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Google Reviews Tips: How to get more google reviews now that social proof is critical to converting search results to leads.

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How to Get Google 5-Star Reviews for Your Business:

Prepared by Dale Carter of GTP iCommerce:  
Mob: 0411 352 766
Web: gtp-icommerce.com
 

Reviews are important because: 

“Strangers buy from strangers based on the recommendations of strangers”
 
Online reviews play a crucial role in 
  • Shaping your business’s reputation and 
  • Attracting new customers. 
  • Social Proof is other people saying great things about you.
Here’s a guide on how to effectively get Google 5-star reviews, ensuring your business shines online.
 

STEP 1. Make Sure You Do a Great Job and Your Customer is Very Happy

The foundation of any good review is exceptional service. 

Ensure your customers are not just satisfied, but delighted with your service. 
Going the extra mile leaves a lasting impression and increases the likelihood of receiving a glowing review.
 
Before asking for a review
[   ]  Have I done a great job for this client?
[   ]  Do I have a checklist to make sure I do everything possible to make my clients happy every time?

 

Your checklist might look like this.

  • Friendly in all communications and interactions
  • Timely in communications and follow up
  • Quality workmanship
  • Respectful
  • Leave place better than how found it
  • Customer happy with pricing – Value For Money
  • Made the customer feel important, valued, approved of
  • I have asked the customer if they are satisfied, happy with the job and then dealt with areas they mentioned so they are happy to their expectations.
 
Only now that you’ve done the ground work above should you ask for a review.
 

STEP 2. The Best Times to Ask for a Review

  1. Timing is key when requesting reviews. 
  2. Ask for a review immediately after a positive interaction, such as completing a job or delivering a product. 
  3. This is when the positive experience is fresh in the customer’s mind.

But just asking for a review is lazy

You need to make it easy for them to give you a review which we’ll explain further on.
Ask customers who have paid an invoice promptly in a thankyou for your prompt payment email like below
 
SUBJECT: Thanks for your prompt payment


Hi Betty


It was great to receive your prompt payment.  It makes business so much better dealing with clients like you. 


We are trying to grow and wondered if you could help.


If you haven’t already, and were super happy with our service, could I ask you to please give us a 5 star review on the link   https://ReviewLinkFromGoogle


All reviewers this month go into the draw to win a $100 Petrol Voucher.


Regards


[YOUR NAME]
 
Important: Don’t ask if they are slow to pay.
 
Maybe there was something they didn’t like about your service that they are not telling you. So just ask your prompt payers. 
 

STEP 3. Always Ask for a 5-Star Review

Be specific in your request. 
Politely ask your customers for a 5-star review, making it clear that you strive for excellence. 
For example, you might say.




Hi John, It was great to meet you and fix your coolroom.  


Any issues, give me a call.  


I am looking to grow my business with more clients like you and was hoping you could give me a 5 star review.  


If you are happy to do this please use this link below.  


All reviewers for this month are in the draw for a $100 Fuel Voucher.








Thanks


Bob.
TIP: You can use text shortcuts to paste this whole message in without retyping from your phone.
 
TAKEAWAY: Never ask for a review, Always ask for a 5 Star Review.
 

4. It’s Never Too Late to Ask for a Review

Don’t hesitate to ask for a review even if some time has passed since the interaction. 
A follow-up email or message can serve as a gentle reminder and show that you value their feedback.
Example Email or Text
Hi John, I know it’s been a while but we repaired your dishwasher back in January.  Hope all is well and no further issues.  If not, give me a call.  I am looking to grow my business with more clients like you and was hoping you could give me a 5 star review. If you are happy to do this please use this link below
Thanks
Bob.
TIP: You can use text shortcuts to past this whole message in without retyping from your phone.
 

5. Never Ask Someone You Are Not Sure is Completely Happy

  • Avoid requesting reviews from customers who may not have had a wholly positive experience. 

  • Asking someone who is dissatisfied can result in a negative review, which can harm your online reputation.

  • Always ask for feedback when on the job or on the phone but if you get the feeling or know something didn’t work out then do not send these customers a google review request.

  • Always go above and beyond to fix any issues or compensate for problems you or your staff caused as by taking responsibility you minimise the change of a scathing review.

  • One scathing review will cost you tens of thousands of dollars in income.  It is better to give a full refund and have a negative review removed than lose future income year after year. 
 

6. More Example Review Request Messages You Can Send

Crafting a polite and friendly request can make a big difference. Here are a few examples:

  • “We hope you enjoyed our service! If so, could you please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Google? Your feedback helps us improve and helps others find us. Thank you!”

  • “Thank you for choosing us! If you’re satisfied with our service, we’d really appreciate a 5-star review on Google. Your support means a lot to us.”

