Remember when your neighbour used to tell you about the best deli in town or the best place to get alterations done? Word of Mouth has always been a potent tool for local businesses. And it’s easy to understand why: people trust their neighbours’ opinions.

As the internet grew in popularity and with the advent of social media, Word of Mouth Marketing not only still exists in the form of online reviews, but now those opinions reach so many more people and have an even more significant impact on local businesses.

In fact:

  • 88 percent of consumers trust online reviews just as much as personal recommendations, and
  • 90 percent of consumers read online reviews before visiting a business
  • 10% of all website traffic is a result of online reviews

Those aren’t numbers you can afford to ignore! Add to that that 63% of consumers go to Google to check reviews first, it makes sense that getting more Google My Business Reviews should be a focus for your business.

We’ve pulled together five of the best ways to ask your customers to leave a Google My Business Review:

1. Send a Thank You Email

After a customer purchases a product or service from your business, send them a follow-up email to thank them for their visit and ask them to share feedback by leaving a review. Please include a link to your Google My Business listing to make it easier for them to take action.

2. Add a Link to Your Website and Social Media Channels

Take the same link you shared in your email and add it to your website and social media channels. This way, past customers who are happy with your service can leave a review.

On your website, you can include the link on a few pages, in the footer, or even add a pop-up box to grab attention before consumers exit the site.

3. Respond to all Reviews

Responding to reviews makes your customers feel good and shows potential customers that you care and pay attention. It also encourages others to leave a review. People like feeling like they are a part of something!

Also, Google prioritizes active business listings. Doing so means you become more visible in the search engine – just by saying “thank you!”

4. Create Leave-Behind Cards

If you’re a service provider who travels to different locations, have leave-behinds printed. These are small (typically post-card-sized) cards that you can leave at the site. These cards can include any information you like, but your website, social media handles, and a request for a review are all standard pieces of info to have in print.

5. Include a Link in Your Email Signature

People need to see something on average eight times before they act. So including a link to leave a review in your email signature, especially if you’re a service provider who spends much time emailing back and forth, can slowly but surely build your Google My Business Reviews.

Never be afraid to ask for a review to help build your business’ reach via word of mouth. However, before launching a review campaign, it’s a good idea to review Google’s Terms of Service to make sure you’re not violating any rules. For example, offering a reward in exchange for a review can get your listing suspended. 

If you’re afraid of getting a negative review (or maybe already have one) – no need to worry. Check out our blog post on responding to negative reviews.