How to Look Up a Business to Review on Google Maps
If you're like almost people, you prefer to work with businesses you lot trust.
That'southward why we often plow to our family and friends to inquire for referrals when looking for a particular business, production, or service.
And if we tin't observe a referral from a person we trust, we frequently turn to online reviews equally the adjacent best thing.
Online reviews have become an integral part of the buyer's journey, then much and so that 77% of consumers now say they 'always' or 'regularly' read online reviews when browsing for local businesses.
And the pricier or riskier the production or service, the more people pay attending to the reviews.
Google Business organization Contour Reviews Are Forepart And Center
Yeah, there are plenty of sites with reviews including Yelp, Facebook, Better Business Bureau, and many more.
But considering most people start out past searching on Google, they volition frequently see Google Business Contour reviews front end and centre at the top of the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).
Screenshot from search for [best watches for sale in iowa city], Google, January 2022
Information technology'southward important that local businesses take Google Business Profiles that show a good reputation with solid, 5-star reviews from happy customers.
Why Reviews Matter To Local Businesses
Online reviews are important to local businesses for several reasons.
First, consumers rely on online reviews to assistance determine which local business to choose when it comes to products and services.
According to BrightLocal's Local Consumer Review Report, 92% of consumers said that negative reviews brand them less likely to utilize a business.
Additionally, 79% of people said they trust reviews as much as a personal recommendation from friends or family unit.
So those little stars that bear witness up on your Google Business Profile Knowledge Panel do affect what searchers think well-nigh your business and how they brand purchasing decisions from your local business organisation.
Another reason reviews are of import is that they bear upon local rankings.
According to Whitespark's 2021 Local Search Ranking Factors report, reviews can influence both the Google Local Pack and Local Finder rankings equally well as local organic rankings.
Over the years of this report, in that location has been a steady increment in the perceived importance of reviews.
Screenshot from Whitespark.ca, January 2022
The Google Business organisation Profile Help Guide on How to better your local ranking even says that reviews tin can assist your local rankings:
Screenshot from support.google.com, January 2022
Reviews can besides make your Business organization Profile Knowledge Panel stand out more to searchers considering Review Snippets can announced.
This gives potential customers a quick thought of the expert points and highlighting other customers identified in their reviews.
Screenshot from Google, January 2022
Review snippets prove the keywords virtually mentioned in your Google Business Profile reviews.
(These snippets are selected by an algorithm.)
The most common words and phrases related to the reviews yous received appear in assuming.
If you're using the Google Maps App, you get more detail with the Review Snippets.
The mutual keywords in reviews are in assuming and yous can also see the number of people who have left reviews with that keyword in their reviews.
Screenshot from Google Maps App, January 2022
All of this means you lot should do your best to become your happy customers to leave 5-star reviews on your Google Business organisation Profile.
How Do You lot Admission Reviews In Your Google Business Profile?
There are iii ways to manage Business Contour reviews.
Since nigh merchants only have i Business concern Profile, Google makes it easy for y'all to manage your Business Profile directly from Google search.
You can too access your Business concern Profile from the Google Maps App.
The final fashion to access and manage your Business Profile is through the Business Profile Manager.
Note: Despite rumors that have been floating effectually, Google is not stopping its investment in the Business Profile Managing director.
They even have a dedicated team focused on merchants with multiple profiles that are looking into making the dashboard fifty-fifty better!
Pro tip: Google will exist retiring the Google My Business app in 2022, so at present is the time to start using ane of the three ways to manage Google Business Profiles and finish using the Google My Business App.
To become to your reviews in Google search, only search for your business organisation name or enter the words [My Business] in the search bar.
You volition see your Business Contour manager console on the left-hand side. From there you can manage your profile.
Screenshot of Business Contour panel on Google.com, January 2022
To go to your reviews, click on Customers so Reviews to start managing your reviews in Google search.
Screenshot of Business concern Profile panel on Google.com, January 2022
Screenshot of Business Profile console on Google.com, January 2022
You lot tin also manage your Concern Contour from the Google Maps App on your smartphone or tablet.
On the Maps App, you can either search for your business organisation proper name or click on your account menu and then click on Your Business concern Profile.
Screenshot from Google Maps App, January 2022
Next click on Customers and Reviews.
