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The Local Biz Show
Unlock Business Growth: Master Google Reviews for Unprecedented Success!
What if the reviews on your Google business profile could be the key to unlocking unprecedented growth? Join us as we promise to equip you with the tools and strategies needed to harness the true power of those little gold stars. This episode is all about understanding the vital role social proof plays in shaping customer decisions, and how your business profile can act as an influential digital storefront. From utilizing strategic keywords to organically collecting reviews through innovative methods like NFC-enabled "Genius cards," we cover it all. We even dive into the tricky territory of negative reviews, exploring how they can actually boost your credibility when handled correctly with a "review shield."
But there's more than just stars and ratings at stake here. We challenge you to reflect on what truly makes you trust a business online. Authenticity, after all, isn't found in polished websites or generic stock photos. Discover how creating genuine connections and fostering open conversations can transform the way customers perceive and interact with your business. By focusing on the people behind the reviews, you can forge lasting relationships and ensure your business truly thrives in the digital age. Let's embark on this journey together to effectively harness the power of Google reviews for your success.
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Ever feel like those tiny gold stars, you know, next to a business online? They hold some kind of strange power over you. You're not alone. Today we're diving deep into Google reviews like why they matter more than you think and how to make them work you know, for you, not against you. We've got some excerpts from the ultimate Google reputation management guide and even some interesting visuals to unpack here.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's wild how much weight those little stars actually carry. You know like they tap into something deeply psychological.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:We're hardwired to trust the experiences of others, especially when making decisions.
Speaker 1:Right, it's like, well, 95 percent of people can't be wrong, right? I know like for me personally, if a restaurant's got a ton of good reviews, I'm way more likely to try it.
Speaker 2:Totally. It's called social proof and it's incredibly powerful. I mean, think about it. A good rating can actually make 58% of consumers more likely to choose one business over another. Even if the other one's got slightly better prices or location.
Speaker 1:Okay, so there's some real data behind it. So it's not just about ego or vanity, it's about getting those people in the door, those customers the ones who are already primed to become loyal fans. Yeah, exactly. And then, on the other side, a bad rating can scare away like 65 percent of potential customers. Whoa, sixty five percent.
Speaker 2:That's huge it is. That's a huge chunk of potential business you're potentially missing out on.
Speaker 1:That's a stat that'll keep you up at night. Ok, so Google reviews make or break. We get it, but where do we even begin? This guide lays out eight key strategies, starting with your Google business profile. It actually calls it your online storefront.
Speaker 2:It's true, though, right First, compressions are everything, online, offline. If a potential customer goes to your Google business profile and it's got the wrong hours or something, what's that say about your business?
Speaker 1:Yeah, not good.
Speaker 2:Exactly so. We're talking more than just throwing your business name up there.
Speaker 1:Right. So what are the essentials?
Speaker 2:Accuracy, first and foremost. Business name, address, phone number, all that good stuff. Website hours Make sure they're all correct. You'd be surprised.
Speaker 1:And keywords. They mentioned keywords in here, like using relevant keywords in your business description to you know, get found more easily.
Speaker 2:For sure. You want people to be able to find you when they search. Like, say, you run a vegan bakery, right?
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:In Austin. You want to make sure your profile says vegan bakery in Austin. So when someone Googles that, boom you're there.
Speaker 1:Makes sense. So our profile's all set accurate keywords. Now how do we actually get those reviews?
Speaker 2:You have to ask, but like, not in a weird way, like the guide here. They say to integrate those review requests naturally into your customer interactions online or in person.
Speaker 1:Okay, so not shoving a tablet in their face on their way out the door.
Speaker 2:Right, it's got to be organic, like, let's say, you're a hairdresser and your client is loving their new cut and color. You could say something like I'm so glad you love it. If you have a moment, would you mind sharing your experience on Google? Your feedback means a lot to us and it helps others find us too.
Speaker 1:Helps others find us. I like that. Not just about you. It's about the community.
