Google Reviews: The Ultimate Business Guide

Reviews and testimonials are crucial aspects of any business. Before investing money in a product or service, customers like to see if they’re partnering with the right business, and quality reviews play a vital role. Notice that the emphasis is on quality and review responses that the company offers on users' positive and negative experiences.

And one of the top places people look for reviews is Google. Not only does your business need more Google reviews to thrive with its overall rating and review section, but the companies also need loyal customers to leave high-quality new reviews to give a complete view of your business to new users.

As a consumer, you’re probably already familiar with just how important Google reviews can be. For instance, what do you do when you want to buy a laptop and are confused about some options?

You probably read the reviews online to:

Check out the customer experience of previous users about the brand or product
Get detailed business information to ensure you’re buying the right device
Make the right purchase decision by reading detailed customer feedback, along with both positive reviews and negative reviews.

That’s why it becomes of the utmost priority for small businesses to focus on Google My Business profile and ask happy customers to leave high-quality customer reviews.

In this post, we’ll talk about all things Google reviews to help you improve the quality of your online reputation, including:

What types of Google Reviews are there [with screenshots]
How to Collect Google Business Reviews without worrying about Google Algorithms
Things you didn’t know about Google Reviews [Like it helps in Local SEO]
How to Optimise your Google Business Profile [And share your customer’s Google Review Link]
Breaking Google Review Myths [like - Is it good to buy Google reviews?]
Things to Avoid [Like Getting Fake Reviews]
Google Reviews Myth [Like having more Google reviews doesn’t impact search rankings and more]

What Types of Google Reviews are there?

Besides your website, online reviews can be found on sites such as Facebook, TripAdvisor, Amazon, Twitter, Yelp, Check-a-trade, and many other review sites. Google, however, binds all these sources of reviews together. When reviews are published across the web, you get benefits in local searches, too, and people may also find your business listings on the Google Maps app.

In Google search results, Google can aggregate reviews based on those sites' content, presenting them as organic or paid stars. These reviews are then displayed to users who enter relevant search terms.

As an example, if you type a company name into Google, you would likely receive a list of search results, including, among other things, the company's official website, its Facebook page, perhaps any listings on Amazon, and (if the company falls under the travel/tourism category) its TripAdvisor listing.

Under the main heading of these third-party search results, you might notice stars. Google creates these stars based on reviews collected from those sites. Users can see the overall star rating from various sources and get a sense of a company's trustworthiness before visiting its website.

That’s why every digital marketing expert recommends teaching your audience how to leave a review on Google. Also, it is advised to create several templates for review requests so that your audience face no issues while writing Google reviews.

However, it is important to know the different types of Google Reviews. Check out below:

#1. Rich Snippet listings

Whenever you search for a company by name, you will also see a large box on the right-hand side of the screen. Google collects data from the company's home page and third parties in this box. There are photos, opening hours, business location (generally taken from the company's Google My Business profile), reviews, and star ratings. Google My Business listings will generally only appear for companies set up as Local Business in Google My Business.

Rich Snippets also rate test results. It is possible to see these if one of the pages where you have implemented Review Rich Snippets ranks high enough to appear on the first page of Google. Review Rich Snippets cannot be added to the home page of a company's website or every page.

Generally, they should not be used on product pages but rather on company pages. Snippets of reviews are essentially company reviews, not product reviews.

#2. Google Local Listing

Google’s local listing helps users get complete and updated information about places. Google Maps and Google Search display local listings that include business listings, websites, and applications from third-party sources through APIs for all those in the Google Maps Platforms. Very often, it happens that Google picks information directly from local listings and generates leads and insights for customers.

Various sources are utilised to incubate information in local listings. All such sources are given below:

Information that is available to the public. Such information sources could be the official website of the business
Third parties licensed data
Factual information contributed by users such as phone number and address, content in the form of reviews and photos, and business owners who claim Google My Business local listings.
All the relevant information is based on interactions with local businesses or places.

If you feel that a local listing is inappropriate and must be removed, you can flag it for getting removed or even suggest edits. You must submit a legal request if you have a legal reason to shut down a review.

A lot more information on Google’s local listing is available in Google’s Privacy Policy. Check that out!

#3. Google Shopping Listing

Google’s shopping listing helps you connect with shoppers anytime and anywhere. This listing facilitated by Google gives a wondrous opportunity to grab new customers and retain older ones strongly. It helps to reach you through millions of potential customers across all its subsidiary properties like YouTube, Search, Google Maps, and Assistant at all stages of the shopping journey.

When shoppers look for products under various niches, categories and labels, it can get chunky to swipe through e-commerce sites. Here is when online shopping markets like Amazon and eBay are of great use. However, there’s one more name, yes, Google Shopping. It isn’t a marketplace like that of Amazon and eBay, but shoppers can browse a variety of labels as per their search query.

When shoppers click on the product, they are directly taken to the site of retailers from where they can make a purchase, and this is how retailers benefit from Google’s shopping listing.

Advertising products on Google’s shopping listing could be tremendously beneficial for retailers because most shoppers search for products on Google as the platform seems easily accessible.

How to Collect Google Business Reviews?

The importance of Google reviews in our lives is much more than just a significant factor for businesses. While it’s amazing that customers leave behind their generous reviews on Google, a lot of time, as retailers and sellers, you have to ensure that you get the reviews on your Google My Business account.