From there, you lot tin can see all your reviews and manage them.
Screenshot from Google Maps App, Jan 2022
You must be logged into your Business Profile e-mail business relationship when using the Google search and Maps App methods.
If you manage multiple Business Profiles, you lot can manage your reviews by logging into the Business organisation Profile Manager.
Screenshot of Business Profile Director, January 2022
Click on the business contour you lot desire to manage, then click Reviews.
Screenshot of Business Contour Manager, January 2022
Alerts When You lot Receive New Reviews
When y'all get a new review from a customer, you'll receive an email notification.
It'south a good thought to prepare a rule in your email program so that these emails jump out at yous when you lot receive them.
Screenshot of Google My Business email, January 2022
If you utilize Google search to manage your profile, y'all'll likewise see a notification of the new review in your Business organisation Profile panel.
Screenshot of Business concern Contour panel on Google.com, January 2022
And if y'all apply the Maps App to manage your profile, y'all'll too encounter that yous have a new review there, too.
If you manage multiple profiles, log in to your Business Profile Managing director, click on the business with the new review (or click the link in the e-mail yous received on your desktop) and click on Reviews to see your new review.
Reviews For Service Surface area Businesses Are Dissimilar
Unremarkably, when a customer leaves a review for a business concern, they only select the number of stars they think the business concern deserves (1 being the lowest rating, v being the best).
There's a place where the person can write details about their feel and and so there is a photographic camera icon where they tin upload a photo if they'd similar.
Screenshot of Review box, January 2022
But if you have a Service Area Concern (SAB) where you go out to your customers' location to service them – like a landscaper, tree trimmer, pest control company, garage door opener, etc. – the process for a customer leaving a review for your visitor may exist a little different.
In many cases a customer can rate specific service aspects of your concern, and these services are displayed directly on the Business concern Profile review class.
For example, if you run a landscaping company, your customers may see a review class that looks something like the ane below:
Screenshot of Review box, January 2022
First, reviewers select their overall star rating for the business concern, then Google asks if they actually used the business.
Next, the customer is asked what services the visitor performed for them.
The reviewer can then share their feedback and upload a photo if they'd like to.
The services that evidence upward in the review form come from the company's Google Concern Profile service list, the company's website (if they have 1), or the standard listing of services based on the categories or other authoritative sources.
Tip: If there'southward a service that'south not actualization in the review form that you'd like displayed, yous can add it to your service list in the Business organisation Profile Manager.
Service Review Details Tin Aid You Ameliorate Your Business organization
Having this review information from your customers puts service businesses at an advantage and allows business owners to take that feedback to help improve their business.
First, you lot can see what words people mention frequently in their reviews – so you can come across trends, both expert and bad.
Yous can as well sort the reviews by the Most relevant, Newest, Highest, and Everyman.
Y'all can also run into what service these reviewers hired yous for, which is invaluable information.
Screenshot of Review box, January 2022
Additionally, in the summaries of the reviews, you lot can run across "Positive" and "Critical" traits about your service business.
This gives you at-a-glance information about things you are doing right – and means you can improve your business organisation, process, or services.
Screenshot of Review box, January 2022
How To Read And Reply To Reviews On Google Concern Profile
When a customer takes the time to leave a review for y'all, the polite affair to practice is to reply to that review – whether it'south a good or bad ane.
According to the BrightLocal Consumer Review Survey, when writing a review, 20% of consumers wait to receive a response (from the business) within 1 solar day.
Reviews from customers give valuable feedback on how your business is doing.
And even though no one likes to get bad reviews, negative reviews tin can draw your attending to areas in your business that you tin improve on.
Things like an employee that may need help with client service skills or a product that may non be working as it should, tin be pointed out by bad reviews.
If yous respond to negative reviews properly, you may even turn an unhappy customer into a satisfied one.
Replying to a Business Profile review is as easy equally going to the review and clicking on Reply.
Screenshot of Business Profile panel on Google, January 2022
Note: When a customer writes a review for your business, they can even upload photos – making reviews even more interesting than ever!
If you'd like to Edit or Delete a reply yous've made to a review, just go to the reply, and click on the iii dots adjacent to the reply and you'll be given those options.
This works no matter which style you manage your Business Profiles.