Speaker 2:Exactly your reviews become valuable not just for your business, but for everyone. This guide they actually even give you email and text templates. You know, to make it super easy.
Speaker 1:Ooh, templates. Now you're speaking my language, but what about those people and I'm kind of one of them who just forget, like? I've been meaning to leave a review for months? Life gets in the way.
Speaker 2:You and everyone else. That's where QR codes come in.
Speaker 1:Wait, really those things are everywhere these days.
Speaker 2:They are and you can actually use them to link directly to your Google business profile review page. Like to link directly to your Google business profile review page? Like someone scans it with their phone, boom, they can leave a review. No crazy navigation or anything.
Speaker 1:Okay, that makes a lot more sense now. So like on my business cards menus.
Speaker 2:Exactly Make them visible. Although this company Review Genius, they've got these genius cards.
Speaker 1:Genius cards. Okay, now I need to know more.
Speaker 2:They're like next level QR codes. They use this thing called NFC, so you don't even have to scan it, you just tap your phone and it takes you straight to the review page. It's wild and, from what I've seen, way more effective. People actually follow through.
Speaker 1:Wow, so smart Like strike while the iron's hot right. They're more likely to leave a review when the experience is fresh. But let's be real for a sec. Negative reviews, they're going to happen.
Speaker 2:You're right, no business is perfect, but and I know this sounds crazy negative reviews aren't always a bad thing. A few actually make your profile seem more legit.
Speaker 1:Wait, what A bad review is a good thing.
Speaker 2:Think about it. Have you ever seen a business with only perfect reviews? It's almost like too perfect too perfect. You know, it makes you a little suspicious, Like are these even real people. But a couple of less than perfect reviews just makes the whole thing seem more believable, more human.
Speaker 1:OK, I get it. I get it Still. I'd rather not have them if I can avoid it. Is there any way to prevent them?
Speaker 2:Well, this guide. It actually talks about this idea of capturing that negative feedback privately before it goes out to the whole world. They call it a review shield.
Speaker 1:A review shield, so like a force field that deflects bad vibes.
Speaker 2:Well, not exactly. It's basically an extra step in the review process before it goes public. Customers rate their experience first, and if it's good, awesome, leave a review, but if it's not so good they get whisked away to a secret feedback chamber. Well, not a secret chamber, but like a private forum where they can talk directly to the business.
Speaker 1:Okay, I see I like it Gives the business a chance to fix things, maybe even turn that bad experience around. I love that.
Speaker 2:And get this review genius. They've actually built this into their system.
Speaker 1:Of course they have, yeah, genius cards. They've actually built this into their system. Of course they have, yeah, genius cards review shield. You guys are on top of it. Speaking of which, what happens when a negative review slips through? We can't just ignore those right.
Speaker 2:Definitely not. That's actually their next big strategy responding to every single review, the good, the bad and the ugly, and it's super important because ignoring reviews can actually lead to a 15% increase in customer churn. Yeah, like people want to be heard, you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, makes sense, makes you feel like you matter.
Speaker 2:Exactly. It's like if someone's talking to you and you just walk away Not a great look, Plus, anyone else seeing that review will think the same thing that you don't care.
Speaker 1:Oof, yeah, not the vibe. So we need to respond. But how do you do it the right way, especially with negative ones? It's got to be tempting to be like, no, you're wrong.
Speaker 2:It's tough. You got to resist that urge to make it personal. Remember it's not just that one person reading it, this guide. It actually gives some really good advice on writing good responses.
Speaker 1:Okay, hit me with it. What's the secret?
Speaker 2:Start with empathy, even if you think the review is bogus, like, just acknowledge their experience and say thanks for the feedback. Even we're sorry to hear you didn't have. A positive experience can go a long way.
Speaker 1:So, even if they're way off base, take the high road.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and if they've got their facts totally wrong, don't call them out online. It's not about being right, it's about looking professional. Instead of arguing online, invite them to talk to you directly. This guide calls it taking the conversation offline.
