So, we have Google reviews and Yelp reviews… These businesses account for 80% of all search reviews online. And although many businesses may focus only on Yelp as the primary review website, the truth is, Google reviews is still, and will continue to be the largest and should NOT be ignored when it comes to managing your online ratings. If you consider that Google accounts for 65% of all searches worldwide and that Google business is listed prominently on all search results, it’s a no-brainer to consider that Google; and it’s reviews, should be one of the top priorities for any business.
Granted we’re talking about reviews, and Rating Bee focuses most of its technology on managing and resolving bad reviews. However; another important aspect of online reviews is the search engine optimization (SEO) and the benefits that go along with good reviews online. The focus of this article will be primarily understanding the basics of a google search and how it affects your business when customers use google search to find you.
A quick note: Please keep in mind that these assumptions and examples are a very simplified description of how Google search works. But as a business owner, we need to know at least the absolute basics. If you can understand the 4 simple rules to search, you can employ practices that will help you to be more visible on Google for a higher placement in search results and reviews online. In later articles, we will go deeper into search engine optimization and how to employ the most effective review strategies.
Google uses highly complex algorithms to ensure that every search has the highest relevancy. So let’s talk about the anatomy of a search with google… For this simplified example we will search for an electrician. Your customer begins a search by going to Google and typing in the keyword “electrician” to find results:
Keyword: The keyword “Electrician” is being used by several websites, let’s imagine that the search yields a collection of 100 websites containing that keyword.
Location: Out of those 100 websites Google then gathers the closest location to your IP address during the search and narrows the search down to 60 websites.
Device: Google then recognizes the device being used by the searcher and in this case let’s imagine that we are using a mobile device which brings that search result down to 30.
Scoring Relevancy: Google then uses its scoring algorithm to take into account several factors, search relevancy is based on bounce rate [which is how many people have gone to that site before, and how many have stayed for that keyword), the more people that have stayed on the website for that search, the higher the relevancy, the more people that have left the website the higher the bounce rate. Lesson: Be relevant and keep your customer on your website…
Google then takes into account all of these factors, and most likely presents the searcher with Google Map results which then show you businesses closest to you along with Google reviews allowing you to choose and get directions and contact information all at once. Consumers will always choose businesses with good reviews and those that provide clear and concise contact information.
So what can you do to ensure that you use strategies that will get you found? Let’s use the four points above:
Keyword: make sure that your website has the relevant keywords that your customers will use to find you. You can use Google keyword to define the most relevant keywords for your business.
Location: make sure that on your website your location is listed. Make sure to also include the areas that you serve i.e. metros, counties etc.
Device: make sure that you have a responsive website allowing users to view your website on all devices.
Scoring relevancy: make sure that throughout your website you follow Standard search engine optimization practices for better placement in search results.
Build a strategy to be found online
Get your contact data right
Give a customer every opportunity to be able to reach you through phone, email, live chat etc. Whatever it takes to keep that customer communicating with you. This is an important part of customer relations to ensure that the client can give you their business.
Get on Google Business
This is a big one, go get listed free! This is a priority, Google reviews are a must…
Expand your SEO, get on Rating Bee
Along with website optimization, you can use the power of Rating Bee profile pages, simply do a search for your business and claim it, it’s free.
Every business that signs up, has its own business page with highly optimized content for search engine optimization. We provide the relevant information to enhance your search by validating your website content, what you do, your mission, your contact information and most importantly highly relevant reviews with resolutions. Rating Bee takes Google and Yelp reviews into account and uses an advanced algorithm to give you the most relevant reviews possible online. Google will notice…. Get your business signed up here for better search engine optimization on Google. As an added bonus, you can now resolve those pesky bad reviews that will help your business skyrocket in the results of Google.
Stay informed
Be sure to sign up for the Rating Bee Medium channel here and follow us on Facebook and Twitter, we will be creating a series of articles on how to get better reviews and improve your search engine optimization all at once.