  TIP: Use text shortcuts to create this message in seconds

7. Where to Get Your Direct Review Request Link From

Google makes it easy to generate a direct review link. 
  1. Go to google.com
  2. Visit your Google My Business page,   (Google your own business and it usually appears)
  3. go to the “Home” tab, and find the “Get more reviews” section. 
  4. Here, you can copy your direct review link to share with customers.
Copy this link and email to your self and paste into your phones notepad.  You can add this to your crafted template message and then create a text shortcut, 
Example of Link for GTP iCommerce – https://g.page/r/CZoqg0O9OJ54EBM/review
 
TIP: Google the above topic to see videos or examples if the above process  doesn’t work or make sense for you”.
 

8. How to Make Your Review Request Link Even Easier (Using URL Shorteners)

Long URLs can be cumbersome. Use URL shorteners like Bitly or TinyURL to create a more manageable link. This makes it easier to share and increases the likelihood of customers clicking on it.

  1. Go to tinyurl.com

  2. Paste in the Review Link from above and create a short url link like  https://tinyurl.com/gtpicommerce

  3. Copy the tinyurl link

  4. Save in notes and email to yourself.

  5. Use this as the link in your Text expander code.
 

9. How to Use Text Expansion or Text Shortcuts on Your Phone So Asking For Reviews is Quick

Set up text expansion shortcuts on your phone NOW for quick review requests. 
For example, you could create a shortcut so that typing “reviewlink1” expands to your full review request message and link. 
This saves time and ensures consistency in your requests.
Watch one of these
Then make one by copying and pasting something like in with a shortcode of review1 or similar.
It was great to meet you and fix your __________.  Any issues, give me a call.  I am looking to grow my business with more clients like you and was hoping you could give me a 5 star review.  If you are happy to do this please use this link below.  All reviewers for this month are in the draw for a $100 Fuel Voucher.
Thanks
Bob.
 

10. Always Thank Your Reviewers

Show your appreciation by thanking customers who leave reviews. 
When you get a review – you are notified by google
A simple “Thank you for your kind review!” goes a long way in building customer loyalty and encouraging others to leave feedback.
You can even write more than that.
Other customers will read your review responses as it can show you as a 
  •  likeable, 
  • trustworthy, 
  • genuine and 
  • caring business operator 
that they can feel safe in calling to do a good job and take responsibility for fixing any mess ups promptly.
 

11. If You Get a Bad Review, Apologise but Do Not Go into Detail Online. Try and Resolve Offline

Respond to negative reviews with empathy and a commitment to resolving the issue. 
Apologise for their experience and invite them to contact you directly to discuss further. 
This shows you care about customer satisfaction and are proactive in addressing concerns.
By following these steps, you can encourage more customers to leave positive reviews, boosting your online presence and attracting new business. Remember, consistency and excellent service are key to building a stellar reputation.

Example:





Hi John, Thanks for contacting us to give us feedback online. 














Could I ask for the invoice number and we will review and give you a call to see how best to rectify the situation.   














My direct number is 0411 XXX YYY. 






It would be great to resolve this for you as it will help our team improve.  


















Responding to Bad reviews based on lack of timely response to quote requests














When you are busy and optimised with staff, you may miss getting back to clients and get a bad review. 
 
Example 1: Apology and Commitment to Improvement
"Dear [Customer’s Name],














I sincerely apologise for not getting back to you after your attempts to contact us. This is not the standard of service we strive to provide.  














It has been a very busy time on many fronts, installing and repairing air conditioners etc,  for our clients and I ran out of time to respond to your quote request.














I appreciate your feedback as it will help us improve our customer service goals.














Happy to chat and see what we can for for you, if you phone or text me directly on  0411 XXX YYY














 

12. Incentivise Your Customers to Give You a Review – But Never Offer a Bribe

TIP: 
Never, Ever offer a discount or a trade of something else for a review.  That’s a bribe not a review and makes your customer relationship tainted.
Instead Use a Competition Incentive.
Use an incentives by saying, If you do provide a review, you’ll go into our monthly draw for a 
  • $100 Petrol Voucher, or
  • $150 Gift Hamper, or
  • $100 Coles Voucher, or
  • $100 Crown Casino Voucher, or
  • Something else.
Last Month – Betty Slivers from _______ won it,  She was very happy with her win!
 

My plumbing client in Perth, used the petrol voucher incentive to go from 15 reviews to 155 reviews in around 10 months.  They now get more work just off their reviews.

Make sure you draw the prize and send it off and then build your evidence that you it every month so you can show who won it each month for the last X months.
 

