When it comes to digital marketing, it’s no secret that search engines call the shots. Over the years, organisations have learned that getting on with Google – and not taking costly shortcuts – is the only way to get ahead, and that means using any tool you can to help improve search page rankings. In addition to optimising website content, writing original blogs, and following best practices, your customer reviews are also key to getting ahead in the search optimisation game. Here’s how.
Google can’t get enough of your customer reviews
If Google loves it, you need to love it. It’s that simple. And customer reviews are especially important to the search engine because they are intended to accurately reflect a customer’s experience with your business, thereby helping to make search results more accurate and more helpful for users. This also has an impact on local SEO in addition to general SEO, helping your business stand out for local customers – all those people looking for a yoga studio near me or an Italian restaurant near me, who are some of the most rewarding and high ROI customers. In fact, 88% of people trust online customer reviews as much as a personal recommendation – and that’s as valuable as it gets.
So, how do you generate more reviews to boost your SEO?
The first step is to set up your Google My Business page as well as profiles on major review sites relevant to your business. Then, all you have to do is:
- Ask – Bet you didn’t think it would be that easy, but it is! If there’s one thing the age of the internet has taught us, it’s that people love for their opinions to be heard. Tapping into that is as simple as sending a follow-up email (with a link) asking people to review your product or service on your Google My Business page. You can add an extra incentive in the form of a small coupon as a little thank you, and you’ll be sure to get those reviews rolling in.
- Be responsive – When your customers review your business, respond within a day or two. This can be as simple as a thank you or a more detailed and personal reply. You should also address negative feedback, showing that you care about what your customers want and are willing to make things right.
- Make reviews work for you – If you get a great review, post it up on social media, tagging the person and linking to the product or service, and thanking them for their response (with permission of course). You can use this on your website, on social platforms, on ads, anything you like – and your customer is sure to love seeing their name up in stars.
Want the experts to take your business to the next level and make sure your customers hear all about it? Our teams cover every digital marketing service you need, from web design and email marketing to PPC and social media marketing, and we aim to give you a digital marketing strategy that works – no fuss, no big price tags, and no so-called quick fixes – just good marketing done right.
