As a small business, you may be wondering why online reviews are important and how they can help improve your local SEO rankings. Well, Google has made it obvious that your business’ reviews are taken into consideration when ranking your business, even at a local level. That’s why it is important to stay on top of your reviews to get enough reviews (and the good ones) to rank your business as high as possible.
That said, let’s talk about how reviews actually affect your local SEO and what you can do to get more reviews for your business:
Local SEO Ranking and Reviews
As more and more people turn to the internet for local information, businesses realise the importance of local SEO. One of the key components of local SEO is online reviews. Just like good old word-of-mouth, online reviews can help build your reputation and increase your visibility in search engine results pages.
Here’s how online reviews impact local SEO rankings:
1. Online Reviews Are a Key Factor in Local Search Rankings
Search engines like Google use many factors to determine which businesses to show in search results. One of those factors is online reviews. In fact, a study found that online reviews are one of the top factors that impact local search rankings.
2. Good Reviews Can Help Your Business Stand Out
In a local search results page, your business is competing with other businesses in your area for attention. Online reviews can help your business stand out from the crowd, and the more reviews you get, the better your presence!
3. Good Reviews Can Boost Your Click-through Rate
In addition to helping your business stand out, good online reviews can also boost your click-through rate. A study by BrightLocal found that positive reviews make people more likely to click on your listing in search results.
4. Good Reviews Can Lead To More Conversions
Not only do good reviews help you get more clicks, but they can also lead to more conversions. In fact, it was found that 90% of consumers say their buying decisions are influenced by online reviews.
5. Bad Reviews Can Hurt Your Rankings
Just as good reviews can boost your rankings, bad reviews can hurt your rankings. In fact, negative reviews are one of the top factors that can hurt your local search rankings. Bad reviews can also lead to a decrease in click-through rates and conversions.
So, it’s important to actively manage your online reviews and encourage happy customers to leave reviews.
How Do I Get Reviews for My Business?
There are a few different ways to get reviews for your business:
1. Ask Directly
Asking customers directly for reviews is probably the most effective way to get them. You can do this by sending an email or text message to customers after they’ve made a purchase or by asking them in person. You can also include a call to action on your receipts or in your email signature.
2. Offer Incentives
Offering incentives for customers who leave reviews is another great way to get more reviews. You can offer discounts and coupons or enter customers into a drawing for a prize. Just be sure to check with the review site first to make sure that offering incentives are allowed.
3. Provide Links
Making it easy for customers to leave reviews by providing links to review sites is the simplest way to get more reviews. You can include links to review sites in your email signature, on your website, or on your social media profiles.
No matter which method you choose, getting more reviews for your business is essential for attracting new customers and keeping your existing customers happy.
Conclusion
Local SEO is a complex and ever-changing topic. But, online reviews are a key factor that can impact your local SEO rankings. So, it’s important to encourage customers to leave reviews and actively manage your online reputation. This ensures that you get enough reviews to work with, and should bad ones pop up, you’re ready to address them to turn them around for the better!
Frank Digital Agency offers a free no-obligation consultation to help those seeking web design services and more get the service they need to grow their online presence. If you are looking for local SEO services in Adelaide, work with us today!
