Nearly half of all Google searches are looking for local information. To attract new local customers through online searches, your business needs to dominate your online reputation. Since 92% of consumers use online reviews to assess the quality of local businesses, the best way to dominate your local market is by generating more high-rating reviews. Read on to learn more about how you can crush your local market with 5-star online reviews.
The Importance of Online Reviews for a Local Business
According to Google’s Consumer insight reports, “near me” searches have grown by an incredible 900% over the last two years. Customers are looking for a local business just like yours, but in order to gain their trust, you need a strong online reputation. Online reviews are your first chance to make a lasting impression on a potential customer. Online reviews offer many important benefits for your local business including:
- They serve as strong social proof. 87% of people trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation, so online reviews are an excellent way to attract new customers.
- Online reviews and responses boost your local SEO. 92% of people choose a result on the first page, so getting your business high in search rankings is crucial. Google confirmed that authentic, positive reviews and responding to reviews help increase your SEO.
- Legitimize your business. Trying a new business is a leap for customers. Online reviews help build confidence in your brand.
- Reviews provide User Generated Content that you can use in marketing. Online reviews are free, unique content that you can showcase on your social media, website, newsletters, and more. Incorporate reviews into your marketing strategy to demonstrate your brand experience to potential customers.
- Reviews help you learn what to improve and what your strengths are. While reviews have many great peripheral benefits for your business, they also allow you to understand the customer experience. Though negative reviews can be disheartening, they provide important information on how to improve your business, as well as an opportunity to remediate an issue. Additionally, positive reviews remind you of your strengths and the things people want you to keep doing.
How to Generate More Online Reviews for Your Business
Many businesses understand the value of online reviews but struggle to generate them. If you are simply waiting for reviews to roll in, you are doing a disservice to your business. Common methods, like posting signs or passing out flyers are also not very effective for generating high-quality reviews. Instead, you need to start asking. The best way to generate more 5-star reviews is to ask satisfied customers for a review right after the service. Simply ask the customer if he or she would be okay receiving a link to leave feedback, then immediately send out the link to leave an online review.
Why does asking for reviews work? People are more likely to do something when asked, and by starting the conversation in person, you can also strengthen your relationship with the customer. Sending the link to leave a review reduces the difficulty of it, which means satisfied customers will be more likely to take a moment to share their feedback.
The only issue with this method is that it takes time. While we can certainly help you set up fully automated review requests, we highly recommend asking for reviews manually then automating the link sending. Attract and Close has the most powerful software that will connect with your CRM to automatically send out review requests, so you never forget to send out the messages. Our system can even help you reply to reviews so you never miss a chance to connect with a customer.
Case Study: DeAngelos Jewelry
You can start generating more online reviews for your business and dominating your local market today. Our client, DeAgnelos Jewelry, has done demonstrated this perfectly. Prior to working with Attract and Close, DeAngelos Jewelry was doing well. However, they had fewer than 10 Google reviews after over 15 years in business!
The issue was not their service, it was their review management. Attract and Close helped DeAngelos Jewelry automate review generation and response so they could start generating the reviews that they deserved. Now, they have nearly 600 Google Reviews and an impressive 4.9-star rating! Due to their high-rating and many reviews, DeAngelos has seen business boom more than ever.
Start Generating 5-star Reviews
Now is the time to start generating more 5-star reviews so you can crush the competition and dominate your local market. Attract and Close is ready to help your business with all of your online reputation management needs. We have the expertise, tools, and knowledge to help your business generate more positive reviews. To learn more about how we can help, schedule your free consultation with Attract and Close HERE.