follows suit.

To not promote your Yelp and Facebook page—and those many glowing reviews—through your website would be a major oversight.

  1. Good Reviews Inspire Good Reviews

Lastly, we tell all our clients that there is no shame in politely asking a customer to share their experience on Yelp or Facebook. Everyone does it and most customers are happy to oblige.

However, if clients happen to come across your business profile online, they might feel inclined to leave a review on their own volition—especially if everyone else already seems to be doing it.

Why Reviews Are So Important From The Customer’s Perspective

Customers are looking for more information and guidance when they’re making a purchase decision. They want to know what other customers think about the product and whether their needs will be met. Online reviews provide this guidance. When customers read online reviews, they are looking for insights into a company or product that they may be considering. Reviewers write them to share their honest opinion about their experiences – good or bad.

Know What Customers Think

Just think about it. Why wouldn’t you want reviews? Over the years, we’ve heard clients tell us they’re worried about clients writing bad reviews. Well, if you’re providing good services, you have nothing to worry about.

Reviews give you an inside look at what your customers think about your services. What could be better than that? It’s a free way to learn first-hand the pain points your customers are having with your business or the things you are doing well on the other side of the coin.

While you’re at it, you can use this opportunity to look at your competitors’ reviews. See what their clients are saying about their businesses. Learn what they’re doing well and what they’re doing poorly.

Shape Your Goods and Services Around Reviews

This is the logical conclusion of using reviews to your advantage. Take all the information you’ve learned from what clients are saying about your and your competition’s businesses in reviews and shape your services.

You should always be adjusting your services in a positive direction. Improvement is key to sustainable growth, and there is always room for improvement.

Your clients’ reviews will be a storehouse of ideas you can use to improve your business. This a precious resource that should not be wasted and should be greatly encouraged.

Reviews are Low Effort for Business Owners

Perhaps the best part about reviews and getting them is that it is as close to effortless as can be for the business owner.

To start getting reviews, you must find a way to ask your clients to give you them. This could be as simple as sending an email or asking every client to leave you a positive review if they enjoyed your service. If you continue encouraging clients to review you or make it easy on them by sending a link to your reviews in emails (another good strategy), you will succeed in getting reviews.

Your Potential Clients All Consult Reviews First

Another important thing to keep in the back of your head while considering reviews is that nearly all of your clients consult reviews. A prominent marketing poll once stated that around 95% of potential customers generally consult reviews. And 72% percent of potential customers will not take any action until they’ve consulted reviews.

This means that reviews are one of the most prominent marketing tools. Period. And surprisingly, they are free to use.

If you have an online presence, you should start telling your clients to leave you positive reviews. The more positive reviews the better.

Want Reviews on Your Website—LinkNow Media Can Help!

The customer review is the greatest asset in the world of marketing. If you’re sitting on pages of positive reviews you’d be foolish not to place them front and center for the world to see!

Already have a LinkNow website? Why not ask your web designer to add some reviews to it? Don’t have a LinkNow website yet? Why not speak to an SEO specialist and get the leads you need to succeed!

Give us a call at 1-888-667-7186 or send an email to website@linknowmedia.com. And if you have a comment or question, leave a reply below!

3 Reasons You Still Need Online Reviews in 2022

Background shows two businesspeople shaking hands. Text says: Get reviews. Build trust.

If you have any experience with digital marketing in the last decade, there’s a good chance you know about the importance of online reviews.

With the web becoming increasingly sophisticated and more people turning to online search engines for the information they need, reviews continue to provide consumers with reliable testimonials and a personal touch to their online queries.

In 2022, online reviews remain one of the most important factors for businesses looking to expand their reach and build credibility for their brand. If this sounds like what you are trying to achieve, continue reading to learn more about why you should care about reviews.

Here are 3 big reasons you need to get online reviews in 2022:

1. Online Reviews Directly Affect SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the name of the game when it comes to online marketing. It’s no secret that the overwhelming majority of internet users turn to search engines to find what they need online.

Google and other search engines are constantly tweaking their ranking factors, but reviews are almost near the top in terms of importance. Location-based searches are trending upwards, and more people are turning to places like Google to find local products and services. This means that Google is attempting to cater to its userbase by highlighting reviews and promoting top-rated businesses.

Quality and quantity are both important when it comes to boosting your SEO through reviews, so it makes sense to have a review generation strategy if you want to rank highly in your area.

