Write a great Google review and why it is important for local SEO
Local SEO is one of the main ways Google determines which businesses to show for certain searches. They take into account things like your business’s location, reviews, and even pictures to determine if you’re the right fit for what their customer is looking for.
Google reviews are a big factor in Local SEO. If customers are rating your business highly and using keywords in their reviews that match what the person searching is looking for, it signals to Google that your website is more likely to give them the information they’re searching for.
Another big factor Local Search Engine optimisation is Google Maps. If you have updated information and correct hours listed on Google Maps, it again signals to Google that you’re a business worth showing for Local Searches.
By taking these factors into account, you can help improve your Local SEO and move up in Google’s search results.
This will ultimately lead to more customers finding your business and using your products or services.
Examples of why a Google Review is important
A Google review can be extraordinarily influential when a customer is considering whether or not to buy a product. In fact, studies have shown that Google Reviews are 12.5% more likely to affect purchasing decisions than any other type of product review.
Why? Because Google reviews provide social proof – they let potential customers see that other people have tried the product and liked it enough to leave a positive review. And humans are hardwired to follow the lead of others, especially when it comes to making decisions about what to buy.
Google puts so much emphasis on the importance of reviews that they even show them on their local map search results. Even the Google ads on the map pack look like an organic position and have ratings on them.

^ It works! This review snippet sold me the first time I saw it!
The burger wasn’t that bad either.


On Mobile the reviews are even more pronounced. Have a look at how
Google pulls the snippets from the reviews and displays them on the map under the company name.
Would you grab a burger from Burger King Constellation Drive?
Notice how the majority of the reviews have the word “burger” in them.

Google collects data from the reviews and displays the keywords that are used most.
If you’ve selected a business name on Google Maps you will see that Google lists all the top keywords from all the reviews. In the mobile version of maps it ranks the keywords under “people often mention” and show you what keywords are mentioned most.
Have a look at the below two restaurants, what do you think Google is going to rank them for?

* (shameless punt for a client) you have to try Nanny’s Eatery! One of my favourite restaurants in Kingsland!

What do you think the above chicken restaurant is known for?

Speaking of chicken, here’s a pizza place in Hobsonville with majority of the reviews not telling a good story.
It’s all very confusing for Google when real people are mentioning sushi and fish for a chicken joint and chicken for a pizza place.
You can see that a good review with the right kind of information in there makes a huge difference, not just to google but to how potential clients see the business.
Clients are not intentionally trying to put Google in the wrong direction, they just don’t think about what’s being said and the majority of the time don’t understand what it does for your business.
With a bit of prompting for a review and nudging you can leverage an extremely powerful Local SEO tool for your business and potentially educate them for all the reviews they’re going to leave for future businesses.
Make it easy for clients to give you a review
- Note this is the manual way of asking for reviews. You can have this automated through your e-commerce store or through other platforms. (Get in touch if you would like to know more)
- Keep it short, your product or service has done the convincing…this is just a nudge for a “SEO pat on the back”.
- Explain to them what a review does for your business
- Give them a Google review link that they can click on it takes them to the review page.
- Help them write a review
Where to find your Google review link
1. Go to Google and type in “My Business.”
2. If you have Google Business Profile you will see your business profile with a couple of options just like in the picture.
3. Click or tap on the “Ask for a review button”


4. Pick the best way that you want to share your review.
5. You can copy and paste the review link by clicking on the little squares next to the link.
6. When someone clicks your review link (https://g.page/r/CRSu8oJcPAG_EBM/review) it opens up a Google review box and allows you to add a review and add a picture.
7. It’s the quickest way to get someone to leave a review.
How to ask for a Google review from clients
Giving context always helps. It’s a fight for balance between giving enough context and giving too much when asking for a review.
We like to use a layered approach where you fill “the plate” enough for those that want to zip ahead but also give more information for those that need it.
Short version – Ask for a review
Dear XX,
We hope that you are enjoying (insert name of product). – * For Product ask
It was an absolute pleasure working with you. – * For Service ask
Our business relies on feedback from people like yourself.
A review on Google would really help us a lot with our SEO and help our business grow.
Thank you so much in advance, we really appreciate it. (* gratitude in advance increases the likelihood of action)
Click on this link to leave a review: https://g.page/r/CRSu8oJcPAG_EBM/review
* Please mention the (service/product) that we provided for you in your review, it really helps.
We look forward to serving you again.
Regards
* sign off
Layered Approach – Ask for a review
Dear XX,
We hope that you are enjoying (insert name of product). – * For Product ask
It was an absolute pleasure working with you. – * For Service ask
Our business relies on feedback from people like yourself.
A review on Google would really help us a lot with our SEO and help our business grow.
We would be so appreciative if you could leave a quick rating and a comment, it will take about 20 seconds. At (Insert business name) we strive to give our absolute best and if you feel that you did not receive 5-star treatment we would really appreciate if you replied to this email so that we can leave you with our full experience.
Thank you so much in advance, we really appreciate it. (* gratitude in advance increase likelihood of action)
Click on this link to leave a review: https://g.page/r/CRSu8oJcPAG_EBM/review
How Google Reviews work
Google uses keywords in the reviews to build an SEO profile of our business.
Leaving one or more keywords that related to the service you received will let Google know that the business is offering those products or
services.
(* write what you would like them to say) e.g Jono did a great job in explaining how Google’s local SEO works. We look forward to seeing how these changes help with our website ranking on Google. I would recommend NourseMen for any digital marketing projects for your website.
If you are interested, there’s a great post that goes more in depth here: https://noursemen.co.nz/google-review-local-seo/
We look forward to serving you again.
Regards
* sign off
Found this helpful? Want to take 20 seconds to say thanks? https://g.page/r/CRSu8oJcPAG_EBM/review
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