How to Leave, Edit, Manage, and Get More Google Reviews

Google Reviews Explained

If you’re looking to grow your online presence, you’ve come to the right place. Nowadays, if people can’t find business reviews and testimonials about your company, they might not find you at all. We’ll teach you everything you need to know.

What are Google Reviews?

Google Reviews are a popular and reliable way for customers to give feedback and they are crucial for local SEO. They are a powerful tool for both businesses and customers. On the one hand, they help consumers decide which business they want to buy from or hire. On the other hand, reviews help these businesses get found in Google search by potential customers.

Why are Google Reviews Important?

Positive reviews are fundamental for the success of any business. They add credibility and illustrate a business’ commitment to outstanding products, services, and customer experience. Even negative reviews (they happen to the best of us) can be used as a tool to strengthen your online reputation.

A survey conducted by BrightLocal in 2022 revealed that an impressive 81% of customers used Google to assess local businesses in the last year – up from only 63% in 2021. This means Google reviews are more important than ever for businesses and customers alike.

What are the Benefits of Google Reviews?

Google Reviews can be incredibly valuable for local businesses like yours. Here are some of the key Google reviews benefits:

• Increased online ranking: Like we said, Google reviews are great for local SEO. A high number of reviews on Google can help your business appear higher in search results and attract more traffic to your website.
• Increased brand trust: Customers are more likely to trust and choose a business that has a high rating and positive reviews from other customers.
• Improved customer feedback: Reading through customer reviews can provide valuable insights into what your customers like about your business and where there may be areas for improvement.
• Improved customer conversion: When potential customers see positive reviews for your business, they are more likely to click through to your website or visit your physical location and convert (make a purchase).

Overall, Google Reviews can help businesses build their online reputation, attract new customers, and improve their overall performance by providing valuable feedback from customers.

How do Google Reviews Work?

Okay, now that you know why reviews are so crucial, let’s get into the nitty gritty details.

Where Do Google Reviews Appear?

Google reviews appear in Google search results and in the company’s “Google My Business” page. This means that customers are likely to see them when researching a business online or the Google Maps app. Additionally, reviews can be used on websites and social media to show customers that a business is trustworthy. Generally speaking though, Google reviews are left on the business’ Google profile and can be found there.

In Google Maps, simply click on a business to see their Google Business Profile. Then, scroll down to see their review summary. You can also click on “More Google Reviews” at the bottom of the summary to view all reviews left for the business by local customers. These can be further filtered by common words, highest rated, lowest reviews, and most recent reviews.

Google Reviews as a Ranking Factor

Next, let’s talk rankings and visibility. Running Google ads isn’t the only way to get more eyes on your business. Your goal as a small business is to reign supreme in the search results, right? Google reviews can help you with online rankings. Here’s how:

• Increased visibility: Positive reviews on Google can help your business appear higher in search results, as the algorithm takes into account the quality and quantity of reviews when determining search rankings.

• Increased engagement: When customers leave reviews on Google, it signals to the algorithm that there is active engagement with your business, which can improve your overall ranking.

• Improved local SEO: Google Reviews are particularly important for businesses looking to improve their local SEO, as they signal to the algorithm that you are a reputable and popular choice within your local area.

What is the Impact of Google Reviews on Click-Through Rate (CTR)?

Google Reviews can also improve your CTR (the number of people who find your business listing and click to your website to learn more). Here’s how:

• Improved clickability: When potential customers see positive reviews for your business, they are more likely to click through to your website as they trust the quality of your products or services.
• Competitive advantage: Having more positive reviews than your competitors can give you a competitive advantage in your industry and increase CTR by making you stand out from the crowd.

How Do You Measure the Impact of Google Reviews?

Customer feedback comes in many forms, but you can typically sort it into the qualitative (the sentiment of the words of the review) and quantitative (the amount and star rating of reviews). Both types of feedback are beneficial to improving your overall rating and ranking on online review sites. More advanced customer feedback tools such as those giving you a Net Promoter Score (NPS) may use a 0-10 scale to give you a clear look at how your customer base sees you. They can give you insight into the stages of the customer journey that need help as well as aggregate net promoter scores over time.