Note: If yous edit a review response, the customer will not exist alerted of the revised response.
Screenshot from Google Maps App, January 2022
Keep in listen that when people run across your Business Contour, they will run into both the reviews left for your business and your responses to those customer reviews – and so be very careful what y'all say in your replies.
For case, when you get a 5-star review, responding is much easier.
Good reviews are like shooting fish in a barrel to respond to!
Be gracious and thankful for positive reviews.
Express your appreciation that they are a customer of yours and thank the reviewer for taking the time to leave their feedback.
If yous get a negative review, pause and step abroad from your calculator earlier responding.
(A cooling-off menstruum is always skilful if a bad review upsets you lot.)
Don't allow your emotions become the amend of you lot. When replying to a bad review, exist polite and don't go personal.
Thank the reviewer for their stance and apologize if necessary.
But if a situation was out of your control, feel complimentary to explain that, as well.
Depending on the issue, you may want to tell them that you'll investigate the situation with your employees.
It sometimes works to advise that an unhappy client contact you lot directly to talk over the situation.
That takes the discussion offline (and tin mayhap turn the negative review into a positive i.)
Whatsoever you do, don't set on the person online and do not share personal data about the reviewer in public.
Note: The example below is not the platonic style to speak to an unhappy customer.
Screenshot from Google search, Jan 2022
The all-time approach is to handle negative reviews as best you tin by politely responding to them.
That shows people that see the responses online that you lot truly care near your happy customers and those that may not have had the best experience with your business organisation.
Most people are also aware that a business is leap to get some bad reviews – and many people can spot "grumpy, hard-to-delight" people who go out these types of reviews.
(And remember, yous are non going to please everyone.)
How To Easily Get Reviews From Your Customers
Since reviews are and so important to a local business, y'all should endeavour to go reviews from happy customers.
One manner to practise that is to requite customers a short URL that links direct to your Business concern Contour review form and ask them (politely) to go out a review for yous.
You can put this URL at the bottom of your signature line in your emails, on a feedback menu that people can pick up at your place of business, on your website, or on the bottom of your receipts.
Getting your short review URL is like shooting fish in a barrel to practice using any of the three ways to manage your Business Profile.
Using search, get to your Business Profile manager panel, click on Get more reviews and a Share box will appear.
Yous can then share your review link through any of the methods that announced, or you can copy the short URL and give that URL to customers.
Screenshot from Business concern Profile manager on search, Jan 2022
If y'all use the Maps App, you tin easily request reviews from customers past searching for your business concern name, then go to the Get More Reviews panel and click Share Profile.
Yous volition then see the text that will be shown to your customer when shared.
You can share multiple ways, just the well-nigh popular is via email or text message.
Ever make sure you have permission to send emails or text messages earlier you transport.
You can also copy and paste the curt URL and use that via other methods.
If y'all manage multiple profiles, log in to your Business Profile Manager, select the business y'all want to create the brusk review URL for, and click on Get More than Reviews.
Next click Share Review Class.
Screenshot of Business Contour Managing director, January 2022
You can and then either share the shortened review link via the options listed, or you can copy the shorted URL and share.
Screenshot of Concern Profile Asking Reviews form, January 2022
It'due south against Google review policies to solicit reviews from customers past offering an incentive or bribe for a review (i.due east. "You'll be entered into a contest to win X if you leave u.s. a review.").
You also cannot accept a "review station" located at your business – similar an iPad kiosk then people tin get out reviews for you at your business organisation.
If you lot get reviews that violate Google's review policies, they will likely get reported and the reviews y'all received will probably be removed.
How To Remove Inappropriate Reviews
Google has policies on what people can and cannot say on reviews and other user-generated content on their platforms.
You may find that a review you lot receive violates one of those guidelines.
As an example, perhaps the consumer uses profanity in a review they left for your business organization.
Y'all tin can flag inappropriate reviews that violate Google'due south policies and request Google remove the review by flagging it every bit inappropriate.
(You cannot flag reviews y'all simply don't like.)
If y'all take just ane location, the easiest fashion to flag a review is through Google search or on the Maps App.
Start, observe the review that violates Google's guidelines, and then click on the 3 dots past the review and click Report Review:
Screenshot of Google Maps App, Jan 2022
Next, select which of Google'southward terms the review violates and so click the Report push button.
