Reviews at Facebook are a good thing, good ones anyway. Same at Yelp!, WeddingWire, and The Knot.
But I could argue that reviews at Google are even better.
If you have 50+ reviews at WeddingWire, or The Knot, I recommend shifting your focus to get more reviews elsewhere, including Facebook, Yelp!, and especially Google.
Sure, WW and TK reviews have a lot of clout, but so do Google reviews. Everyone loves Google and everyone “trusts” Google.
I also believe Google reviews are an important part of your overall online visibility strategy (OVS). The more Google knows about your company the better.
Google Reviews have a positive impact on your search engine optimization strategy. Even if they don’t impact your actual rankings directly, they sure have a positive impact when a user sees them with your Google My Business listing.
So the question is: “How do you get more Google reviews?”
The answer is two-part: (1) Ask for them from your clients and (2) send them a DIRECT LINK to Google specifically where they can leave a review for your business.
Don’t just ask them: “Could you leave me a review at Google?”
If you make it easier for people to leave you a Google review it won’t be such a chore for someone and you’ll get more reviews!
This is where a helpful DIRECT LINK to leave a Google review comes in handy.
The problem is, there isn’t an easy-to-find DIRECT LINK that you can send someone to leave a Google review for your business.
Where do you get a direct “cut-and-paste” link?
Here’s how.
First, a couple things…
[1] The person leaving you a Google Review must have a Google account (i.e. Gmail), and they must be logged into it in order to create a review. Pretty much everyone has a Gmail account, so this isn’t really an issue.
[2] You should have already REGISTERED or claimed your Google My Business listing. If you haven’t done this already, or are not sure, visit https://www.google.com/business/
[3] You must have a physical address for this to work. If there is no address associated with your business you will not have a “PLACEID.” It is about “places,” right?
[4] Verify the information contained in your Google My Business listing to make sure everything is correct. Edit anything that needs updating.
Now it’s time to figure out your “PLACEID.”
Go to the following link at Google and enter your company name. If you have properly claimed and configured your Google My Places listing you should see it come up as an option in the drop-down suggestions box provided. See screen-capture below.
https://support.google.com/business/answer/7035772?hl=en
[6] Click on the appropriate listing to confirm and generate the PLACEID.
The screen will now show your PLACEID.
[7] Write down your PLACEID. Better still copy it into a digital notepad like Evernote. You’ll need this in the next step and PLACEID identifiers ARE CASE-SENSITIVE.
[8] Next, you are going to create your DIRECT LINK using your PLACEID. Again, a digital notepad like Evernote comes in handy (http://evernote.com)
The first part of the link is ALWAYS:
https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=
[9] After the equal symbol add your PLACEID.
Again, the PLACEID is case-sensitive.
Now that you have combined the two elements – test your link.
If everything is correct you should see a Google Review dialog box open in your browser window. Sometimes it takes a few seconds to load. See screen-capture below.
In the example below I’m creating a direct link for Google reviews at the Beauport Hotel in Gloucester Massachusetts.
Sample Link: https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=ChIJMUzI7x4l44kRPlQEXpqsqf8
Place Ids *ARE* case-sensitive.
"Working with Chris Jaeger has helped us to sharpen and refine our Internet marketing strategy. We signed up for one of his monthly programs and are delighted with the results. Our presence on the Internet has really increased, as have our sales! That is precisely what we wanted. - Norma Moutal & Mark Giller, Owners of One Heart Personalized Ceremonies
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“Using Chris’s recommendations we saw a 30% increase in inquiries in the first 90 days. I can close about 80% of our inquiries, so needless to say this has been a big bump in sales for our business. Hire Chris to do a website review for your wedding business as I did, you’ll be glad you did, I’m sure of it!" - Carol Clarke, Owner, Bridal Gown Care
Greetings! My name is Chris Jaeger and I produce the Book More Weddings website. I am also the Founder of the International Association of Wedding Industry Professionals.
If you are not getting the results you expect from your website and internet marketing, or you are getting good results but would like BETTER results, follow this link.
I offer anyone in the wedding industry a complimentary no-obligation Discovery Session.
You can learn more about me here. You can reach me anytime by phone at (978) 325-2983.
