About 93% of consumers use online reviews to inform their purchase decisions. Additionally, 75% of shoppers always or regularly read online reviews when browsing businesses.
As a business owner, these consumer insights can significantly affect your bottom line. As such, you must actively ask for Google reviews to boost your visibility and attract customers.
This article outlines how to ask for Google reviews, including practical tips to enhance your online visibility.
TL;DR – How to Ask for Google Reviews
Short on time? Here’s a brief rundown of what is discussed in the article:
- Ask for Google reviews via email
- Ask for Google reviews on Facebook
- Ask for a Google review via text
- Ask for a Google review in person
Keep reading the article to learn ways to request Google reviews so it feels natural, and you don’t put off your customers.
Need a quick solution to grow your Google reviews quickly? Embed your Google reviews on your website to encourage visitors to submit their feedback.
Our SociableKIT Google reviews widget offers a no-code solution that is easy to customize and embed on your web pages.
Create a SociableKIT Google Reviews widget and display customer testimonials on your site to encourage visitors to submit feedback.
Why Google Reviews Matter?
Below are essential reasons to collect Google reviews:
Credibility and Trust
Consumers trust reviews and recommendations from other users more than promotion messages.
Receiving numerous positive reviews portrays your business as credible, convincing customers to trust your products and customer service.
Sales Conversion
Positive reviews increase consumers’ click-through rates and encourage them to complete their online orders. According to a recent survey, a product with at least five testimonials is 270% more likely to be purchased than a commodity without reviews.
This means you can grow your bottom line by increasing your ratings and reviews count.
Customer Engagement
Collecting Google reviews facilitates one-on-one interactions with your customers, helping you create an online community for your brand.
In fact, 88% of consumers said they would likely be repeat customers if a business responded to customer testimonials.
Online Visibility
Google reviews enhance your online exposure, making your brand more visible to potential leads.
Google’s search engine algorithm uses ranking signals like website authority and engagement to rank results. Collecting reviews boosts your Google Business Profile’s engagements, helping it rank high.
Additionally, 39% of users prefer sorting search results by highest rating. Gathering favorable reviews increases your rating, so your business profiles appears among the top, especially for local searches.
Customer Analytics
Testimonials highlight how customers feel about your products or services. Happy customers show that your products match your customers’ needs.
On the other hand, negative reviews can help your business identify areas for improvement.
Google Review Request Template
Have a good communication strategy to ensure your Google review request doesn’t sound coercive or prompt customers to give dishonest feedback.
We recommend crafting request templates that you can personalize to individual customers. Below are examples of Google review request templates:
Template for Google Review Email Requests
Here’s a template for requesting Google reviews via email:
Subject: Help Other Customers Find Our Business!
Hi [Customer Name],
We are glad that you enjoyed using our [product/service]. It was our pleasure to serve you, and your satisfaction remains our top priority.
Please take a few minutes to review us on Google. Your feedback helps us improve our services and helps other customers find us on Google.
To submit your review, click on the link below:
[Google reviews link]
Thanks in advance. We value your continued support!
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Company Role]
[Company Name]
[Company Address]
Template for Google Review SMS Requests
Here’s an example of a Google review request sent via text:
Hi [Customer Name]. Thank you for visiting [Business Name]! Please take a moment and share your feedback with us using this link [Google reviews link].
How to Ask For Google Reviews
Below are practical ways to ask for Google reviews from your customers:
How to Ask for Google Reviews Via Email
According to a Forbes report, 88% of users open their emails daily, while 39% check their inboxes three to five times every day. As such, there’s a nine-in-10 chance that a customer will open your email and see your request within 24 hours of sending it.
Draft a personalized email using the above template explaining how reviewing your business would help improve your service delivery.
How to Ask for Google Reviews on Facebook
If you have a Facebook business page, leverage your following to gather Google reviews. You can share the Google reviews link as a Facebook post or add it to your bio.
Also, request your followers to share the review on their pages to boost audience reach.
How to Ask for a Google Review via Text
The majority of people spend most of their free time on their mobile phones, making it easy to request Google reviews via SMS. Additionally, 90% of people respond to messages within 30 minutes.
Send customers a personalized or automated message a few days after a purchase. Include a brief thank you message and request them to spare time and submit their testimonials.
How to Ask for a Google Review in Person
You might find requesting Google reviews in person terrifying, but it is often the most effective method. However, ensure you approach a customer at the right time.
For example, suppose a customer praises your customer service. This would be the opportune time to ask for a Google review.
Otherwise, create opportunities to ask for testimonials by inquiring whether clients were satisfied with your services.