2. Your Audience is Looking for Reviews

According to recent studies, about 93% of consumers claim that online testimonials influence their purchasing decisions—the majority of which also say that they trust reviews just as much as personal recommendations.

This means that your online reviews can have a tremendous effect—both positive and negative—on your audience. Managing your online reputation is a great way to improve your lead generation and conversion rate, especially if users see authentic reviews praising your business.

3. Online Reviews Help You Build Brand Equity

Although it’s easy to focus on the numbers and your place in the search rankings, online reviews also provide you with less tangible but just as important benefits.

Feedback from real customers allows you to build credibility with your audience. Nothing helps you earn trust quite like testimonials to the quality of your services or products. Plus, by taking your reviews to heart, you may find helpful suggestions about how you can improve your business. Reviews can be a treasure trove of  insights into your customer base: what they want out of a business like yours. What they expect from a business like yours. What they appreciate about a business like yours. Even negative can offer an opportunity to learn from your mistakes, and responding to them demonstrates that you truly care about your business.

Bottom line? Reviews are a crucial component to any business’s reputation, and getting good ones is a monumental first step to building a stellar web presence. Before you do anything else to market your services or grow your customer base, you should ask yourself: Am I doing enough to get online reviews?

Need to Level-Up Your Online-Review Strategy?

LinkNow’s Here to Help

Whether you need help getting more reviews or managing your online reputation, the team at LinkNow is here to help. Our innovative digital solutions make getting reviews from customers as easy as clicking a button. Save time, money, and effort—and see your business soar like never before.

Call us at 1.888.667.7186 or email website@linknowmedia.com for a free consultation.

 

How Reviews Give Your Business a Natural Boost on Google

Picture of a cartoon rocket ship taking off. Caption says: Get a natural SEO boost with online reviews.Most business owners know that getting reviews online is important. But do you know how important?

In this post, you’ll learn just how important they are–and how they can even give you a natural boost on Google.

Read on to find out how reviews can help you improve your search rankings, and read to the end to learn our top tip to getting more reviews for your business.

What Is a “Natural Boost”?

First things first: What do we mean when we say reviews can give you a “natural boost” on Google?

Having more positive online reviews than your competitors can help improve your ranking in local search results. It’s a natural boost because it improves your natural search ranking.
Why do reviews help? Online reviews contain keywords, which Google crawls to identify search terms and find relevant results for user’s search queries. What’s more, Google wants to show the most reputable, trustworthy sources first. If you have lots of 5-star online reviews, Google is more likely to see you as an authority. And in turn, they’re more likely to rank you more favourably.

Google’s Algorithm Prioritizes Thoughtful Reviews

Google doesn’t just look at the number of reviews. It also analyzes their content.

Google prioritizes thoughtful, detailed reviews, and it’s those kinds of reviews that will give you the most significant search boost. The more thoughtful, detailed, and praiseworthy your reviews, the better your ranking.

Google Searchers Rely on Reviews More and More

This update in how Google provides search results is with the searchers’ tendency to consider reviews before deciding on which business to choose.

Essentially, Google would be silly not to adjust to the searcher’s tendency to consider reviews because it inevitably leads searchers to more reliable results.

The moment Google is no longer a reliable search engine, it goes kaput.

Key Takeaways

It’s time to get some reviews on your Google Business Profile.

You might be asking yourself how on earth to do that. The answer is very simple:

Ask your previous clients to review you.

This might sound tedious, but having past clients review your business and services will pay off in dividends once they start rolling in.

And it’s not as much of a chore for your clients as you might think. In many cases, if you send an email asking them to review your business or the experience they had with you, they’ll be happy to make the time.

Long story short, there is no harm in asking your clients – and having more positive reviews about your business on your business’s profile will be very positive for your business.


Looking for more wayson how to get reviews on Google, and how to ask clients for reviews? Check out our blog post Should You Ask Clients to Review You on Google for some killer insider tips.

Click here to read the post!

Should I Ask Clients to Use Keywords in Reviews?

A business woman talks to a client, both sitting at a desk. Caption says: How to ask for reviews the right way.

Did you know keywords in reviews can significantly improve your local search ranking?

Research consistently shows a strong connection between keywords in reviews and improved rankings on Google. One study even called it the number one way to boost local search results.

So, should you ask clients to use keywords in their reviews?