You'll receive an email in approximately iii–5 days with Google'southward decision on whether or not they will remove the review.
If y'all take more than 1 location (simply under 100 locations), then you can use the Review Removal Tool. (Brand certain you're logged in to your Business organisation Profile email account.)
This tool makes it easy for yous to flag and report reviews and check the status of reviews you've already reported.
While yous're logged into your Concern Profile electronic mail account, visit the Review Removal Tool.
You lot'll see all the businesses you accept in that account.
Select the business organisation that you'd like to report the review for and click the Continue push.
Screenshot of Review Removal Tool, Jan 2022
Then select that you would like to Report a new review for removal and click Go along.
Screenshot of Review Removal Tool, January 2022
Next, select the review that has the violation and click Report.
Screenshot of Review Removal Tool, January 2022
Y'all'll then be asked what Google rule the review violates. After y'all choose the violation, click Report.
Screenshot of Review Removal Tool, Jan 2022
You will then encounter a Give thanks You lot screen letting you know that Google received your removal request.
You should also receive an email from Google letting you know they are reviewing your removal request.
How To Check Review Removal Condition
To check a review removal status, go to the Review Removal Tool and select the business organization that y'all reported the review for and select the Check the status of a review I reported previously radio push button.
If Google has evaluated the review and fabricated a decision, you lot'll run across the ruling in the Decision cavalcade.
Screenshot of Review Removal Tool, Jan 2022
Screenshot of Review Removal Tool, January 2022
If you lot disagree with the ruling, you can Appeal eligible reviews – merely be forewarned, it takes a lot to get a review removed after it's already been evaluated and no policy violation has been establish.
Remember, only flag or report reviews with content that violates Google policies.
Don't flag reviews with content that y'all simply don't similar.
Besides, don't flag reviews for people that you say "aren't your client."
Google doesn't get involved when merchants and customers disagree nigh things like that, since there'southward no way to make up one's mind who's correct.
And so be sure to read the policy before flagging a review.
Subsequently you flag a review, information technology can take a few days for a review to exist evaluated by the Google Business organisation Profile back up squad and for you lot to hear back with a ruling.
Most reviews are candy in about three days.
Notation: To flag inappropriate third-party reviews – like hotel reviews – you must contact the third-party review provider direct.
Later on they remove or change the review on their website, the update will testify on your Business Profile.
Help, Some Of My Client Reviews Are Missing!
You lot may know nigh a customer review that just isn't showing up in your Google Business organization Profile Knowledge Console.
There are several reasons why reviews may be removed or not bear witness up on a Google Business Profile.
In most cases, reviews are removed for policy violations like spam or inappropriate content.
Google uses automated spam detection to remove reviews that it considers to maybe be spam.
Google doesn't reinstate reviews that were removed for spam reasons.
Nonetheless, because spam detection isn't perfect, some legitimate reviews may accidentally be removed.
For case, if you have reviews that you experience were legitimate (i.due east., not spam), and you lot were recently suspended, reviews can sometimes be removed from a Business Profile after a Business organization Profile reinstatement.
If y'all lost reviews when your contour was disabled or suspended so reinstated, contact GBP support for help.
Likewise, if y'all recently had ii Business organization Profiles merged, you lot may detect that some reviews take longer to bear witness up on some platforms, like Google Search or Google Maps. Delays because of a merge should exist resolved within a few days.
Note: If y'all set a future opening date for your business organization that hasn't opened yet, reviews left before your business organization opens to the public will be removed.
If none of these scenarios fit your state of affairs and yous truly are missing legitimate reviews left by customers, contact Google Business Profile Back up.
Google Reviews DO Affair
Google Business Profile reviews actually exercise matter – just and so exercise other review sites. Google ofttimes shows third-party review sites in a business organisation' Knowledge Panel.
Then even though Google is by far the powerhouse when it comes to reviews, remember to also piece of work on getting reviews from other review sites and monitoring/responding in that location, also.
More resources:
- How Google Reviews Impact Map Pack & Organic Search Rankings
- Google Review Snippets Won't Show For Testimonials
- A Guide to Local SEO
Featured Image: HAKINMHAN/Shutterstock
Source: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-business-profile-reviews/434849/
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