But how do you do that? Let’s guide you through it!

Do not hesitate to ask for feedback.

After customers have taken up your service or bought your product, your work isn’t dusted there! You need to ask them about their experience, and if there are fewer complaints, generously ask them to write feedback on Google. If you ask 10 customers, at least 2 will give you feedback on Google.

Send Follow-Up Emails

Here is when having a technical set-up helps you promote and market the products. Set up a database or software that sends reminders and notifications to customers for feedback on Google. Make it even easier for them through links and directions.

Add pop-ups and Call to action on Websites and Social Media

It’s not a bad idea to extend pop-up features on websites and other platforms to keep the customers reminded for reviews. Put it out everywhere possible. There’s never going to be a zero percent return. It would eventually help you generate some sort of help in some way or the other.

Things Businesses Don't Know About Google Reviews

After a few days or a few hours of research on Google reviews, do you know everything about it? Are you sure? Well! Nobody is taking a dig at that. But here is a list of a few things that people generally miss out on while trying to study Google reviews in detail! Take a look and see what’s new to learn from here.

Google My Business Account Typically With More Number of Reviews Rank Better.

Yep! Quantity wins over quality in an SEO scheme. So, an account with 2 five-star reviews would not rank better than another with 20 reviews.

Google Promotes Asking For Reviews!

Yes, Google wants you to send notifications and emails and try every other method without a kiosk and incentive to generate reviews.

Google Reviews Help You Rank Outside The Zone

A lot of times, the problem of not being able to rank on Google outside a specified zone is real. But, if you get reviews from other parts of the country, you can also rank in such areas.

How to Optimise Your Google Business Profile?

It’s time we move on to the real business! Here, we shall see how you can set up and optimise your Google Business Profile to generate traffic and increase sales. Are we ready? Let’s go!

1. Create a Google My Business account

Do you have a Google My Business account? Don’t say you don’t! Chill, there’s nothing serious. If you have a Google My Business Account, great! If not, create one now. But how? Follow the steps given below:

Visit google.com/business
Tap ‘Manage now.’
Enter the business name and then go to ‘Next.’
Fill in your address. If you are an online retailer serving online and don’t have a physical store, click ‘I deliver goods and services to my customers,’ and ‘Hide my address.’
Choose your business category (primary) very meticulously. It should straightaway describe what you render.
Add phone number and website URL (if any).

2. Complete every section

All the sections listed above should be complete from your side. The more details you fill in, the better the clarity consumers will get. So whether filling in the address or taking up a category, be cautious, careful, and complete with all you have to put.

3. Be meticulous with contact information.

You cannot afford to make a disastrous mistake with your contact info! For that matter, even the minutest of mistakes can result in blunders. Your contact details will help your potential customers reach out to your services. So, the wrong phone number could cancel the deal. Thus, carefully fill each contact detail section with precise care.

4. Write your “from the business” description.

Your business description is the summary of what your company is up to. This column says everything from defining what it does to its purpose and unique feature. It is one of the most sensitive pieces of information for all. Thus, write it with utmost preciseness and care.

5. Choose the correct category.

Choosing the right business category is such a crucial point. That will describe what you are up to. Further, Google will pick that up to show it to searches that are specific to it. So, if you provide cupcakes, your primary category must mention that so that every search related to that shows your listing on the page.

Breaking Google Reviews Myths

Can we jump to the most interesting part of this entire blog? Yes, you’ve already reached there. It’s time we break some myths around Google reviews and tell you what’s true.

Myth #1: It’s fine to collect Reviews on Text

Nope! You cannot be asking for reviews on text for Google. Google doesn’t verify that method. Let people put out reviews through their Google account. Instead, ask for reviews and help your customers in writing Google reviews.

Myth #2: You cannot get too many reviews

Really? This is a myth. As many customers are willing to give reviews through their Google accounts, as many are the number of reviews on your Google My Business account. It’s that simple!

Myth #3 Reviews alone are not enough to maximise page ranking

Well, here’s the real shot! Reviews could be a game changer in search engine optimization. If your account is flooded with reviews, Google will rank your page! If not alone a factor for SEO, it is a big one.

A Few More Things To Avoid

Now that we have discussed the best topics related to Google Business, we should also take a sneak-peak at things we should avoid doing!

Do not go against the compliance policies of Google Business
Do not give the wrong address or information related to the service
Do not choose a large list of categories to describe your business. Stick to core ones
Do not go to create multiple profiles for one business. This might create problems with Google Maps display.
Avoid using content that is prohibited
Do not reflect the business inaccurately.

Conclusion

So, how far have we reached with Google's business guide? We covered as much information as possible in this article. However, we suggest you go through multiple sites to find the best information and enrich yourself with abundant knowledge.

FAQs

#1. What should be included in Google reviews?

You should focus on two things while writing a great review: Relevant and insightful information and authenticity in describing the place and service.

#2. Is it against Google's policy to ask for reviews?

No, it isn’t! Google promotes asking for reviews. Unless there is any incentive involved in the process, it is right for any business owner to gently ask their consumers for feedback.

#3. What should not go in a Google review?

As per Google guidelines, any review that depicts illegal activity is non-acceptable. Also, reviews of controlled products, such as alcohol, tobacco, and gambling, must abide by the guidelines and regulations.