Find out everything you need to know about Google reviews and how you can use them to improve your Local SEO strategy and drive your competitors crazy.

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Google reviews are essential for improving your local SEO positioning. They improve credibility and trust, improve your ranking, keywords in reviews rank higher in the results, provide valuable information and give you the opportunity to interact with customers. Read on and make the most of your local SEO.

In order to ensure that a strategy for Local SEO to be successful, detailed pre-planning must be carried out. A key tool to achieve a good local SEO ranking is to follow up on Google Maps reviews.

Business owners often neglect this aspect, but company profiles are one of the first impressions people get when they search for your business on Google. A bad review can lead to a potential customer not even visiting your website or, if they do, showing little interest. Business owners should consider Google My Business not only as an ally in local SEO, but also as a way to get first-hand feedback from users.

In this article, we provide you with some tips on how to get the most out of your Google business profile.

What are Google reviews?

The reviews of Google My Business provide an opportunity for customers to express their opinion about a particular business, product or service. Users can use the rating system which ranges from a minimum of 1 star to a maximum of 5 stars. One-star reviews are the lowest or negative reviews, while 5-star reviews are the highest and correspond to very satisfied customers.

Each of the evaluations is publicly accessible, and only the business manager has the authority to modify or delete them. In this way, users can be guided when selecting between different companies, as sharing experiences and points of view is very useful when choosing one supplier over another.

If you are interested in how Google reviews work or how to write one, read on, as we will provide you with all the necessary information below.

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How reviews work on Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business)

Google Business Profile reviews are an essential tool for customers to share their experiences and opinions about a particular business.

These reviews help other users make informed decisions when choosing between different companies.

1.- Users can leave a rating on a business profile by assigning a rating from 1 to 5 stars, where 1 is the lowest rating (unsatisfactory) and 5 is the highest (fully satisfied).

2.- In addition to the rating, users can also include comments on Google and photos describing your experience with the business.

3.- Reviews are visible to all users and cannot be modified or deleted by the reviewed business, thus ensuring transparency and authenticity of opinions.

4.- The owner or manager of the business profile has the ability to respond to reviews, allowing for open and constructive communication between customers and the business.

5.- The average of the ratings is displayed in the business profile, allowing users to get an overview of the level of customer satisfaction and the quality of service offered.

Reviews on Google Business Profiles allow users to share their experiences and opinions in a transparent and honest way, making it easier to make decisions when choosing between different companies.

However, be careful! Be aware that competition is present and can sometimes be unfair. There are situations where some rival businesses leave reviews with the purpose of damaging your company's reputation.

Is it possible to acquire reviews on Google?

The answer is yes. There are companies that provide authentic and reliable methods to acquire reviews on Google. It may seem attractive if we want to boost our business without the negative consequences of unfavourable reviews, right? These companies offer significant benefits for online businesses, making it possible for others to purchase Google reviews for the Google My Business profile. But is this a good idea? Buying reviews could damage your business and even your reputation. Here's why:

1.- They don't get real feedback. Addressing negative feedback also allows you to improve against your competitors and thus have a chance to reach the first place.

2.- Google discovers you and penalises you. The search engine has established rules to prevent fake reviews. If it detects reviews that are not authentic, it removes the content and moves your company down in the search results.

If Google detects that reviews have been bought or inappropriate tactics have been used to influence reviews, it can take strong action, such as removing fake reviews, penalising the business profile and even suspending the account.

3.- If the customer finds out... you lose it. It's not that complicated to identify a fake review, and if a user does so, they could point it out on your website or even on social media. This could lead to a total distrust of your business.

4.- You don't value consumers. Paying for positive content prevents customers from having a voice in how your business evolves.

5.- It is illegal. Buying reviews is not allowed in Spain. In fact, you could face a fine that could involve a considerable amount of money.

Buying reviews is against Google's policies

Buying reviews on Google is not an ethical practice, nor is it allowed. Google has strict policies against manipulating reviews, and buying reviews is against these guidelines.

The platform seeks to ensure transparency and authenticity of user reviews so that consumers can make informed decisions when choosing a business.

Instead of trying to buy reviews, it is recommended to focus on providing an excellent customer experience and encouraging satisfied customers to share their opinions in a genuine way. This not only ensures that reviews are authentic and helpful, but also avoids potential penalties and protects the reputation of the business.

Where can I consult my Google reviews?

It's quite simple. First, open Google Maps and enter your business name in the search bar. When your business profile comes up, you'll see that next to the star ratings, there's a link to access reviews. Click on it and log in.

These questions may arise:

Is it possible to see the most recent comments at the top?

How can I identify the most useful opinions for users?

Can I search by keywords?

Can I share user reviews on social media?

