After putting in the time and effort to climb to the top of Google’s SERP, you may think it’s time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your successful SEO strategy—but the work doesn’t stop there.
Now that you’re getting as many eyes as possible on your business, you need to show potential customers that you live up to the hype. One of the first things your audience will see when they find your business on Google is your reviews, which is why quality, honest, and recent testimonials can play a big part in purchasing decisions.
In this blog post, we’ll highlight the importance of online reviews, provide tips for getting testimonials from your clients, and demonstrate why high-ranking businesses still need them. Let’s dive in!
Looking at the Numbers: Reviews Are a Proven Asset
You’ve probably heard that online reviews are an important factor in your digital footprint, but what does the data say to support this?
A 2020 survey by BrightLocal found that 87% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchasing decision, such as what to buy, where to eat, or where to stay. As this represents the vast majority of your potential online customer base, you’d be doing yourself a great disservice by ignoring this aspect of your digital marketing.
Another statistic worth noting is that 93% of users have made buying decisions based on reviews they read, according to a report from Podium. Again, this highlights that a significant portion of your audience will use your reviews to determine whether they choose to use your business.
Finally, you should know that a 2022 study by ReviewTrackers revealed that 73% of all online reviews are on Google. While Google isn’t necessarily the only platform that you should pay attention to, it’s clear that Google is where you’ll see the biggest benefits of quality online testimonials.
Why Even Top Businesses Should Care About Reviews
After pouring resources into your SEO to ensure your business shows up when people search in your area, your star rating and reviews will be some of the first things they lay eyes on.
Ranging from 1 to 5 stars, your business rating puts a numerical value on your business that allows users to make a gut reaction about whether to move forward with your business. Even a half-star improvement in rating has been proven to lead to increased sales, so this isn’t something you want to overlook.
For example, LinkNow Media’s reviews are front and center when you find us on Google.
Bonus Tip: In addition to your star rating, reviews allow your customers to leave written testimonials about their experience with your business. These reviews not only showcase your business's strengths to potential clients but also provide valuable feedback and insight for improving your customer service.
In Essence: Reviews Help You Make the Most of Your High Ranking
Getting to the top of search engines typically requires a lot of time, hard work, and even financial investment—so you don’t want to squander your placement with a lack of reviews or a poor score. Getting eyes on your business isn’t always enough, as many users will continue searching if they see a low rating or read about a negative experience.
Have you ever wondered why Coca-Cola still spends a lot of time and money advertising, even though they’re one of the world’s most recognized brands? It’s because there’s always tremendous value in maintaining your brand’s visibility and trustworthiness.
Granted, The Coca-Cola Company is a global corporation with a huge marketing budget, but this same principle applies to local businesses as well—and it doesn’t always need to involve spending money!
If you have positive, recent reviews for your company, your audience will see that you prioritize customer service and are a business that can be trusted.
What Review Platforms Should You Focus On?
A wide variety of review platforms exist online, but not all of them will provide you with the same benefits. When it comes to creating buzz and visibility for your business, the clear winners are Google, Facebook, and Yelp.
If you have to choose only one place to direct your customers to review your business, Google should be the first choice. Google is the largest online review platform, and it’s also where most people will discover your business when searching for your services.
As the world’s largest social media platform, Facebook is also a great place to receive testimonials for your business. Although it may not have the same reach as Google, Facebook is unique in that reviews for your business will be shown to the friends and family of the user reviewing your business. People are more likely to give a business a shot when they receive recommendations from people they know and trust, so Facebook reviews can still be a great asset for your business.
Lastly, we come to Yelp. This longstanding review platform can’t compete with the overall userbase of Google or Facebook, but its 178 million monthly users are nothing to scoff at. Yelp also has a higher conversion rate when compared to other platforms, with 97% of users making a purchase after visiting the review site.
These aren’t the only review platforms, and you may also find benefits to getting reviews on platforms that cater to your specific industry. That said, the platforms we’ve mentioned are the ideal starting place and represent the best value per review.
How to Get More Reviews for Your High-Ranking Business
By now, we’ve hopefully hammered home why you should still pay attention to your online reviews even if you’re a leader in your area. That said, getting your satisfied customers to review your company can often be easier said than done. With this in mind, here are a few suggestions for getting new reviews for your company:
- •Remember to ask! Even if you provide an exceptional client experience, it may not occur to your customers to go out of their way to review your business. Fortunately, research shows that a simple reminder or follow-up at the end of your service is often enough to encourage people to leave reviews.
- •Offer incentives. If you want to take your review strategy even further, you can offer rewards for customers who review your business. This can include discounts on their next visit or a free product. One thing worth noting: it’s against Google’s review policy to only solicit positive reviews, so make sure it’s clear that you’re incentivizing honest feedback.
- •Respond to your reviews. When you take the time to respond to your reviews in a reasonable timeframe, it shows your clients that you’re committed to taking your feedback seriously and makes future clients more likely to join the conversation.
- •Provide stellar service! Going above and beyond for your clients is one of the best ways to make them go out of their way to share a glowing testimonial.
Need More Help? Use LinkNow’s Review Generation Tool
If you still find yourself struggling to collect online testimonials from your customers, then our Review Generation Tool might be the solution you’re looking for. All you need to do is collect your clients’ contact information as part of your transaction process, and our convenient software will handle the rest.
Our Review Generation Tool will send emails or text messages to your clients after hiring your company and provide them with easy-to-follow steps to leave a review, as well as provide you with review reports and other benefits.
If you’re looking for more information about the benefits of online reviews and our Review Generation Software, we recommend getting in touch with our Account Executive, Jason Stevens.
With an impressive track record spanning over a decade in the realm of SEO and marketing, Jason Stevens has elevated the online presence of not just a handful, but a staggering number exceeding 2000 clients. His profound expertise in the field, coupled with an unwavering dedication to surpassing expectations, has garnered him a plethora of rave reviews, solidifying his status as a veritable legend among professionals in the industry. His exceptional ability to conjure high-quality inbound leads is nothing short of remarkable.
As an Account Executive, Jason embraces an upfront and unyieldingly direct approach, recognizing the utmost importance of establishing clear and accurate expectations from the outset. He wholeheartedly believes in the power of tailored and personalized service, investing ample time to thoroughly comprehend the unique objectives of each client. With an unwavering commitment to delivering results that align seamlessly with their distinct needs and requirements, Jason's unwavering dedication is an embodiment of his unwavering commitment to excellence.
Reach out to Jason at jstevens@linknowmedia.com if you’re looking to boost your incoming reviews for your business!
Want to Learn More About Online Reviews? Let Us Know!
We hope you found this blog post helpful! The truth is that we’ve only scratched the surface of the importance of online reviews and how to effectively manage your digital reputation. If you want to learn more about the SEO benefits of online reviews, how to respond to negative reviews, or anything else on this subject, we encourage you to let us know in the comments below!
For anything regarding online reviews and SEO, you can also get in touch with our digital marketing experts at 1-888-667-7186 or send an email to website@linknowmedia.com.
