So you've built a business you're proud of. Day by day, your customer base is growing. People are excited about your brand! You need to capture those experiences for others to see. YOU MUST encourage customers to leave reviews!
Why? 85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. (Inc.)
While review sites are many, Google is the one that (should) matter most to your business. Why? It's where people naturally begin their search in the first place. In fact, Google accounts for 57.5% of all reviews worldwide. While it's a great strategy to build a strong presence on multiple review sites - focus your efforts on where the most traffic is going FIRST.
Having a ready-to-share URL is essential for getting customers to act on sharing their positive experiences. Sure, you could tell customers, "Just go to Google's home page and type in our business. Then, click the 'write a review' button. Thanks for your support!"
That may be enough for your grandma or obsessed fans, but that approach isn't going to fly with a regular patron. Time is tight for everyone - and if the path to helping you isn't laid out in short, simple steps, don't expect people to make the extra effort.
The better approach would be to create a link to your Google eviews page and slap that link on everything. Emails. Social posts. Business cards. Little inserts at each restaurant table. Your dog. Now it's as simple as typing in a six-letter URL or clicking one link. Now that's a customer-friendly approach!
Creating a shareable link to Google reviews used to be A PAIN. You'd need a whole bottle of Aleve just to get through the process. It's mind-boggling to think the folks over at Amphitheatre Parkway took so long to addresses this issue. Luckily, there's now a streamlined approach.
If you searched for "create a Google review link" right now (which is probably how you arrived here), other how-to's would have likely shared outdated information. The steps probably included looking up your Place ID, plugging it into a long URL string, testing it, shortening it, bake it at 350 degrees, etc. There's a better solution now. Don't waste your time with a process from 2-3 years ago. Use our quick guide to find and create a link to Google reviews easily.
You won't need it. This process won't take more than five minutes.
Simply navigate to this specific webpage or download the app on your phone. If you haven't claimed your business yet, you'll need to take these steps.
If you're a franchised establishment or have multiple locations, it's a good idea to work in your location as well - something like "Mary's Doughnuts Miami" as a distinguisher from the other stores.
1) From the menu, click "Info" and then "Add short name."
2) Enter your short name. You can enter up to 32 characters.
3) If your chosen name isn't available, you'll receive an error message and have to choose a different name. Try abbreviating your name or adding other descriptions.
4) Click "Apply." Your short name will show as pending, and when it's ready, it'll show on your Business Profile.
1) Tap "Profile" and then "Add profile short name."
2) Enter your short name. You can enter up to 32 characters.
3) If your name isn't available, you'll receive an error message and have to choose a different name.
4) Tap "Save." Your short name will show as pending, and when it's ready, it'll show on your Business Profile.
You'll just need to find your generated URL, copy it, and paste it on everything.
1) In the menu on the left, click "Home."
2) In the "Get more reviews" card, you'll see a short URL to share with customers.
1) Tap "Customers," and then "Reviews."
2) In the top right, tap "Share."
3) Copy your short URL to share with customers.
When customers click this link, they'll be able to rate your business and leave a review. Now that's a streamlined customer feedback strategy!
Maintaining a strong online reputation is essential for attracting new customers, and keeping current ones brand loyal. Keeping your organization in good standing is an ongoing process, but entirely worth the effort. Remember:
Build a smart reputation management strategy by partnering with us at Rizen today. We're an experienced, friendly, results-driven marketing firm that can help grow your business. Just ask our happy clients!
Learn more about our organization, and contact us to begin a no-pressure conversation. We can't wait to hear from you!