The information your customers can provide to your business is invaluable. Boosting your reputation by keeping your reviews current can make all the difference. Don’t believe us? Just Google it.

How to leave a Google Review

Here’s the process for how to leave a Google Review:

1. Open your internet browser
2. Search Google for a local business
3. Click Write a Review, found by scrolling down on a business’s listing or by clicking on their reviews in Google Maps
4. A sign-in box will appear if you’re not signed in; you will need to sign into your Google account to leave a review
5. After signing in, you will be given the option to select a certain number of stars for the company and write out details of your experience(s)
6. Click Post after selecting a star rating (leaving a description is optional).

If you own a business, you know that while it’s not hard to leave a Google review, it’s not very convenient for your customers to take those steps. Those who do go out of their way to leave a review are often among the small minority who may have had a negative experience, meaning your Google reviews don’t reflect how the huge majority of your happy satisfied customers feel. Luckily there are ways to shorten that process and make it so easy for your customers to leave a review, they can do it in seconds.

How to Leave a Google Review on Mobile

Of course, most of us are on our phones at any given time of the day. To leave a Google review on a mobile device through Google’s search engine, follow these eight steps:

1. Sign in to your Google account
2. Search for the business you want to review
3. When the business information box appears at the top of the page, click on the Reviews tab
4. Below the Google review summary, you’ll see “Rate and review”
5. Click the number of stars you want to award the business. One star means you received terrible service and would never return to that place of business. Five stars mean you absolutely loved what the business had to offer and would highly recommend them to your friends
6. Share details of your own experience with the business
7. Add relevant photos to your post, if you have any
8. Click Post

Here’s how to leave a Google review on mobile through Google Maps:

1. Sign in to your Google account
2. Open the Google Maps app
3. Search for the business you want to review
4. Scroll down to see the full screen result
5. Click on the REVIEWS tab
6. Click the number of stars you want to give the business
7. Share details of your own experience with the business. They could be positive remarks, negative ones, or both.
8. Add photos if you wish
9. Click Post

Since most people are carrying around a device with them all the time, knowing how to leave a Google review on a mobile device is more important than ever. It also means that leaving a review is quicker and more accessible than ever. And, because everyone has a mobile device and it’s so easy to leave reviews, It is much easier to get more quality reviews for your business than ever before. This is a win-win situation for both the companies being rated and reviewed, as well as for their potential customers.

How to Leave a Review Without a Google Account

To leave a Google review without a Google account, simply follow these nine steps:

1. Download the Google Maps app on your mobile device, or open maps.google.com in your internet browser
2. Inside the Maps app, search for the business you want to review
3. Click the business name that shows up on the map
4. Click the reviews tab, or scroll down until you find the starred reviews section
5. Under “Rate & review,” click the number of stars you want to leave the business. One star = terrible; 5 stars = fantastic.
6. A notice that you are posting publicly will appear
7. Add photos (optional) that are relevant to your review
8. Leave an explanation of why you gave the business their star rating, whether positive, negative, or both
9. Click Post

Whether you’re an Android user or simply don’t have a Google account, this is an easy way to leave Google reviews for any business. Now that you know how to leave a Google review without a Google account, you can review any business you have experience with. This helps businesses know how they can improve their services and/or products. It also helps potential customers know which businesses are worth seeking out.

How Can you Get More Google Reviews?

Knowing the reasons that motivate customers to leave a Google review is a great start, but most people are still unlikely to do it on their own. If you really want to get more customer feedback, you may have to step outside your comfort zone. But really, all you have to do is ask.

1. Set Up and Optimise Your Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile is one of the first impressions many people will get of your business, so it’s important to get it right.