Unfortunately, it’s not so simple. Asking clients to use specific words or phrases can make their reviews feel inauthentic or forced—which is never a good thing.

So what do we recommend?

Don’t Ask for Keywords. Ask for Details.

Simply asking your clients for detailed reviews can get them to naturally use keywords that will improve your local search results. It may seem foreign and a little awkward at first, but it will come naturally with a bit of practice.

When you ask your clients to leave detailed reviews face to face, you gain the opportunity to coach them on the type of review that would benefit you the most.

While you are not trying to influence their opinion, you should ask them to use specifics to clarify what services or products they liked the best and how your business went above and beyond to deliver exceptional quality and attention to detail. The more detail, the more your reviews will naturally incorporate keyword-heavy language, in turn boosting your search rankings.

Here are two examples showing you the difference between a serviceable review and a review that hits it out of the ballpark in richness and detail:

Example 1: 

Exceptional work. Professional and fast.

Example 2:

John arrived on time and brought all the electrical equipment he needed to install my new panel box and do some re-wiring safely. John’s customer service and level of attention were very much appreciated when he explained how to check the breaker panel and why the old wiring was not up to par with local building and safety codes. As far as electricians go, John’s rates are very reasonable. The turnaround times were so reasonable. I would recommend this company to anyone!

The first example doesn’t provide enough information to give Google a good sense of which services the client liked the most. From a consumer’s perspective, it’s not the most compelling review, either.

By contrast, the second example includes specifics like the electrician’s name, a handful of the services they received, and what made this electrician stand out from the rest. Notice how the text naturally incorporates industry-specific keywords, such as breaker panel, wiring, and electricians.

It’s not hard to see why the second example is preferred. But it can be hard to get your clients to leave such detailed reviews.

Read on to learn more about how to ask for longer reviews like a pro.

Prompt Your Clients for Detailed, Long-Form Reviews by Asking Questions

Using a template to ask for long-form reviews is a great way to get your client’s honest feedback while ensuring a more robust and full review that attracts Google’s attention.

Instead of just providing your clients with a blank forum to fill out, why not ask them a few questions that prompt them to be more descriptive?

You can ask questions like:

  • What services did you receive today?
  • Which of our locations did you visit?
  • How did our technicians do?
  • Was there a specific technique that you’d like to recognize here?
  • What aspects of working with us did you like most?
  • Is this your first interaction with our team?
  • Have you experienced other services we have provided?
  • How do we measure up against the competition?
  • Do you have any tips for us?

Be sure to let your clients know that you’d still appreciate a short and to-the-point review if they don’t have a lot of time.

While long-form reviews are ideal, the quantity of positive reviews you receive also plays a part in your ranking success.

What Is The Best Way to Ask for a Review?

If a follow-up email is already a regular part of your business, why not attach a link to the invoice you’re providing that takes your client to your business’s review forum?

This can be the perfect opportunity to politely request a review without putting too much pressure on the client.

In addition to this, you can use your social media platforms to request reviews and have your technicians let your clients know that while not required, leaving a review would be the perfect way to show appreciation for a job well done.

You could also put together a direct email, which you can send to clients on your mailing list.

How to Craft an Email to Ask for a Review

Do you have questions about how to craft an email to ask for a review?

We have answers.

Below, you’ll find a list of pointers that will help you create the ideal template you can go on to send to all of your preferred clients:

  • Personalize the subject line with something attention-worthy
  • Ask them directly to leave a review
  • Provide a direct link to the review forum

Here is an example that will show you how each piece comes into play:

Subject: Hello Mark, we need your help!

Hello Mark,

It was our pleasure to complete your electrical panel box installation recently.

Thank you for choosing us.

Online reviews help us bring our reasonable electrical services to more households and businesses like yours.

Could you take a moment to leave us a review?

Follow this direct link to let us know what you liked about our services: <link>

Here are some things you could touch on if you need some inspiration:

  • Specific services or products provided
  • Location of services provided
  • Did we meet your expectations?
  • Did you work with a particular person who went above and beyond?
  • Would you recommend our company?

We appreciate you taking a minute to leave us a detailed review, but short thoughts are also appreciated if you only have a second to spare.

Thanks for your help,

John

Now that you know that robust customer reviews can boost your site’s visibility in SERPs, you can craft a strategy that aligns best with your business model.

Looking for More Review-Management Tips?

LinkNow to the Rescue!