The answer is the same for all questions: Yes, you can. Thanks to the filters, we will be able to search more specifically for the opinions of our audience.

I want to publish a review on Google My Business, how do I do it?

Although it may seem like a somewhat complex process, we assure you that it is not at all. To write a Google My Business review, follow these steps:

1.- Access Google Maps from your computer or mobile device

2.- Enter the name of the business you visited in the search bar and select it from the suggestions provided.

3.- You will see a button that says "Write a review" below the feedback summary. Click on it.

4.- Finally, you can add your comment and give a rating from 1 to 5 stars. Don't forget to include pictures if you think it's necessary.

And that's it! Your evaluation is now published.

Please note that Google allows you, by activating your geolocation, to evaluate all the businesses and places near your device. In this case, it is essential that you grant permission to your phone so that it can perform this task without inconvenience.

Asking my customers to evaluate my business

Ask customers to leave a review at Google can be uncomfortable. However, if we don't do it, we lose the opportunity to improve our online presence. How do I ask them to review me, do I send them a Whatsapp message, do I write them an email? There are multiple options to address this issue without being invasive and in the most polite way possible, but don't forget the relevance of positive feedback and the visibility you can gain for your business.

Sometimes it is not necessary to ask for it. When customers are satisfied with the service, they may take the initiative to write an evaluation themselves. On the other hand, the same can happen when they are not happy.

Don't shy away! and get your evaluations. Obviously, we won't ask someone who is dissatisfied. We will do it with clients who we know are happy with the experience, which is reflected in the relationship with them.

Choose the right moment, just after completing the service. Take advantage of customer satisfaction to request it. If you have communicated by email, thank them for their trust and ask them to write an evaluation; providing them with the URL is a good idea.

In addition, employees also make a difference. Customers generally consider working conditions and employee satisfaction. Encourage your employees, suppliers or partners to share their opinions on how they are treated by the company. If the employee is satisfied, their feedback will contribute to the growth of your business.

Another way to ask customers to write a review is through social media. Ask your followers to leave a review on Google via a post.

If you can motivate people to rate your business positively, you will get excellent results. You will increase the number of satisfied customers and they are likely to choose you again.

How to remove a review from Google, is it feasible?

Google does not, in principle, allow businesses to remove negative reviews. However, recent changes have been implemented that offer two potentially useful alternatives:

1.- The user who posted the comment can edit or delete it if necessary.

2.- The company can flag content posted by users as inappropriate or in breach of Google's policies.

If you are an organisation interested in the second option, we suggest you take note of the following steps:

1.- Search for your business on Google Maps.

2.- Check out the opinions published in the evaluations section.

3.- Click on the dotted button to the right of the comment and select "mark as inappropriate".

4.- You will then need to complete a short report detailing the observed problem and provide the necessary evidence to facilitate Google's removal of the assessment and its handling.

However, taking this action does not guarantee that the comment will be removed. Therefore, you should consider other alternatives to address the problem, such as responding to negative or unfounded comments from the company profile, or collecting feedback and attempting to contact the dissatisfied user to resolve their concern.

Is it possible to report evaluations on Google?

Although user reviews are generally based on real experiences, there may be cases where you are confronted with reviews that do not reflect the truth. If you are sure that certain information is completely false, you should know that you are not helpless and that you can report the reviews on Google.

If you wish to report a review, a contact form is available to do so. The Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) system will carry out a series of checks and questions to handle the report efficiently. These are the fields you will need to complete:

1.- Your contact name and email (make sure they are linked to your business profile).

2.- The URL of your business on Google Maps.

3.- Copy the text of the assessment you consider inappropriate.

4.- Describe your relationship with the company mentioned (owner or employee, company representing the business or anonymous user).

5.- Indicate how you would prefer to be communicated with.

What should I do if I cannot leave reviews on Google?

When we are unable to publish a review on Google, we often think that we are being penalised for some unknown reason. However, this is a common misunderstanding in the community. The solution is usually quite simple:

1.- Clear your browser cache, restart your device and try again.

2.- Try using the private browsing mode.

3.- If neither of the above options works, we advise you to contact Google immediately.

How do I view my Google Mobile reviews?

Find out how to see your Google maps reviews on your mobile device is essential to maintain efficient communication with your customers and improve your online reputation. To access your Google reviews on your mobile phone, follow these simple steps:

Download and install the "Google My Business"on your mobile device from the corresponding application shop (Google Play Store for Android or App Store for iOS).
Open the application and sign in with the Google Account associated with your Google Google My Business.
Once you have logged in, you will see the main page of your profile on the Google My Business. Here you will find a summary of your business information, including recent reviews.
Scroll down on the main screen until you find the section Google Maps my "Reviews. Here you can see an overview of your average rating and the total number of reviews.
Click on the "Reviews" section to access the full list of reviews from your customers. Here you can read each review, respond to them and thank your customers for their feedback.
If you want to filter or sort the reviews by date, rating or origin, use the options available at the top of the review screen.

