Get the Google Review email template: https://bigwestacademy.com/gmbreviews
In the world of local business, Google reviews are like gold. These short, simple testimonials wield a huge impact on your business’s online presence, and can either drive new customers to you or push them away. But, getting them can often feel like an uphill battle. Fortunately, there’s an easy and free way to do this, courtesy of Google itself. Today, I’m going to walk you through the simplest methods to get more Google reviews, and also share a proven template that will make the task even easier.
Why Google Reviews Matter
Online reviews are the new word-of-mouth advertising. Most of us know that referral business is not only cost-effective but also the best way to attract high-quality clients who are less likely to quibble over price. And let’s face it, nobody likes dealing with customers who are never satisfied.
But have you ever considered the impact of Google reviews on your local business ranking? Yes, Google reviews play a significant role in improving your local SEO and getting more exposure for your business. Therefore, collecting as many reviews as possible (preferably positive ones) can give you an edge over your competition.
Getting More Google Reviews: Step-By-Step
To make this process clear, let’s take my business, Big West Marketing, as an example.
First, ensure you are logged into your Google account that’s linked to your Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business). You’ll know you’re logged in when you see your profile picture. If you search for your business on Google and scroll down, you should see a section for reviews. Here, you’ll find a box that says ‘get more reviews’ which you should click on. You will then see an icon to copy a unique link that takes people directly to your business’s review page, regardless of the device they’re using.
This link is your golden ticket to more Google reviews. It takes your customers right where you want them – to a page where they can easily leave a review. Remember, you should avoid leaving a review for your own business, as Google frowns upon that practice.
Spreading The Word
Now, the crucial question is, how do you share this link to garner the most reviews in the shortest amount of time? Well, the most effective ways are via text or email. However, don’t merely send the link and expect reviews to pour in. You need to guide your customers a bit by prompting them to write high-quality reviews that potential customers will find valuable, and that Google will notice when ranking your business.
A Proven Template
To help with this, I’ve created a simple template that you can use for either emails or texts. The key elements of the template are:
- Personalization: Address the customer by name and thank them for choosing your business.
- Request: Ask them politely if they could spare a minute to leave an online review. Stress on the time (a minute) to indicate that it won’t take much of their time.
- Reason: Tell them how their review could help improve your business and assist others in choosing a local business.
- Guidelines: Remind them to log into their Gmail account before they can leave a review. Also, suggest topics they can talk about, like the quality of the product or service, customer service, turnaround time, price, etc. This prompts them to leave a detailed review that will be helpful to other potential customers and boost your ranking.
- Gratitude: Finally, thank them again and sign off with your name and business name.
This template can be accessed for free by going to Bigwestacademy.com/GMBreviews.
It’s important to understand that not everyone you send this to will respond. Generally, only one out of three to four people will actually leave a review. But the more requests you send out, the more reviews you’re likely to get.
If you’re not getting a response, don’t hesitate to send follow-up emails or texts with slight modifications to the template. You can also consider investing in software programs that automate some of this process, some of which are often incorporated into your CRM.
I hope this information helps you in your quest to get more Google reviews for your business. If you found this useful, consider checking out the Google My Business Cheat Sheet that I’ve put together. It includes all the strategies I use for my clients and my own business to rank up on Google My Business, the Google Business Profile, or Maps, depending on your preference. You can download it for free by going to Bigwestacademy.com/GMBcheatsheet.
Let’s work together to improve your business’s online visibility, one Google review at a time. Remember, persistence is key, and every review counts. Happy marketing!
