Did you know that majority of organic traffic from Google provides the majority of leads to service-based businesses? If you’re a business with a storefront, you want to be sure that your website ranks well with Google because increased search rankings mean more calls, more customers and more revenue.

With Google’s search algorithm constantly changing, SEO can be a little tricky, especially if you’re trying the do-it-yourself SEO approach. However, Google reviews can have a significant impact on your page ranking, so if you’re a business with a storefront or offices listed through Google places, you should be exerting extra effort towards getting Google reviews.

What is a review?

Businesses or storefronts can list their business through Google Places, and attach their website and Google+ page to their listing. In essence, Google Places is like an online business directory that integrates social media and online sites into the listing.

Once a business has listed their location through Google Places, customers or visitors can leave an online review to provide feedback and assist others in finding the right business or service. Reviewers rate the business using one to five stars to describe their experience.

Google also provides a comment box, allowing reviewers to give specific feedback about their experience with the business. Once the review is published, the business can respond publicly and all other Google users will be able to read the reviews posted.

Why are reviews so important?

Studies show that 84% of people say that their purchasing decisions are affected by reviews, and 82% of people don’t trust expert reviews. In short, people want to know what the average consumer thinks of a product or service, before they make a purchase.

If you can provide your potential customers and prospects with valuable and credible feedback before they buy, you’re much more likely to close the lead. Not only that, Google Reviews are a great way to receive honest feedback from customers and visitors, helping you get a better feel for general customer sentiment.

How do I get reviews?

The best way to get reviews is to ask for them. You want as many reviews as you can get but you want to be careful not to give incentives to customers or clients for writing reviews. Google will penalize businesses for these practices. We suggest posting a sign on your front office desk, including a link in follow up emails, or simply asking them face-to-face to write a review for you.

Google also indexes keywords from reviews, so the more detailed and specific your customers can be in their reviews, the better it is for you, your business, and people reading the reviews.

What if I get bad reviews?

A site with only stellar reviews actually may seem a little fishy so don’t fret too much over a bad review. However, you should always respond to reviews, especially the negative ones. Respond to the review and be sure to reach out to the customer privately to resolve the issue. Often times you will find that great customer service in response to negative reviews can turn that customer into a brand advocate. Once you have resolved or settled any issues, ask the reviewers to update their review.