Google reviews are an important part of a small business’s success story. Reviews allow potential customers to find out more about your business, feel more comfortable about giving you a try, and Google is more likely to display your business profile in front of people when you have Google reviews.
“Okay, but I’ve just opened my business and I don’t know anything about Google reviews.”
We’ve got you covered. This is our beginner’s guide to Google Reviews.*
For this article we are assuming that you have already claimed your Google Business profile. If you have not – please do that first. For more information on how to do that, click here.
The most important step to Google Reviews? Asking people to review your business! This can be done in many ways – for examples of how to ask for a review, click here.
To make your customer’s life easier (and so they are more likely to leave a review), it is best to provide them with a direct link that takes them straight to the review page. This link will even pull up the dialog box for them. You can find this link by clicking on the “Ask for a review” section when you pull up your small business on Google. There you will find your review link clearly labeled, and you will be able to copy it. You can place this link on social media posts, a QR code, send it in email or text marketing, however you decide is the best way to ask your customers for a review.
“How do I guarantee that people will leave a review? “
Besides providing a positive customer experience, it is also important to make the entire process as simple and user friendly as possible. This means: when you ask for a google review you are providing them with the link to actually leave the review and you are asking them in a way that makes it easy for them to leave the review.
Remember that when you ask for reviews, you may end up with negative ones as well as positive ones. That’s the way of the small business owner. The best thing you can do (besides try to provide the best customer service to every customer) is to respond to the review. This way potential customers can see you are attentive and care about people’s experiences at your small business.
The Rules
Google has policies and guidelines for reviews and trust us – you want to follow them. If Google decides you have broken one of their policies they might remove ALL of your reviews from your profile, or if they find something they find egregious they might delete your Google Business Profile all together. To read Google’s policies and guidelines in its entirety click here, but we are going to give you a synopsis.
“Don’t solicit reviews from customers in bulk.” Instead of sending out a mass email asking for a review, ask for reviews right after a customer has had an experience with your small business.
“Selectively soliciting positive reviews from customers” and “encouraging positive only reviews” are both against Google’s policies. This might seem like a weird one – why would I not encourage only positive reviews, or be selective about who I ask? Google wants to not only make sure that everyone gets an equal opportunity to leave a review, but they also want it to be clear to Google users that these reviews are factual and not faked.
“Asking or encouraging employees to leave reviews.” Google labels this (rightly so) a conflict of interest, as well as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). We would steer clear.
“Buying fake reviews.” Do not. Do this. There are companies that reach out to small businesses saying they can provide them with reviews that will fly under Google’s radar – you are very likely going to get caught. This is a BIG no, and a great way to get your business profile taken down.
“Offering money, rewards, or incentives for reviews.” This is a tricky one. Many small businesses do this, whether that is with raffles or discounts. Whether you want to take the risk is up to you, but just know that Google has taken action before against businesses who were incentivizing people to leave reviews.
*Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is based on best practices and guidelines as of August 2023.
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