Liked what you read? Feel inspired to rework your review-management strategy? Leave us a comment below and we’ll get back to you.

If you’re looking for more tips to manage your online presence, LinkNow’s here to help. We develop data-driven solutions to help you build your brand, grow your audience, and manage your reputation online.

Discover how we can help you in a free consultation. Contact us to website@linknowmedia.com at (888) 667-7186 to get started today.

 

How Online Reviews Affect Your Local SEO

Woman raises arms in confusion. Text says: Do online reviews matter?

The importance of reviews is something that comes up a lot when discussing digital marketing. But how much do they actually impact your business?

It’s no secret that online reviews play a role in your search ranking and can influence potential customers. But you might be surprised to know that generating and managing reviews for your business can provide a big boost in traffic and sales.

Read on to learn more about the significance of online reviews and why you need to pay attention to them.

Local Search Engines Love Online Reviews

So how much do reviews matter to search engines?

As a ranking factor, review signals are huge. According to MOZ, online reviews make up 15.44% of how Google ranks you in local search results.

In other words, the more positive reviews you have on Google, the better you’ll rank. It’s as simple as that: Get more reviews, get more business.

This approach makes sense from a business perspective. Not only does it reward businesses that provide positive experiences. It also provides consumers with a reason to continue returning to the review website. Search engines gain traffic based on their ability to produce the most accurate and helpful information, so connecting people with highly-rated local businesses will make them more likely to use that search engine again.

Consumers Love Online Reviews

In addition to their role in search rankings, online reviews are often the deciding factor on whether somebody decides to contact your business. 93% of customers claim that their buying decisions are influenced by the testimonials they read, and 84% say they trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations from people they know.

When someone is searching for a particular service or product, they typically already know what they need. Your audience will also usually have an idea of what their ideal business looks like, and testimonials can help reinforce that your company fulfills their needs. The time between reading reviews and making a purchasing decision happens almost immediately, so putting positive reviews in front of your audience will almost certainly bring more leads your way.

Managing Your Online Reputation Is Crucial

Although every business owner wishes they could maintain that 5-star rating forever, it’s hard to please everybody. That said, the way you deal with negative reviews can help highlight your composure as a business owner. It can show future clients that you value their opinions, and that you take customer feedback seriously, whether it’s good or bad.

When you receive reviews on Google (or any platform), respond to them. Keep a close eye on your review page so you can catch new reviews as they come in, and always leave a note of appreciation when someone leaves you some feedback. You never know what useful pieces of praise or constructive criticism you might find.

Looking for Help Managing Your Online Reputation?

LinkNow to the Rescue!

If you want some assistance with developing a review generation strategy or managing your online reputation, LinkNow Media is the name you can trust. We’ve already helped many business owners with their local SEO, and we would love to do the same for you.

Reach us 1.888.667.7186 or website@linknowmedia.com to speak with one of our digital marketing specialists.

Top 5 Sites to Get Reviews and Grow Your Business

Man holding a heart sign. Text says: Top 5 sites to get reviews.

It’s no secret: Getting reviews is super important to growing your business. And online is the best place to make happen.

But with so many different websites and apps around to get reviews, it’s not always easy to determine where you should be directing your clients to leave testimonials. What platforms should you focus on? How can you maximize the impact your reviews make?

In this post, we’ll look at the 5 best websites to get reviews. If you want to grow your business, these are the 5 review platforms you have to target.

1. Google My Business

If you had to focus on only one review platform, Google would be it. The undisputed champion of search engines, Google reviews can have a significant effect on the credibility of your business and how high you rank in local search results.

Many consumers put a lot of trust in Google reviews, which appear on many of the company’s apps, such as Search and Maps. This means that you get a lot of potential value from collecting reviews on Google and should typically be putting the biggest emphasis on this platform when asking for testimonials.

2. Facebook

Another reliable website for spreading word of mouth about your business is Facebook. This social networking giant has well over a billion users, making it a powerful resource for small business owners.

Facebook provides you with a great opportunity to connect with your client base and your community. Reviews on this platform can help you gain the trust of your target audience and improve the organic reach of your business.

3. Better Business Bureau

The BBB is a non-profit organization with the mission of helping consumers find businesses and charities that they can trust. For over 100 years, people have put their faith in this organization for honest and accurate information.

A high rating on this platform implies that you are a reputable business that can be trusted for top-notch service, so reviews here will do wonders for your credibility. An A+ rating on the BBB is a common selling point for many companies, and sharing testimonials from this platform can help earn the trust of your audience.

