If you’re running a business, Google Reviews is your best friend. 88% of people trust online reviews written by other clients as much as they trust recommendations from their friends and family, yet only a third of businesses are actively seeking out and collecting reviews. If you’re one of the two-thirds of businesses who don’t currently have a referral and reviews strategy, the number of potential clients you’re not reaching is pretty significant. 74% of consumers identify word of mouth as a key influencer in purchasing decisions, and reviews count among those figures.
For potential clients, the fact that other people love what you do is both compelling and reassuring. When they do their research and you pop up on Google, it’s that star rating, those reviews, that will all help to inform their decision. It shows them that you’re active and legitimate, and that you do such a good job your clients are happy to tell the world about it. It’s unfiltered, uncensored social proof and one of the most valuable assets you can have.
So far so good. But there’s also another benefit to collecting Google Reviews. Google algorithms love activity, and a review counts among that. This is especially true of local searches (for example ‘financial planner near me’,) where reviews will help you climb your way up the Google rankings. Remember us when you reach the top!
WHEN?
If you’re starting from scratch, you’ll need to do an initial push with your clients to get the ball rolling.
Once the groundwork is done, we then recommend you ask for reviews regularly. The best way is to build it into your existing processes to ensure it gets asked and gets done. Two excellent points to ask are when your client is feeling good at the end of the onboarding process, or at the end of a review meeting.
WHO?
Nobody knows your clients better than you. If you’ve got a good relationship with them – and they’re trusting you with their money and their life plans – chances are they’ll be more than happy to spend five minutes leaving you a review on Google. You don’t need a Google mail account to leave business reviews on Google. However, you do need some kind of Google account. So, that could mean YouTube, Google Play, Google Drive, Gmail, or a Google mail account of another kind.
While you’re building your review base, choose clients that you know best and who you know will definitely say yes. Beyond that, ask everybody.
HOW?
Great question!
Download our guide to learn how, including an email template to make it simple and fuss-free.