GOOGLE REVIES IN SUMMARY

  1. Give great service and fix problems fast
  2. Get Your Google Review Link from Your GMB Page
  3. Shorten the review link in tinyurl.com
  4. Create a text message and email template and save in word, or notes, or google docs
  5. Convert that text message into a text shortcut so you just need to type review1 and it expands out
  6. Only request 5 star reviews
  7. Only request from happy customers you know are happy
  8. Do not request from unhappy customers or ones you cannot read their feelings
  9. Incentivise by saying you go into a draw this month to win a $100 __________ .  Last month Sally from _____ won it.
  10. Start doing it.
 
Hope this helps you in growing the number of 5 star reviews now and into the future.
 
Finally, when you get negative reviews that are legitimate customers, it can be worthwhile doing everything you can to fix the situation and if you can’t demonstrating some form of compensation online can show you take responsibility for issues.  
 
We expect that 1-3% of customers enter into any transaction with the sole purpose of getting the best of the other person but the majority of customers are looking for a value for money service and solution and can be made happy.  So only 1 in 20 reviews should be negative if you approach reviews this way.
 
Regards
 
Dale Carter
Managing Director
GTP iCommerce Pty Ltd
 
PS.  If you know of a business colleague looking for improved search engine results, I would love an introduction as I am happy to do free review of website and marketing opportunities for improvement.
What we did

GTP’s Perth SEO team became involved and implemented the following

  • Technical Optimisation of Code, Speed, and Structure of the website.
  • Keyword optimisation at a page-by-page level targeting a wide variety of search terms and phrases
  • Content strategy, planning, and writing  for human conversion and search engines
  • Internal linking
  • External linking
  • Content depth development
  • Measurement implementation

These strategies and more have helped Car Clinic WA increase their Google first-page ratings from only a few key terms to multiple first-page rankings for over 100 key terms and phrases.

SEO Solution Outcomes

SEO Strategy: The SEO strategy for Car Clinic WA involved comprehensive keyword research, on-page optimisation, technical SEO improvements, and link building.

Keyword Research

Identified high-volume and relevant keywords in the financial services sector.

On-Page Optimisation

Improved meta tags, headings, and content for targeted keywords.

Technical SEO

Conducted a technical SEO audit and addressed issues such as site speed, mobile responsiveness, and URL structure.

Local SEO

Special emphasis was placed on local SEO strategies. establishing credibility within the community.

Link Building

Acquired high-quality backlinks from reputable websites.

Results

Taking On SEO Strategies, There have been significant increases in Car Clinic WA’s online presence. This presence helps increase Car Clinic WA’s prominence and allows for an influx of naturally and digitally generated leads, boosting Car Clinic WA’s business and outreach.

Google Ranking Increase

Studies reveal that nearly 75% of users only scroll up to the first page of Google search results, emphasising the critical importance of effective SEO management for achieving high rankings and driving traffic.

With GTP iCommerce’s SEO strategies, which focus on keyword optimisation, technical enhancements, and content improvements, Car Clinic WA has achieved higher first-page Google rankings than ever.

  • 75% Increase in Website Traffic: Through the GTP ICommerce SEO Strategy, Car Clinic WA saw an influx in online visitors due to the increase in higher search engine rankings.
  • Improved Search Engine Rankings: The Car Clinic WA website advanced from the 10th to the 1st page of Google search results for key industry-related terms such as “Mobile Scratch Repair” and “Scratch Repair Perth.”
  • Enhanced Local Presence: Optimised local SEO strategies resulted in Car Clinic WA appearing in the top 3 local pack listings on Google Maps, significantly boosting foot traffic to the physical location.
Qualitative Outcomes:

The SEO strategy implemented for Car Clinic WA yielded remarkable quantitative outcomes, showcasing the tangible benefits of a well-executed SEO campaign provided by GTP ICommerce.

  • Brand Authority and Trust: Consistent top rankings for relevant keywords positioned CarClinicWA as a trusted authority in auto repair services. This enhanced brand credibility and customer trust.
  • Customer Engagement: Improved content and user experience on the website led to better customer engagement. Visitors spent more time on the site, exploring multiple pages, which indicates higher interest and satisfaction.
  • Competitive Edge: The ability to outperform competitors in search rankings gave Car Clinic WA a distinct competitive advantage in the local market.
  • Long-Term Growth: The foundation laid by GTP iCommerce’s SEO efforts ensures sustained growth and adaptability to future SEO trends and algorithm changes.
  •  
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GTP iCommerce’s comprehensive SEO strategy significantly transformed CarClinicWA’s online presence. By targeting both general and local keywords, CarClinicWA not only achieved higher search engine rankings but also experienced substantial growth in traffic, engagement, and conversions.

Ready to boost your online presence? Contact GTP ICommerce today for a free consultation and discover how we can help your business grow.

Phone – 1300 856 533

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