How Not to Ask for Reviews
Below are common mistakes to avoid when requesting Google reviews:
- Making the review process lengthy and complicated: Sending a long feedback form could discourage customers from reviewing your business. Alternatively, they might give generic responses that do not offer value to your business or potential leads.
- Ignoring negative feedback: Do not prioritize satisfied customers while ignoring disgruntled ones. Soliciting only positive testimonials could tarnish your reputation, harming your brand image in the long term.
- Asking closed questions: Avoid asking leading questions or limiting customers to Yes/No answers. Instead, let them describe their customer experience.
- Asking for testimonials at the wrong time: Requesting feedback at the wrong time could result in a negative or neutral review. Also, testimonials should only be collected after addressing customer concerns.
- Not providing a safe space for feedback: Avoid ambushing your customers with review requests or asking uncomfortable questions, as this will prompt them to alter their intended responses.
Best Ways to Improve Your Online Reputation
Considering that most consumers check reviews even for ‘brick and mortar’ stores, maintaining a positive online reputation has become increasingly important.
Below are practical tips for improving your online brand image:
Collect Reviews
Ask for customer testimonials to establish credibility and trust. The most popular review sites include Google, Yelp, and Facebook.
Gathering multiple reviews shows that customers trust your services, growing your reputation.
Display Positive Testimonials on Your Site
Learn how to embed Google reviews or embed Yelp reviews on your site to build social proof.
Displaying your online reviews also fosters visitor engagement, enticing them to spend more time on your web pages.
Respond to Customer Reviews
At least 81% of users expect businesses to respond to reviews within a week of submitting their testimonials. Responding to reviews shows that you value your clients’ feedback.
It is also an opportunity to show that you take customer concerns seriously, endearing your brand to potential leads.
Analyze Reviews for Customer Insight
Evaluate your reviews to understand customer expectations about your products or services. This will help you address problem areas, and future reviews might reflect the improvements.
For example, if customers complain about slow customer support, expand your team to reduce turnaround times. New customers may start praising your customer service, encouraging potential leads to seek your services.
Be Active on Social Media
Leverage your social media accounts to boost your online visibility and create an online community.
To achieve this, optimize your social media profiles, especially providing accurate business information. Finally, regularly publish fresh content to keep users engaged.
Post Google Reviews on Your Website Using SociableKIT
Did you know that adding a Google reviews widget increases your website’s trust factor and SEO ranking?
It also helps you build social proof and increases lead conversion and visitor engagement. Use our SociableKIT Google reviews widget to make the integration process seamless.
Below are four reasons to use our Google Reviews add-on:
- Flexible customization: Style the widget to blend with your website theme. You can also embed your reviews on multiple web pages, including as a header, footer, or sidebar.
- No-code widget: Our widget is easy to set up, so you can install the add-on within two minutes, even as a first-time user.
- Regular syncs: New reviews will automatically appear on your web pages within a few hours. The add-on also allows you to refresh the embed manually at your discretion.
- Responsive support: We respond to concerns and technical issues promptly. Contact our support team via email or live chatbox.
Ready to display your best customer testimonials on your site?
Join thousands of small businesses and website owners who use our widgets to integrate their Google reviews with their sites.
Create a SociableKIT Google reviews widget today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Let’s address the most frequent questions about collecting Google reviews.
How Do I Provide A Direct Link To My Google Reviews Page?
Below is a step-by-step guide for sharing your Google reviews link:
- Log in to your Google Business Profile
- Select the Customers option
- Click Read Reviews, then select Get More Reviews
- Copy and share the link with customers
Who Should You Ask for a Review on Google?
Google stipulates that you should collect reviews only from your customers.
It can be from buyers who recently purchased your products or customers who used your services in the past but within a reasonable timeframe of requesting feedback.
When Should You Ask for a Review?
It depends on the nature of your offerings. For example, businesses in the service industry, such as hotels and travel companies, can request a review shortly after delivering a service.
However, some products require customers to experience them for a while before submitting feedback. For example, if you own a SaaS company, your clients might require up to a month or more to interact with the software before sharing their experiences.
Conclusion
Gathering Google reviews helps you grow your online presence and brand’s credibility. You can also leverage Google reviews to enhance your online reputation and establish a competitive advantage.
We have highlighted practical ways to help you collect Google reviews. Additionally, we recommend displaying your best testimonials on your site.
Our SociableKIT widget helps you customize your reviews feed to maintain your site’s intuitive design. You can also embed the testimonials on various web pages to optimize visitor engagement. Sign up for SociableKIT and create a Google reviews widget for your site!