4. Yellow Pages

Years ago, when you wanted to find local businesses, you would just open the Yellow Pages. Although the print version has been scrapped in favor of online listings, the Yellow Pages is still a great place to promote your business.

It is a good idea to claim a free business listing on this website to manage the reviews you receive.

5. Yelp

Yelp is a name that people commonly associate with business reviews. Users can leave ratings and testimonials about local businesses in their area, with an emphasis on providing accurate information about their experience.

Yelp is also known for providing information that helps teach small business owners how to appropriately respond to reviews, which will serve you well across the other review platforms.

Looking to Grow Your Business with Online Reviews?

LinkNow Has You Covered!

If you could use some extra help with managing your online reviews and other aspects of digital marketing, LinkNow Media has you covered.

We invite you to contact us at 1.888.667.7186 or website@linknowmedia.com for more details.

Do Online Reviews Matter in 2021?

Man in suit scratching his head with caption: Do reviews even matter?

Countless online marketing studies indicate that most consumers will read reviews before hiring a service, visiting a restaurant, or shopping online. Consumers read reviews because they want to know what they’re getting and recognize that there are many businesses to choose from—and they see the value of their dollar.

But if you provide quality services and have developed an excellent reputation by word of mouth, are online reviews really important?

Short Answer: YES!

In short, if consumers are reading reviews online, you should be encouraging your clients to write them. You should also be interacting with these reviews directly, be it on your Google my Business Page, Yahoo Reviews, or Facebook – why you may ask? Let’s take a look.

Reviews Boost SEO

For starters, online reviews can really help online traffic and SEO – and isn’t that what we’re all here for?

Google, the Internet’s most prominent and essential review platform, prioritizes customer experience. Because so many people read reviews, especially when searching their local area, Google has included these reviews as a local search ranking signal.

The bottom line is the more reviews you have, the better your search results will be.

Reviews Are Key to Customer Service

Though it may seem awkward to ask your clients to leave you an online review, most will be happy to do so as long as you let them know how. Expressing interest in feedback also bodes well for your business, as it exemplifies your commitment to the customer experience and its betterment overall.

Responding to reviews is also important as it allows the client to feel heard and understood by the company, making it more likely they’ll return for more business in the future.

Reviews Help You Improve Client Experiences

Reading reviews and receiving feedback is also perhaps the most valuable way to learn how to improve your business moving forward.

If you are getting the same kind of complaints over and over, you’ll know you’re doing something wrong. Customers who are invested in your business may also have great suggestions for changes you can make to modernize the operation or make it more accessible to different demographics – just to name a few examples.

Reviews Help Build Community

Building a community is a huge part of building a business. Having customers comment not only on your products and services but also on your approach to client care, the atmosphere of your commercial space, and how they feel will give people a richer understanding of the culture of your business.

Question and answer interactions can also play a significant role in developing community ties. Responding to negative reviews can give potential customers an idea of how you deal with conflict resolution.


Overall, online reviews play a significant role in your business, and they shouldn’t be overlooked. So start reading, replying, and asking your customers to write their own, especially when they have a great experience.

Convinced of the power of reviews? Got any review-generation tips yourself? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below! And if you need help managing your online reputation, contact LinkNow at 888-667-7186 or website@linknowmedia.com.

Should You Ask Clients to Review You on Google? [2021]

Should You Ask for Google Reviews(1)By now, everyone knows how important it is to get their customers to leave positive, positive, thoughtful, and detailed reviews on Google.

But the rules for soliciting reviews remain foggy. At best.

Part of the problem is that different review sites have different rules, and many people conflate them accidentally.

Today we’re going to clear the air. We’re going to explain, as precisely as possible, Google’s rules around asking for reviews.

So, let’s be clear. Should you ask your customers for Google reviews?

Yes, You Should Ask Your Customers to Leave Google Reviews

In fact, if you look up Google’s own policy on soliciting reviews, you’ll find this:

“Remind your customers to leave reviews. Let them know that it’s quick and easy to leave business reviews on mobile devices or desktop computers.”

—Google My Business Help

Pretty clear, I’d say! Google uses reviews to find out whether businesses are trustworthy or not. It uses that information to rank businesses on Google Maps searches and to rank webpages on their regular organic search. That’s also why they value reviews that are detailed, include keywords, and identify excellent services in direct and concrete ways. It all shows that you are running a business that they can be comfortable pushing on their platform.