First, create or claim your business profile. Once you have access to your profile, ensure that all the information is accurate, including your business name, address, phone number, website URL, hours of operation, and services/products offered. Adding high-quality photos and videos can make your profile more engaging and attractive to potential customers. Encouraging customers to leave reviews on your profile can improve your ranking in search results. Responding to both positive and negative reviews shows that you care about customer satisfaction and can help build trust with potential customers. Including relevant keywords in the description of your business can also improve rankings in search results.

Finally, keep customers engaged by posting regular updates about new products/services, promotions, events or other news related to your business. By following these steps, you can set up and optimise your Google Business Profile for maximum visibility and engagement with potential customers online.

2. Ask Your Customers for a Favour

Asking customers for a review as a favour can be an effective way to get honest feedback. This approach allows you to show your appreciation and build trust with the customer while they provide their valuable input. Additionally, customers may be more inclined to leave a positive review if they feel like their opinion is valued and and appreciated – and that they doing something nice for the business.

When you ask for a review, explain why it’s important for them to leave the review and how it will help your business grow, and make sure to let them know that they should be honest and that you aren’t specifically asking for a positive review, just an honest one. Plus, getting an honest review from a happy customer really is a favor, since it takes roughly 40 positive reviews to negate the effects of one bad review.

3. Develop a Script for Asking for Reviews

Asking customers for reviews can feel intimidating, but it is extremely important for any business. You can take the stress out of the process by creating scripts that are tailored to different mediums such as in-person conversations, emails, or SMS text messages.

A few example scripts you can use are:

• Script 1: “Hi there! We really appreciate your business and wanted to ask if you could do us a favor and take the time to leave a review. It would be greatly appreciated and help others learn more about what we have to offer.”
• Script 2: “Your opinion matters to us, and we’re hoping you’d do us a quick favor. Would you please consider leaving us a review? Your honest feedback will help other customers make informed choices and we appreciate your business!”
• Script 3: “Your opinion means the world to us – if you have the time, please consider leaving us a review as a favor. It would help others understand our offerings better and help give us the exposure to reach more customers like you.”
• Script 4: “Leaving us a review is like extending a favor – it helps others understand the quality of our services and products. Would you mind taking the time to leave us an honest review?”

Want to see more texting templates? Check out our Texting Template Library.

4. Say Thank You Before They Leave a Review (and After!)

Studies show that requests sent via email are 36% more likely to get a positive response if the email includes some expression of gratitude before the task or favor has been complete. (Example, “Thank you in advance for your time on this!)

If we apply the same principle to review requests, it is logical to include some gratitude in your request to customers for an honest review, as well.

When customers do leave a review on Google, make sure you follow up and respond to the review to thank them publicly.

5. Get the Right Tools to Automate Review Requests

Asking for Google reviews can take a lot of time, especially for small business owners. That’s why tools that make it easy for small businesses to ask for reviews and make it easy for customers to leave reviews are so important. Not only do they help small businesses get more Google reviews (and reviews on other platforms), but they hep customers more easily and effectively share their experiences with other buyers.

With a tool like Podium Reviews, you can just send a review invite over text. That takes the first three steps out of the process—all they have to do is tap the review link you sent, then share their experience. It’s so easy, they can post a new five-star review while they’re still in your store—and so convenient, they can do it from anywhere on their own schedule.

6. Train Your Team to Ask for Reviews

Consistency is one of the best ways to ensure you’re getting as many honest reviews from customers as possible. To ensure that each customer is asked in the same way and given a positive experience, it’s important to create a process and culture around asking for reviews.

Set up some time to teach your team how to professionally and politely ask customers for reviews while emphasising the importance of responding quickly to both good and bad feedback. Doing so will help ensure that your team can give the highest quality customer service, as well as build trust with customers.

This is especially important if you are asking for reviews in person. If your team isn’t 100% comfortable yet, you can practice using the scripts below. This will help them understand how to respond to both positive and negative responses to their requests and remove the uncertainty or discomfort of asking for a review.

