The virtual world is made up and populated by people but it is quite different from the one we live and breathe in. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, it has seen tremendous growth in terms of usability and dependability. From commerce to education and beyond, everything is revolving around the internet. Everyone, both conventional businesses, and […]
The virtual world is made up and populated by people but it is quite different from the one we live and breathe in. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, it has seen tremendous growth in terms of usability and dependability. From commerce to education and beyond, everything is revolving around the internet.
Everyone, both conventional businesses, and online enterprises are struggling to stay afloat in the sea of content. The most important thing on the internet is to be discoverable by potential customers. Many things contribute to this, but the most important one is customer reviews, testimonials, and other peer-generated content.
In this blog, we will take a look at Google reviews and why it is difficult for brands to collect and consolidate positive sentiments from consumers.
Google is a leading brand in the internet world. Its flagship search engine is the most widely used search tool across the globe. Apart from the simple search business, Google has developed marketing and advertisement channels around it allowing businesses to cover SEO, SEM, and more through one single platform.
Google Reviews are a part of Google My Business (GMB) where businesses receive and get to showcase reviews from customers. The aggregate of the score from the total of 5 stars is automatically calculated and shown at the top of the profiles.
According to some estimates, Google Reviews contribute to the online shopping decisions of 87% of customers. This is a big number that both Google and businesses know.
There is no denying that Google Reviews are a driving force for both large corporations and small enterprises, especially the latter since they are often short on new demands and word of mouth around the internet can create the buzz they look for.
In this section, we will take a further look at some of the points that highlight the importance of Google Reviews for businesses.
More Exposure
As mentioned in the opening lines, online content is generated and dispatched at a lightning pace. Before a brand would know, it could become obsolete with fresh new slogans. So, exposure is everything on the internet. The more eyeballs your brand can get, the more benefits it will reap. That’s why online marketing agencies rely on Google Reviews to gain traction.
More Business
There is no point in getting exposure on the internet if a business does not have something to show for it. In this case, a business has a product or service that caught the customer’s eye in the first place. From the first point of contact to the purchase, everything was based on word of mouth that the company can indeed deliver.
More Trust
Once a transaction is done, the new customer can see for himself the company is what other users were saying it was. This builds trust. Now, that customer will leave a positive review for the brand, bring more business, and even ask others to give the company a shot. This is where the chain reaction starts that can go on for a long time.
Not all businesses are reaping the rewards of Google Reviews. Mainly, it all comes down to the brand and its strategy. Customers are always hard on brands and even the satisfied ones avoid leaving glowing reviews and sentiments. So, what to do about it?
This section is dedicated to touching some bases to identify the issues that make it hard to collect Google Reviews.
Lack of Planning
Many brands do not plan for collecting and consolidating Google Reviews. Instead, they leave sporadic calls to action and clickable tabs to leave reviews. This hardly produces meaningful results ever. Lack of planning is the first culprit that every brand should look for in their systems.
Poor Integration
Some even get the planning phase right but flip things over in the integration part. For instance, if they have planned to do active seeking of reviews, they fail to do so in the integration part. On the contrary, they would go for either an out spree or become too shy to even ask for reviews from satisfied customers.
Lackluster Appeal
It is not enough to simply ask clients to leave Google Reviews and testimonials. Brands need to make it easier and cooler. There is hardly any output when brands only rely on conventional methods of leaving links and calls to action. The best course of action is to connect the dots in collaboration with the clients.
Truth be told, there is no single best way to collect more Google Reviews. But through the years, many brands have run successful strategies to not only get more Google Reviews but showcase and highlight them to their advantage. We will steal some of the pages from their playbook so that brands that are struggling in this regard can get a head start.
Better Strategy
In the face of a lack of planning, only one thing can suffice – better strategy. This comes from studying modern consumer behaviors and then applying the best methods and practices to them. Keep in mind that brands should have a complete plan to get positive results – from planning to execution and beyond!
Facilitate Clients
Many customers are satisfied with the product or service but leaving a positive review is not their priority. This is where the proactive brand reminds the customer to leave a testimonial for a transaction that they enjoyed. Still, the process of leaving a review is cumbersome for the client. So, make sure that there are no unnecessary steps in leaving reviews. Otherwise, clients will not be able to enjoy the process.
Integrate CTAs
There is no workaround to calls to action. They serve the purpose of luring the customers in and allowing them to connect with the brand at another level. That’s why it is necessary to compose and integrate CTAs with the main message to ensure that both things work.
Google Reviews are the testimonials left by customers of a brand. For other users and prospects of that brand, this shows a more realistic or reliable view of the brand and how it conducts business. In turn, it contributes to the brand’s standing in the virtual world. Getting positive online reviews is tough, but it is not impossible. In this blog, we have shed ample light on the factors behind the failure of collecting and even suggested some remedies for the issue.
Brands and online marketing managers will find it helpful in making strategies and ensuring that everything is right on track.
Why is it so difficult to get more Google Reviews?
Many factors contribute to this issue:
What are some ways to collect Google Reviews?
There are many ways to collect positive Google Reviews. The most common and reliable one is to provide exceptional service. After that everything else just falls into its place. After that, brands should put forward calls to action, and embed links and tabs for reviews to ensure that everything is well-rounded.
What should I do if I get negative reviews?
If a brand gets negative reviews, which is inevitable, there is no need to panic. This is not the end of the world. Many brands make the mistake of confronting the reviewer or becoming defensive. Instead;
Should I ask for reviews after providing the service?
Of course! If this is not the right time to ask for a review, then when? This is another common mistake that businesses make. Instead of asking for reviews, they wait which can become longer than expected. Since customers have received their product or service and are satisfied with it, it is time to put in the call.
Can I delete a false negative review?
A brand cannot delete a review, even when it is a false one and did not originate from a verified purchase. However, it can connect with the management of the portal and report any violation of the code or guidelines of the website. The editorial team will review the complaint and make necessary amends if any. Brands cannot do anything directly and have to rely on the discretion of the platform.
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