There’s no doubt that online reviews are a major asset to your business, but learning how to manage online reviews is even more important. Reviews from your past customers can impact the purchasing decision of potential customers well into the future. In fact, studies show that roughly 88% of customers view online reviews as if they were references from a personal friend.
Our SEO experts at Peppermonkey Media put together this guide to help you learn the best methods for increasing positive reviews, responding to negative reviews, and everything in between. Keep reading, then call 1(888) 231-9764 for your SEO strategy session!
Online Reviews Impact Local SEO
Every business with an online presence has to consider its reputation and the reviews that consumers leave about their business. A bad review can negatively impact the business for years to come. However, great reviews have the ability to completely transform a business. Additionally, business owners should consider the impact of reviews on local SEO. Below are some of the primary methods you can begin implementing today to help you better manage online reviews.
Search engines give priority to reviews because they offer concrete value to prospective customers. To stay competitive with your local SEO strategy, your business must prioritize reviews: seeking them from past customers and responding to both positive and negative reviews.
Taking the time to follow the steps outlined below will assist you in establishing a stronger online presence. Additionally, you will be able to manage your business reviews across the web more effectively.
Step #1 – Claim Your Google My Business Page
Your Google My Business Page is one of the most critical pages where potential customers can find your business online. Claiming this page and optimizing it is one of the most important parts of controlling your online presence. Make sure to provide relevant business details, like name, address, phone number, open hours, and photos. Without a verified Google My Business Page, ranking in the search engines for reviews becomes more of a challenge, so start here to build a solid foundation for your online review management.
When setting up your Google My Business Page, make sure to fill in your business category as this is crucial to helping customers who are searching for businesses like yours. Once you complete all of the relevant business details and claim your business page, you can begin including customer reviews.
Step #2 – Encourage Your Customers to Leave Reviews
As your business grows, always encourage reviews from your customers to help your online presence. Different methods you can use to collect reviews include:
- Surveys
- Email marketing
- Asking in person
The method you use to get reviews will vary depending on your business. However, always taking the time to request a review is an important method. It may be tempting to add in false reviews as you try to build up online reviews, but search engines penalize websites with fake reviews, so it’s best to stay honest as you work to effectively manage online reviews.
Step #3 – Answer All of Your Reviews
Although it may be tempting to ignore mediocre or negative reviews, it’s important to answer all of them. Each review is an opportunity for you to show how your business responds and treats your customers. When responding to positive reviews, be sure to thank your customers and show appreciation for their business.
When responding to negative reviews, always consider the client’s feelings and concerns and show attentiveness. Demonstrating a willingness to provide a solution to the problem will always look great to prospective customers. Following these guidelines will help you to manage online reviews effectively while building trust with your customer base.
Step #4 – Build Reviews on Multiple Review Sites
It helps to build reviews on multiple review sites other than Google. This diversifies your online presence as well as gives your business more credibility.
As you continue to manage online reviews on various sites, you will be able to broaden your reach to customers who are searching for reviews in different locations online. Review sites to consider include Tripadvisor, Yelp, Zomato, and others, depending on your business niche.
Step #5 – Focus Both on Quality and Quanitity of Reviews
The number of reviews you receive on each review site matter, as well as the quality of the reviews. Focusing on one and not the other is not an effective way to manage online reviews.
If you are struggling with getting enough reviews for your business, invite current customers to leave a review for your company on your target review site. An invitation to review your product or service is often enough for customers to respond.
If you find that the quality of your reviews is lacking despite your best efforts, it may be time to reach out for professional assistance. Consider investing in local SEO services by PepperMonkey Media. A professional company can expertly handle review management which will make your job easier in the long run.
Step #6 – Keep Up with Your Reviews
If people are reviewing or writing about your company online, you need to know about it. Reviews that your business doesn’t respond to may leave the impression that you don’t take the time to show concern for your customers. Additionally, if you ignore negative reviews, potential customers might think your business is unprofessional and look elsewhere.
Use tools such as Google Alerts to receive notifications whenever someone mentions your business anywhere online. This will allow you to respond in a timely manner to build a positive online presence.
Learn More About How To Manage Online Reviews
Running a business takes enough time as it is without worrying about how to manage online reviews. Let Peppermonkey Media take you to the next level of success with review management and local SEO strategies. Give us a call at 1(888) 231-9764 or fill out our online form to set up a marketing consultation to discuss your business’s SEO and reputation management needs.