Keep regular track of your Google reviews on your mobile device to stay on top of customer feedback and continually improve the quality and service of your business. Remember that responding to reviews and addressing issues raised by customers is crucial to maintaining a good online reputation and building trust in your brand.

How does a local guide manage reviews?

A Google Local Guide is a volunteer who actively contributes to the improvement and enrichment of the Google Maps by adding relevant information, reviewsThe Local Guide provides information, photos and useful tips about local places of interest and establishments. The main purpose of a Local Guide is to help other users discover and learn more about online and physical businesses in a given area.

Some of the activities carried out by a Local Guide include:

Write detailed and honest reviews of restaurants, shops, tourist attractions and other establishments in a given area.
Add and update contact information, opening hours and other relevant data of online and local businesses on Google Maps.
Upload high quality photos and videos that show highlights and unique features of a place or establishment.
Answer frequently asked questions from other users or clarify doubts about a specific business or place.
Suggest improvements or corrections to existing information on Google Maps, such as incorrect locations, misspelled names or outdated data.

The Local Guides Google members participate in a rewards and recognition programme, where they earn points for every contribution they make on Google Maps. As they accumulate points, they can level up and gain access to exclusive benefits, such as special badges on their profile, invitations to events and preeminent access to new Google features.

How to respond to Google reviews from your computer or mobile phone?

After a tiring day at work, you receive a valuable Google review from a satisfied customer. In situations like this, it is essential to know how to say thank you via your mobile phone or computer. Do you want to learn how to do it? Just follow these steps:

1.- Verify your business, as you will not be able to respond to third party reviews without doing so.

2.- With your business profile activated, you will have the ability to respond from both your mobile phone and your computer.

3.- Make sure that you do not use your personal profile to reply, as this may convey an unprofessional image.

Knowing your customers and segmenting them will allow you to better understand their needs.

At Marketzillawe specialise in implementing effective strategies for SEO campaigns and SEM. We pay attention to every detail, which is why we have a team of experts in Google Street View and Google My Business. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.

How to get more reviews from Google to increase rankings?

Remember that it is extremely important to get new reviews as the keywords that customers use in the text help to rank your profile. These keywords are indexed in search results. In our SEO agency Marketzilla we use with clients such as dormitorum o Koala Pets Restaurant Nielsen tactics to increase customer review acquisition.

We create a QR that directly opens the review link. We use the https://www.qrstuff.com/ payment service.
We design the QR so that it can be displayed on mobile devices or in print media.
Staff are trained to actively ask for reviews once customers consume the product or service.

In the case of our client Restaurant Nielsen we have designed a creative QR for you to display on mobile so that waiters can use their order-collection devices to ask for reviews at the table. It is much more effective to ask for the review right after the satisfied customer has consumed the product or service than waiting for them to remember or receive a thank you email that may end up in the Spam folder.

What is Google Maps?

Google Maps is an incredibly useful service provided by Google that helps us to find our way around in this big world. It's like an interactive digital map that you can carry in your pocket, thanks to your smartphone. But Google Maps is much more than just a map. It allows you to search for specific places, such as restaurants, shops or your friend's house. It also gives you step-by-step directions to your destination, whether you're walking, driving, cycling or even taking public transport. Not sure how to get to a place? No problem, Google Maps guides you.

What I love about Google Maps is that it's not just about street names and locations. You can see photos of places, read reviews from other users, find out the opening hours of shops and much more. You can even explore far-flung places from the comfort of your couch with the Street View feature, which lets you take a virtual tour of streets around the world.

How to review a place on Google Maps?

Reviewing a place on Google Maps is a great way to share your experience and help others make informed decisions about where to go. Here's how to do it step by step:

Open Google MapsYou can do it from your web browser on your computer or from the application on your smartphone.

Search for the place you want to reviewYou can do this by typing the name of the place in the search bar at the top of the screen. When the place you are looking for appears, click on it.

Click on "Write a review".After selecting the venue, you will see a series of tabs in the venue information. Look for the "Reviews" option and click on it. Then click on the button that says "Write a review".

Rate your experience and write your reviewFirst, select the number of stars you think reflects your experience. Then, in the text box, write your comments about the place. You could talk about the quality of the service, the food (if it is a restaurant), the cleanliness, the atmosphere, etc.

Post your reviewOnce you are satisfied with what you have written, click on the "Publish" button to share your review with the world.

Remember, reviews should be honest and respectful. Your feedback can help venue owners to improve and other users to make informed decisions.