How Google Review Marketing Helps Your Business Stand Out

Google is the fastest-growing review site around.  It has grown its volume of reviews far quicker than rivals such as Facebook and Yelp.  The effects of google review marketing have had a significant impact on SEO, showing a strong link between the volume of reviews accrued and local search positioning.

Google Reviews and its Impact on SEO Ranking

A study has proven that Google’s business reviews are directly related to search positioning. 22,000 local business listings were put on the line with over 100,000 individual reviews to uncover how Google’s customer reviews impacted SEO ranking.  These are the results:

• You will need an average of 472% more reviews than businesses ranked 4-6 if you want to gain a 1-3 spot in the search results.

• The first three businesses ranked are much more likely to have Google reviews than those outside of the top three.

• More than six times out of ten, the top listing will be the business with the most Google reviews.

• The top 1-3 ranked businesses have an average of around eight reviews.  A business ranked lower will only have just one or two reviews.

Why Google Reviews Matter to Your Business

Google is very easy to access, including reviews of your business that can be seen by anyone at any time, from anywhere!  Why does it matter to your business?  What does the data say?

86% of people will pay for a proven better experience, and if your business reviews strike below a 4.5, you are less likely to be considered than your better-reviewed competitors.  It is crucial that you know what your customers are saying online, and respond positively to discontent reviewers because this will greatly impact the success of your business.

This is because, whether we like it or not, the internet is the number one source of information in our lives.  The answers to your customers’ questions are at their fingertips and will often read reviews of your business before deciding whether to engage or not.  Here are the reasons why you should take advantage of Google reviews:

1.  To Increase Brand Trust

Because your customers have great accessibility to cast amounts of information on any given business, they will most likely research before deciding to purchase a product or service.

In fact, almost 88% of consumers have read reviews to determine the quality of local business and a large part of this research is done through Google reviews.  What do consumers say?

They say that positive reviews make them trust a local business.  So if you want to gain a competitive advantage over your competitors, collect great Google reviews.  If you get negative reviews, respond to them properly because it will further build consumer trust in your brand.

2.  To Increase Online Exposure and Local SEO

According to Moz, review signals like those from Google reviews on businesses, drive 9% of Google’s entire search algorithm.  What does this mean?  If you have a well-balanced combination of three review signals, your business will get found much more easily and quickly than utilizing only traditional SEO activities like keyword research and blogging.

Include Google business reviews in your marketing strategies because it will allow your business to show up in the “Map Pack” where groups of businesses are included near the location from where a user is searching.  The user will see the link to your business, your address, and phone number displayed in the “Map Pack”.

3.  To convert More Customers

Any business with a strong rating on google can be powerful enough to do the conversion alone.  Your ratings published on your website and on Google pages will increase customer trust.  Once a user clicked through to your page from the “Map Pack”, and they are enticed enough by the content on your site, they will purchase your product or service.

Get the Key Business Benefits From Google Reviews

The best businesses have real reviews they’ve earned from honest quality products and services.  Search engines and consumers can often spot fake reviews so take the more ethical road of simply asking your customers to review your business and advertising your Google Review page to customers.  Utilize google review marketing to increase brand trust, local SEO, drive leads to your business and boost conversions.