06/23/2020
6,643,849 views on Google Maps!...and counting.
Between the three of us here at thejrp we have accumulated 6.6M views on photos we have submitted on Google Maps. To add to that, our personal reviews of local businesses has topped 128,000! We can't stress enough how vital this is to doing business in today's economy. It is free, it is powerful, it is consumer driven and it is where online eyeballs are.
Think back... how often do you make a purchase decision based on seeing a Google photo that describes the place perfectly? Or read the reviews of a restaurant before even looking at the website or menu? This is the way of the World now. We pre-shop. We make decisions without even talking to the people in the business. Even if someone recommends a business, you are likely going to check them out on Google first.
So what do you do as a business owner? Well, here are a few simple steps:
✅Let you customers know to review you on Google. Send them a link in a thank you email.
✅Post a sign on your Exit door that direct people to review.
✅Put signs around your establishment that say “Post a pic WIN a ______ We draw monthly from all new reviews!” Don't make them feel compelled to leave 5 star (although that is what we want!) Authenticity wins every time.
✅Respond personally to every review. Sign off with your name (ie: Todd – Store Manager) Do not use the Google automatic reply. Gratitude goes a long way when it is authentic.
✅Post a feature photo each week or month on your social channels. Pick one from the photos submitted to Google and post it on Facebook and Instagram. Give a shout out to the person who posted it on Google. Feature their review as well. Then add a CTA (call to action) that let's social followers know that they can review on Google.
✅Check the views on your customer submitted photos. Find their info in your database and send them a gift thanking them. Seriously, this will blow their minds. Do it randomly but do it often.
By what if I get a bad review? No problem, this is the perfect place to thank the person for making you aware of the situation and to take them offline. Do not debate in the public forum of Google reviews. Show future review readers that you are a rational person to deal with. Hey, we all know mistakes happen. It is how you deal with them that makes the difference. More about dealing with negative feedback in another post!
Again, we can't stress enough how powerful this free tool is from Google. Set up your business page. Verify it and start nurturing it with the tips above. Need more help or advice? Give us a call and we will show you how we can help you out.
https://thejrp.ca/