Content has always been at the forefront of online marketing. It is what connects prospects with a brand and convinces them to spend their money to get products and services because that brand will honor its commitments. In recent times, the typical copy and content have lost their charm for common users and the vacuum […]
Content has always been at the forefront of online marketing. It is what connects prospects with a brand and convinces them to spend their money to get products and services because that brand will honor its commitments. In recent times, the typical copy and content have lost their charm for common users and the vacuum has been filled by customer reviews and testimonials.
Granted, they are not as purpose-driven and polished as the marketing copy and educational content, yet they are winning hearts because of the absence of a gradient between the reviewer and the reader.
Google Reviews are among the most popular and trustworthy outlets for these campaigns. But how do Google Reviews work? What is their importance for brands? We will find out answers to these questions in this post!
Companies scramble and hustle to get new business. In these times of sheer competition, it has become hard to even retain acquired customers. So, Google Reviews play a vital role in bridging gaps between brands and prospects.
Before making their first purchase at a new company, potential customers check everything and look for red flags to get any excuse for rejecting that company, sometimes forever. One of the most important things they go through is reviews and comments from current or former customers. If they are satisfied with what others are saying, they will not have a hard time handing in money for products and services. That’s why website content is almost taken over by peer-generated content.
Google Reviews are managed by Google allowing people to have more control and integration across the internet. The more positive outlook a brand has through reviews, ratings, and testimonials, the easier it will be for it to acquire new customers.
Many people believe that there is some mystery surrounding the mechanics and dynamics of Google Reviews. In reality, they are simple! They are incorporated with Google My Business and Google Maps so that the company profile remains the same across different platforms that potential customers may use.
One of the most striking things that Google Reviews accomplish is covering both human and technical bases. Not only do they provide advantageous insights to prospects and convince them to spend money on a brand, but they also send a positive signal to the search engine that the brand is indeed legitimate and should be rewarded with better-ranking figures.
Google has time and again iterated that Google Reviews are one of the most important and better value ranking factors for websites. For those who are still wondering what Google Reviews are for their brand, suffice it to say that they are the ultimate word of mouth that provides the ultimate social proof.
Google Reviews influence consumer behaviors and send positive signals to the search engine. These two reasons should be enough for marketers to try to integrate these in their marketing campaigns for the brands. Still, there is more to them and we will cover them in this section.
As mentioned in the previous section, many elements send signals to search engines helping them decide whether a business is trustworthy or not. Google Reviews are at the helm of these signals, carrying more weight and potential. If a business is receiving positive reviews, it will be rewarded by search engines. If it is receiving negative signals, it will hurt its position in the search results.
People are wary of the internet because of the scams and sketchy deals. The lesser of the evils include companies claiming to provide world-class products and services but shipping substandard items to paying customers. In this environment, trust-building and worthiness are the first step toward making a splash in the market. Google Reviews allow brands to do that without spending much time and money.
There are many options available for customers. They can have hundreds of sellers providing discounts and deals and still, they should have all the reasons in the world to choose your brand. That final push comes from Google Reviews. They persuade the prospects that many people, like them, have tried this brand and are satisfied with what they bring to the table. This is the ultimate deal-breaker!
Digital marketing has never been smooth sailing. Professionals hustle and strategize to ensure they are not only connecting with prospects but also beating out the competition in the process. Online search rankings or SEO are everything to the brand. The more exposure your brand has, the more discoverable it will be, resulting in more click-throughs and ultimately purchases.
Google Reviews are already accepted by the company as the best and most cost-effective search ranking signals. Since there is no duality between what is perceived as good for a search engine crawler and a human user, what is driving social proof and purchase decisions for humans will be improving search rankings and other online factors.
If the previous sections were not about the benefits of Google Reviews, let us reiterate them once again in this section. When a brand is concerned about its rankings and online health, Google Reviews provide the necessary boost:
Although the advantages and deep-seated benefits of Google Reviews are countless, we have covered the most important ones in this section. They should be enough to make you incorporate them into your marketing strategy if you have not done that already!
The benefits of collecting and showcasing Google Reviews on your website and other portals are two many. But, how can a brand get them in the first place? What are the best practices in this regard? Let’s find out the answer to these questions in this section.
Becoming the owner is not in the meaning of legally owning a brand. It means going to the Google My Business page and claiming ownership of the business in the virtual world. This takes a couple of steps and some verification, and you will be the owner of the GMB profile. Then, you can optimize it and ensure that all the things are in the right place for Google Search, Google Maps, and other relevant platforms.
The rudimentary GMB profile is not very attractive. It contains the name, phone number, hours, and other basic information about the brand. When you claim a business, the platform allows you to do more. You can add more meaningful information about your brand, add multimedia through images and videos, and even update hours so that people can have the latest information without asking for it.
This is a must-have if you want to get more reviews. Surveys and research have shown many times that a vast majority of users are willing to leave reviews. But the main hurdle in their path is the process of wanting to leave a review and actually leaving one. A smart review management tool such as TrustAnalytica can ensure that all the bases are covered for your brand and people who want to leave reviews are able to leave those with ease.
Sometimes, the answer to complex questions is rather simple. For instance, if a brand wants to get more Google Reviews, why not ask for them? Consumers are the most magnanimous when they have received the product or service and are happy with that. That’s the moment you strike with a humble yet forceful request to leave a review. Research has shown that consumers were more than willing to leave a positive word if they were satisfied with the product.
Hopefully, if you believed that Google Reviews were some mystery of the internet, especially the behind-the-scenes work and effects, you are now enlightened. They are the tools that drive social proof and convince prospects to do business with brands. In the face of marketing copy and sales content, peer-generated content in the form of reviews, testimonials, and comments has been more effective.
This resource has covered all the bases for digital marketers and brand owners who wanted to learn all about Google Reviews and their effects. Now, they will be more able in integrating and incorporating these into their marketing strategies.
When a reviewer posts a Google Review, it shows up in the relevant section of Google Maps until the reviewer wants to remove it. Even after publishing a review, the owner of the review can change it at any time.
No, that is not the case. Typically, it takes around 24 hours for Google to go through the review and ensure that it is compliant with the guidelines and terms and conditions of the platform. If it takes longer than that, reviewers can connect with the company to learn more.
The answer is no. Google discourages the practice of paid reviews for the sake of transparency and truthfulness. Brands that are found guilty of collecting paid reviews end up penalized with poor search rankings and other punitive measures.
The company has automatic spam detectors in place to avoid issues with the sanctity of Google Reviews. Still, there is an editorial team to cover individual complaints that are resolved in a matter of two weeks.
What violates a Google review?
The following are the obvious red flags for Google Reviews:
