Google reviews are, at their core, the opinions of customers. But when used correctly, they can be an asset. A search engine optimization service can help you use this tool to increase the visibility of your website. They can play an important part in the successful SEO strategy for your business. Not many SEO agencies use this technique, which is why using it will put your business in the first few results. Let’s take a look at why reviews matter, and how you can use them to your advantage.
Why Google Reviews Matter for SEO?
One thing you want to know about Google is that it prioritizes trust, and reviews are one of the strongest indicators of that. The larger the number of positive Google reviews, the more people trust your business. Google pays a lot of attention to what people say about your business, and takes that into consideration when ranking your website. Reviews also help Google understand what your website is all about. If you receive a review saying: “The best hairdresser in [insert town]” it’s a natural keyword integration that Google will take notice of.
Moreover, if you are receiving reviews regularly, that tells Google that your business is active. If Google thinks that your business is not active, it won’t rank it high in results, which is why reviews are so important and helpful. Also, Google reviews enhance the click-through rate, which supports SEO indirectly. Click-through rate refers to how often people click on a link. So, for all of the reasons we just discussed, reviews can be used as a tool when it comes to creating an efficient SEO strategy. But let’s take a look at the roles of reviews’ characteristics.
The Role of Review Quality and Quantity
If you want to improve the visibility of your website, you need a search engine optimization service. If they are professionals, they will quickly turn towards analyzing your reviews. An agency typically focuses on a few main elements: quality, quantity and recency. If you have reviews that are detailed, the customer explains what they liked, and gives Google enough to understand where to place you in results. Usually, a longer review will incorporate keywords naturally, which will help with the SEO of the website. The quantity of the reviews is also important, because it shows Google how often clients interact with your business.
The recentness of your Google analysis maintains your online relevance. If your last review is older than 12 months, it slowly loses its SEO value. This is why encouraging clients to leave reviews after every purchase is extremely important. While a review with a single word and 5 stars is good, the more extended the review, the better. With all of these factors, Google understands the trustworthiness level of your business, and ranks your website accordingly. I know that sometimes it’s hard to get reviews, that’s why it’s better to opt for a search engine optimization service.
Optimize and Leverage the Reviews
Working with an agency that provides a professional search engine optimization service will begin with their strategic approach to the reviews. They will begin by analyzing the reviews and identifying the patterns. By identifying the strengths and the weaknesses, they know what to focus on later. A plan will be created with the purpose of filling the gaps, and getting new and high-quality reviews. Some of the elements they will focus on are:
- Frequency – How often do customers leave reviews
- Sentiment – How the customers feel about your business
- Keyword usage – How often do the customers use keywords naturally
- Response rate – How often does the business answer the reviews
What you want to do is make the process of leaving a review a simple, effortless task. You can do this by sending some follow-up messages or e-mails. If you have a store, you can have in-store QR codes. Put it at the register, because it allows the client to scan it right after a positive interaction. This maximized the response rate, often leading to highly positive reviews. Now, a business should answer reviews, no matter if they are bad or good. The response should always be professional, and offer a solution in case of a problem.
Turn the Feedback into Content
One of the strategies that many businesses don’t use, but can be extremely helpful, is turning the feedback into content. The simplest way is to embed the review widget into the most visited pages of your website (homepage, landing page, service page). This simple trick improves conversion because it reduces hesitation, and it proves to the user that your business is reliable. It reassures the user that it’s safe to buy from the website. Believe it or not, people care about what other people think of a product, and it can influence them to buy.
Also, analyzing the reviews provides a clear image of the words and phrases that clients use when talking about your business and products. These can then be incorporated into descriptions and blog posts. This approach will allow users to stumble upon your website when using their natural search language. It also guides a business on what kind of content to create or services to offer (and how to market them). As an example, if you have one product or service that receives the most good reviews, make a special page for it, and focus marketing on it.
Conclusion
If you want your good reviews to be leveraged, you need to opt for a search engine optimization service as soon as possible. I know that reviews might not seem so important, because that’s what I also thought in the beginning, but it seems that they are. A business can grow only as much as the customers are willing to support it. Which is why you want to be listening to their likes and dislikes, and try to improve based on those opinions. Encourage clients to leave reviews, and place those reviews on your homepage.