The best way to generate credibility and visibility is through customer reviews online. And the first stop for most consumers before looking at any industry-specific listings is Google My Business listings. To reach a larger customer base and enjoy a competitive advantage, businesses are focusing on creating optimized review listings on Google.

Customer reviews on Google will make your business stand out and yield more convertible leads. But how can you generate more reviews? Read this article and become proactive with this complete step-by-step guide on how to ask for reviews on Google in an efficient manner.

What are the advantages of Google Reviews?

Before understanding how to ask for reviews on Google, it is crucial to map the benefits of these reviews. Google reviews are pretty powerful trust indicators and as a consumer, the number of people interacting positively with a business will greatly impact the purchase decisions. There are many benefits of having an impactful google review listing for your company:

• Social proof – These reviews are highly influential on consumer behavior. We always trust the actions and opinions of past customers, and the more significant positive feedback there is for your brand, the more buy-in you’ll get from other potential customers.
  
  
• Better visibility – Google considers these reviews as a mark of credibility and trustworthiness, and the higher you have, the higher you will appear in google search engine results. For the eCommerce stores, if you collect over 100 reviews with an average 3.5 rating over 12 months, you’ll gain a Google Seller Rating, increasing both your visibility and trust.
  
  
• Increased revenue – With a better online presence and trust-building social proof, you’ll get more click-through rates, higher conversions, and a high turnover.

The more Google reviews you have and the higher number of google ratings, the more credible your business will appear to consumers. This is because a large number of consumers consider review quantity as the second most crucial factor when researching a company.  

Why should one ask for Google Reviews?

If your primary objective is to get more Google reviews, you will initially want to implement a sturdy strategy that includes seeking feedback and asking your potential customers relevant questions at various touchpoints.

Why so?. Most customers review a business only if they encounter a negative experience, whereas only 2 out of 10 customers would actively leave a positive review. But if prompted, the majority will be more than willing to leave a review. Different forms of feedback come with additional advantages from texts to video reviews.

So before you ask for them, analyze different formats and patterns and consider what impact reviews or feedback have on the buying decisions. And consequently, choose the correct fit for your business model.  

When should you ask for a Review?

Timing is very critical when it comes to a successful review request. If you are running an eCommerce store, always ensure -

• the transaction has been completed
•  the item is dispatched
• and that the buyer has had enough time to experience the product.

The same rule applies if you’re a service-related business. Give the customer enough time to reflect before asking for their opinion.

Typically, any point where you are more likely to be in favor is an excellent time to ask for feedback.

Who should you ask for a Review?

Before you indulge in and send review requests to everybody on your database, try to look for your strongest brand advocates first. Consider these points:

• Revisit your CRM, and look for your most loyal customer(s) and reach out to them, ask them to leave a review for your business.
• Observe and find out customers that engage the most with your business on social platforms and ask them to leave a review.
•  Try to use their voice to kick-start your review campaign.

Subsequently, you will want a system that automatically sends invitations to everyone you do business with. But also keep in mind that this may sometimes lead to negative feedback on certain occasions, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There are several ways to handle negative reviews efficiently, but turning to happy customers in the initial phase will get you started on a positive note.

What to include when asking for a review?

An Email is an excellent way to ask for reviews. It’s convenient for the customer, not pushy or aggressive, and the whole process can be completely automated, saving you time, energy and money.

If you always wonder how to ask for reviews on Google, Here’s how to do it right:

Personalisation is the key

A Google review request should always be tailored to both the customer as well as your brand. Your review request should be instantly recognizable. Here are some parameters to adhere to:

• In the initial instance, include the customer’s name and specific details about their order, like the product they purchased or their service. 
• These small personal nuances make them feel like they are a valued individual, not just faceless addition to your review portfolio. 
• You can easily customize your emails to coordinate with your brand identity, so they’re in keeping with the whole customer experience.

Make It Easy

Customers are taking the time to leave a review for your business, so it should be ensured that it’s convenient for them. Try to save them time by including a link that re-directs them directly to your review collection page - make sure it’s obvious and add a call to action that’s clear and to the point.

This process is much simpler if you are working with a review collection service but not quite impossible to do without. If you use a review management solution it would be easier for you to ask your customers to leave a review.

Show Your Appreciation

Lastly, a review request is all part of your customer service as you are asking them to take time out of their day and give you feedback. It is good practice to be polite and show your gratitude to the customer for reviewing your business and providing assurance to them, even when they leave a negative review.

You could also show your appreciation by incentivising reviews with loyalty programs - like loyalty points that they can use to get a discount. They are a great way to increase conversion and encourage repeat business.

Are you sure if all the reviews are visible?

Chances can be that in most cases, reviews aren't visible due to several reasons which consequently results in lesser reviews on your site. It can be a server issue or can be a listing error as well. There is not much that can be done but it is always better to be on the lookout for such causes. In such cases, you need to carefully sort out the issues and try to make the positive reviews visible.

Key Takeaways

A successful review campaign requires a strategy and process. Careful and thoughtful consideration of who you should ask when you should ask them, and how you should structure your request will get your Google review count soaring.

But don’t just stop at the review collection. Make reviews an integral part of your broader marketing strategy, and you’ll find that customer feedback soon becomes your most incredible sales pitch.

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