Google Reviews Can Attract Clicks from New Customers

Positive reviews are important for gaining more traffic.

It’s not just about search algorithms, either. There’s a very human component too. Consumers almost always read reviews before trying any new service or product. They depend on those reviews to help them make an informed decision, and the content in those reviews is often the deciding factor.

In general, consumers want to see reviews with:

  1. High ratings
  2. Positive words in review text
  3. Many positive, detailed reviews

People are naturally drawn to businesses with those 3 factors going for them.

Search for businesses in your industry and see which Google My Business (GMB) profiles you are most attracted to, and which ones you think you would call. You’ll notice that profiles with more reviews and a higher rating are much more appealing than those without.

How to Ask Clients for Google Reviews

Now that you know how important it is to ask clients to review you, let’s look at how you should ask them.

Ask Every Customer for a Review

It’s important to ask every customer for a review. Behind Google My Business profiles, reviews are the 2nd most important ranking factor Google looks at for their local finder results. This means that the amount and quality of reviews you receive has a significant impact on the ranking of your business on Google.

If you are just getting started on asking customers for reviews, it can take some time before it has any impact on your ranking.

Our advice?

Be persistent and you’ll start reaping the rewards of your hard work before you know it.

4 Proven Techniques for Asking for Google Reviews

It’s time to start drafting and asking clients to leave you a review! Here are 4 of our top practices to keep in mind.

1. Ask for Google Reviews by Email

The easiest way to get reviews is to ask for reviews by email. Whenever you do work for somebody, send them an email thanking them for choosing your company. This shows your clients that you care about their experiences. And just when they feel appreciated, gently ask them to leave their feedback on your Google My Business page.

Say something like:

“If you enjoyed working with us, please take a moment to leave us your thoughts on Google. 60 seconds of your time will help us continue delivering top-quality service to others just like you! Follow this link to our Google page.”

If they’ve had a great experience with you and feel appreciated, they’ll be happy to leave a review that will help you out.

2. Ask for Google Reviews in Person

Although it can feel a little bit weird to ask for a review in person, it’s the surest way to get those reviews on your GMB listing. Don’t think of it like you’re bothering them or being sleazy. We live in a time when reviews can make or break a business. If you don’t ask for reviews from clients that know you and respect your work, you’re not taking the necessary precautions to protect and manage your online reputation.

Don’t be shy! It’s just business in 2021.

3. Ask for Google Reviews on Your Website

This one takes a little bit of tact. You don’t want to make it appear like you’re offering an incentive for people to leave reviews. You want to remind people that leaving a review will help you continue to provide top-quality service and improve your business.

One way that works well is to include testimonials from Google on your website. This will remind and encourage your clients to leave their own review. A simple phrase like “Liked our service? Let us know on Google!” is all you need to increase the number of daily, weekly, and monthly reviews.

4. Do Not Incentivize Reviews

Offering high-quality service should be incentive enough! But offering compensation for reviews will get you into a lot of trouble with Google.

A Louisville, Kentucky law firm offered their clients a chance to win a contest for a review. When they got caught, Google removed 100 online reviews. No mercy!

As we repeat over and over, Google’s whole business model depends on being a trustworthy source of information. Artificial or fake reviews damage Google’s reputation. That hurts their bottom line. And they don’t like that too much.

Google Review “Snippets”

Snippets are a feature Google has implemented to make searching easier for the user.

Review snippets appear on a business’s Google My Business page, just below their contact details. These snippets provide a snapshot of one customer review highlighting a keyword in the user’s search query:

Google search results showing local heating repair companies. Highlighted is a listing with a review snippet that reads: "I had a furnace/heating issue and called Martin."

Your clients leave important keywords while reviewing your business. So, the more reviews you have under your belt, the more opportunity Google has to select from your reviews to match people’s searches. This will inevitably draw people to your business because it will make you stand out from the competition—yet another excellent reason to ask every customer for a review on your Google My Business profile.

Google Reviews are an Easy Way to Grow Your Business Online!

Consistently asking your clients to review your services will help your business grow. As Google emphasizes its reviews feature in different ways, business owners like yourself should take advantage of it.

Using these simple methods will improve your reputation and grow your business. Let us know how they help in the comments below!

 

 

 

Page 1 of 6

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén