In any local market, just like ours here in Durham, NC, Google reviews play a vital role. Like them or not, they help frame the public image of your business. To be clear, all reviews have merit and provide valuable insight to your business, however, Google reviews carry a bit more weight. Let’s find out why.
Why Are Google Reviews So Special?
We often hear from clients that focus on gathering reviews, but only a handful focus on Google reviews. Review hubs like Yelp or Facebook have made sense for a long time, but that time is passing. Our online society has evolved quickly, incorporating reviews to better offset the lack of in-person interaction between online businesses and customers, and in the process, creating a huge industry around these ‘ratings’. Not long ago, Yelp was considered the go-to place for evaluating a restaurant, cafe or bar. Indeed, these evaluations on Yelp proved to be directly proportional to how well their business did with online customers, and thus, a lot of time and effort was put into cultivating good reviews. Of course, Yelp had its own host of problems and the industry has been increasingly moving to Google reviews ever since. Why? Because Google reviews carry a lot of weight, due, in no small part, to these factors:
Accessibility
In short, it’s easier. A user can leave a review for your company without ever having to leave Google search page. Leaving a Google review has never been easier today, and consumers only have to type your company name into Google to find all the information they’ll want before making a purchasing decision. All you have to do is post a link like this!
Visibility
Google reviews are targeted, shown to users who are looking for related goods or services. Reviews are shown in search results, Google Business pages and, most surprising and importantly, Google Maps. I bet you didn’t know that Google maps is the #3 most used smartphone app in the entire world. True story. Behind only Facebook and YouTube. With related Google Reviews showing at the front and center to every user of Google Maps, this is a crucial information hub for your business.
Good Policing
Google has a complex algorithm that polices reviews all over the world. It is arguably the best at determining and removing fake reviews, while also allowing users to flag inappropriate submissions. This enables Google to eliminate the spammy reviewers, and provide value to its search users by ensuring that these are legitimate, informed reviews of your business.
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