Example Scripts:

Script 1:

• Team Member: “We’d love to hear about your experience with our services. Would you mind taking a few minutes to leave us a Google review?”
• Customer: “Sure thing, sounds great!”
• Team Member: “Fantastic! We really appreciate it and we’re so glad you had a positive experience.”

Script 2:

• Team Member: “We appreciate your patronage and would be grateful if you left us a Google review sharing your experience.”
• Customer: “No, I’m sorry. I don’t have time right now.”
• Team Member: “No problem at all, we understand. If you change your mind, you can find us on Google anytime and leave a review. Thank you for your time and we hope to see you again!”

How to Manage Google Reviews

How to Respond to Positive, Neutral, and Negative Google Reviews?

Responding to Google reviews is an important part of managing your online reputation and building trust with potential customers. Here’s how to respond to positive, neutral, and negative Google reviews:

Positive reviews: When responding to positive reviews, be sure to thank the customer for their support. You can also highlight specific aspects of their experience that they mentioned in their review. This shows that you value their feedback and are committed to providing excellent service.

Neutral reviews: Neutral reviews may not necessarily require a response, but if you do choose to respond, take the opportunity to address any concerns the customer may have mentioned. You can also thank them for taking the time to leave a review and invite them back for another visit.

Negative reviews: Negative reviews get left for even the best businesses. Although no one likes to see a negative review of their business, it’s important to respond in a professional and courteous manner. Start by acknowledging the customer’s concerns and apologising for any negative experience they may have had. Then, offer solutions or ways to make things right.

How to Hide Google Reviews?

How to Delete Google Reviews?

As mentioned above, you can’t delete reviews that people leave of your business. If you’re dealing with unfair, spammy, or fake reviews that violate Google’s review policy, you can request a review removal.

How to Add Google Reviews to Your Website?

Adding Google reviews or a review widget to your website can be a great way to showcase positive feedback from satisfied customers and build trust with potential new customers. It’s important to note, however, that displaying Google reviews on your website requires technical expertise and knowledge of programming languages. If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, you may want to consider hiring a web developer or using a third-party review management platform that offers review widgets or plugins.

If you believe you have the technical know-how to get the job done, here is a brief overview of what you’ll need to do:

1. Go to the Google Places API page and sign up for an API key.
2. Once you have your API key, use it to create a request URL that will retrieve the reviews from your Google Business Profile.
3. Use a programming language such as JavaScript or PHP to create a function that will parse the data from the request URL and display it on your website.
4. Customise the appearance of the reviews using CSS, HTML, or a pre-made plugin or widget.
5. Test your code and make any necessary adjustments before publishing it on your live website.

Manage and Get Google Reviews with Podium

Podium helps small and local businesses stay on top of their review game. Growing your online reputation should be simple.  With Podium you can:

• Drive more traffic online and in person.
• Increase review volume.
• Communicate seamlessly with customers.
• Manage reviews in one central dashboard.

And so much more. Ready to give it a try? Start a free trial today.

Google Reviews FAQs

How do I Remove Fake Google Reviews?

You cannot remove reviews, but you can report them if they violate Google’s policies. To do that, sign in to your Google profile and navigate to the Reviews section. Then, find the review you want to flag or report and click on the three-dot menu icon next to it. Select “Flag as inappropriate” if the review violates Google’s policies, or “Report a policy violation” if the review is fake or spammy. Finally, Follow the prompts and provide any necessary information to submit your request for review.

Should I Respond to Every Single Review?

Responding to reviews shows potential customers that you care about the experience you provide for the people who do business with you. While responding to every review may not be feasible or necessary, you should make a goal to respond to as many reviews as possible.

How Do I Get Google My Business Reviews?

Many people are happy to leave businesses reviews, businesses just need to be willing to ask! Try sending a review request text after a customer makes a purchase. Be sure to explain why reviews help your business and include a link to your Google Business Profile to make the process as convenient as possible.