Choosing the Right Payment Gateway for Your E-commerce Store
Contents1 Popular Payment Gateways in Australia1.1 A Word of Caution: Australia Post Payment Gateway2 Making the Right Choice3 Planning to…
Contents
Ever wonder how those star ratings and comments appear on Google Maps? Those are Google Reviews. You can find Google Reviews on a business’s Google Business Profile. This profile is how a business appears on Google Maps and in search results. You might also hear it called a ‘Google Maps page’— it used to be called ‘Google My Business.’ Anyone with a Google account can write a review of a business, rating it from 1 to 5 stars and optionally adding a written comment. It is important to note that not all reviews are published, especially since the Google Reviews System update late 2023.
It is a natural need to not only receive validation of your work but also many people are increasingly seeking out real customer feedback before committing to a purchase. A natural amount of genuine reviews can only increase business credibility. I used to rely solely on word-of-mouth referrals for my business, which has resulted in a steady referral of business. Wanting to grow my business, in the past year I have found the need to advertise due to the current economic climate. Knowing the likelihood of a potential customer will be looking for reviews I have made an effort to increase Google reviews and reviews on other platforms. This is where having reviews has been an essential need to my acquisition of new business. It is not often that customers volunteer the exact reasons why they have chosen to speak with me but I have definitely had a couple mention it has been due to customer reviews.
I know asking for reviews can be a bit awkward, so I like to include a request in my project handover email. No pressure at all, but if you’re someone who regularly leaves reviews and you were happy with my work, I’d really appreciate it!
“People are more likely to believe a business that has 100 reviews at an average of 4.7 stars, then a business with 100 reviews at 5 stars. Do not stress over a 3 or 4 star review ruining your perfect 5 star average. It makes your reviews more believable.”
MONSTER ROSE
Well, it may come across a little obvious but you’d be surprised how many people overlook this:
Be aware that when you leave a response to their Google Review, they will receive an email to their Google account they used advising that a reply has been left. If they’re unhappy with your response, they might edit their review and escalate the situation. This can end up in a public argument in a sense.
Firstly and very important is that you never respond in anger. It is okay to have feelings of upset, especially if you do not think the review is an accurate representation of the product or service that you provided. It is not all doom and gloom, this actually presents an excellent opportunity to showcase how to take customer complaints seriously. You don’t really know a person until you have a disagreement or say no to them. The same is said for a business. Life and business is not perfect, so difficulties will arise, most people are understanding of this. Seeing how you respond to a negative review can actually help you win a potential customer’s business.
The good news is that if you manage to resolve the complaint, the reviewer may choose to update their review to reflect this. I have seen this happen before. To submit a report of a review, you should be logged into the Google account that has the Google Profile access. Click on reviews, then click the octagon with the exclamation mark in it next to the review you wish to report.
Read More: How to Use Google Business Profile to Rank Higher in ‘Near Me’ Searches
Even though the latest Google review update was rolled out to specifically remove and prevent fake/ spammy reviews, no system is perfect. Removing reviews can be difficult. There is a process to report the review. Ideally you should be logged into the account that you have access to your Google Profile. Press the octagon button next to the review of concern and follow the steps.
Local SEO is all about increasing online visibility to location related searches. This is highly relevant to service providers that typically service their 10-15km radius of their location. Many businesses are in industries that almost only serve their local area. Think of healthcare providers like chiropractors and doctors, or service providers like gardeners and pet groomers. Even cafes and real estate agents often focus on a specific locale. For these types of businesses, attracting nearby customers is essential. A huge component to local SEO is the business Google Profile page and this makes looking after Google Reviews even more important for these businesses.
“Google is still king. So incorporate Google reviews into your standard business practices. It is a free marketing platform. Leave the excuse outside and just get it done!”
– MONSTER ROSE
Need help Optimising your Google Business Profile?
Monster Rose is a digital marketing agency in Australia, and our local SEO experts are here to boost your online presence. Contact us today to get started.