Speaker 1:Ooh, I like that. Let's take this offline Shows. You want to make things right?
Speaker 2:You can say we'd love to chat more and see how we can improve your experience. Give us a call it. You know the drill.
Speaker 1:Love it Okay, so earlier we talked about Google and keywords. Can you work those into?
Speaker 2:responses to you're thinking like a pro and yeah, totally Say you've got a pet grooming business and someone leaves a negative review about the wait time.
Speaker 1:Oof yeah, those happen.
Speaker 2:In your response you could say something like we're always looking for ways to make our dog grooming services better and keep those wait times down for our awesome clients, something like that.
Speaker 1:Subtle but effective. I dig it. This is a lot, though. I mean managing all these reviews, thinking of clever responses.
Speaker 2:It's a lot, especially if you're already busy running a business, and this is where a platform like you guessed it Review Genius comes in.
Speaker 1:Let me guess they've got an AI for that.
Speaker 2:They do. They actually have AI-powered responses for both good and bad reviews. It analyzes the review, writes the response for you and even optimizes it for SEO, all in a natural, human-sounding way.
Speaker 1:Wow. So you're saying they can basically be my PR team and be my SEO expert?
Speaker 2:Pretty much and, more importantly, it frees you up to do what you do best you know run your business.
Speaker 1:I'm all about working smarter, not harder. So Google is one thing. What about everywhere else online? How do we make sure people see those great reviews?
Speaker 2:You're talking about social media. That's strategy number six. Take those glowing reviews and blast them everywhere.
Speaker 1:Facebook, Instagram, the whole nine yards. How do you make them stand out? Just copy pasting feels kind of lazy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you got to make it. Visual Graphics videos. People love that stuff. This guide they suggest using your brand colors, maybe even making little videos from the reviews.
Speaker 1:Videos are huge right now. That would be super cool, although I'm not exactly.
Speaker 2:Spielberg over here. Well, you're in luck.
Speaker 1:Don't tell me, review Genius does that too they do?
Speaker 2:They say they can make branded images and videos from your reviews Ready to share.
Speaker 1:They're reading my mind at this point. I am impressed. Okay, so before we get totally lost in the Review Genius world, we're going to zoom out for a sec. I mean, we've covered a lot profiles, responses, the whole nine yards but like, what's the main takeaway here? Why should we care so much about online?
Speaker 2:reviews. That's the million dollar question. Right, this whole thing. It's about attracting customers, growing our businesses. But it's bigger than that. It's about connection. We can't just see reviews as data points. They're from real people.
Speaker 1:OK, I like that. So it's not just about getting those five stars, it's about the story behind them.
Speaker 2:Exactly Every review. It's a chance to learn and grow, to connect with your customers on a human level. When you respond, you're saying, hey, I hear you, I care.
Speaker 1:It's about building a relationship, one interaction at a time.
Speaker 2:And those relationships they build, trust, loyalty that's something AI can't fake.
Speaker 1:So, as we wrap up, here's a challenge for everyone listening. Think about yourself for a second. What makes you trust a business online?
Speaker 2:Is it a super slick website. Stock photos.
Speaker 1:Or is it something else Right? We like businesses that feel real you know, genuine. So how can you do that too? How can you make your online presence feel more human?
Speaker 2:How can you use your reviews to connect, yeah, to start real conversations. That's what it's all about Love that.
Speaker 1:OK, well, I think that about wraps up our Google review deep dive. We covered a lot of ground today the psychology, the strategies, even some AI shortcuts.
Speaker 2:It's been a journey, for sure.
Speaker 1:It has. So here's the bottom line Everyone, Google reviews are powerful, but it's up to you to use that power wisely.
Speaker 2:It's not just about the stars. It's about the people giving them.
Speaker 1:Could have said it better myself. Go out there, make those connections and watch your business thrive. And hey, if you need a little help along the way, we've got your back. Check out Review Genius.