Google Reviews for Local SEO: How Service Businesses Rank Higher
Google Reviews for Local SEO: How Service Businesses Rank Higher
Google Reviews for Local SEO: How Service Businesses Rank Higher
Chapter 2 of The Complete Local SEO Guide for Service Businesses
Chapter 2 of The Complete Local SEO Guide for Service Businesses
Chapter 2 of The Complete Local SEO Guide for Service Businesses
Chapter 2: Reviews (Your Secret Ranking Weapon)
Chapter 2: Reviews (Your Secret Ranking Weapon)
Chapter 2: Reviews (Your Secret Ranking Weapon)
Reviews are the second most important ranking factor for local SEO, right after your Google Business Profile optimization. But more importantly, they're what convinces customers to choose you over your competition.
Reviews are the second most important ranking factor for local SEO, right after your Google Business Profile optimization. But more importantly, they're what convinces customers to choose you over your competition.
Reviews are the second most important ranking factor for local SEO, right after your Google Business Profile optimization. But more importantly, they're what convinces customers to choose you over your competition.
The Review Strategy That Actually Works
The Review Strategy That Actually Works
The Review Strategy That Actually Works
Most businesses beg for reviews and get nothing. Here's what works:
Most businesses beg for reviews and get nothing. Here's what works:
Most businesses beg for reviews and get nothing. Here's what works:
Timing is everything.
Timing is everything.
Timing is everything.
Ask for reviews immediately after completing a job when the customer is happiest. Don't wait days or weeks.
Ask for reviews immediately after completing a job when the customer is happiest. Don't wait days or weeks.
Make it stupid simple.
Make it stupid simple.
Make it stupid simple.
Send customers a direct link to your Google review page. No multi-step processes. The link format is: google.com/search?q=[your business name]
Send customers a direct link to your Google review page. No multi-step processes. The link format is: google.com/search?q=[your business name]
Use a simple script:
Use a simple script:
Use a simple script:
"I'm so glad you're happy with the work! Would you mind taking 60 seconds to leave us a Google review? It helps us out tremendously." Then text them the link immediately.
"I'm so glad you're happy with the work! Would you mind taking 60 seconds to leave us a Google review? It helps us out tremendously." Then text them the link immediately.
Ask in person first.
Ask in person first.
Ask in person first.
If you've just finished a job and the customer is thrilled, ask face to face. Then follow up with a text message containing the link.
If you've just finished a job and the customer is thrilled, ask face to face. Then follow up with a text message containing the link.
How Many Reviews Do You Need?
How Many Reviews Do You Need?
How Many Reviews Do You Need?
There's no magic number, but you want to match or exceed your top competitors. Look at the businesses ranking in the map pack for your main keywords. How many reviews do they have? You need to be in that range.
More importantly, you need recent reviews. A business with 50 reviews from two years ago will lose to a business with 30 reviews from the last six months.
There's no magic number, but you want to match or exceed your top competitors. Look at the businesses ranking in the map pack for your main keywords. How many reviews do they have? You need to be in that range.
More importantly, you need recent reviews. A business with 50 reviews from two years ago will lose to a business with 30 reviews from the last six months.
There's no magic number, but you want to match or exceed your top competitors. Look at the businesses ranking in the map pack for your main keywords. How many reviews do they have? You need to be in that range.
More importantly, you need recent reviews. A business with 50 reviews from two years ago will lose to a business with 30 reviews from the last six months.
Review Response Strategy
Review Response Strategy
Review Response Strategy
Respond to every single review. Good or bad. Here's how:
Respond to every single review. Good or bad. Here's how:
Good reviews:
Good reviews:
Thank the customer by name, mention the specific service they received, and invite them to use you again. Keep it personal, not templated.
Thank the customer by name, mention the specific service they received, and invite them to use you again. Keep it personal, not templated.
Thank the customer by name, mention the specific service they received, and invite them to use you again. Keep it personal, not templated.
Bad reviews:
Bad reviews:
Respond quickly, professionally, and publicly. Acknowledge their concern, apologize if appropriate, and offer to make it right. Then take the conversation offline.
Respond quickly, professionally, and publicly. Acknowledge their concern, apologize if appropriate, and offer to make it right. Then take the conversation offline.
Respond quickly, professionally, and publicly. Acknowledge their concern, apologize if appropriate, and offer to make it right. Then take the conversation offline.
Never argue with a bad review. Never. Your response is for future customers reading the review, not for the reviewer.
Never argue with a bad review. Never. Your response is for future customers reading the review, not for the reviewer.
The Review Velocity Principle
The Review Velocity Principle
The Review Velocity Principle
Google cares about review velocity, the rate at which you're getting new reviews. A steady stream of 2-4 reviews per month is better than 20 reviews one month and nothing for six months.
Build review requests into your normal business operations. It's not begging, it's good business.
Google cares about review velocity, the rate at which you're getting new reviews. A steady stream of 2-4 reviews per month is better than 20 reviews one month and nothing for six months.
Build review requests into your normal business operations. It's not begging, it's good business.
Google cares about review velocity, the rate at which you're getting new reviews. A steady stream of 2-4 reviews per month is better than 20 reviews one month and nothing for six months.
Build review requests into your normal business operations. It's not begging, it's good business.
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