Online reviews help customers decide whether to call you. They also feed your local SEO, because Google lists review count and score among the signals it uses in local results. This guide shows you how to ask for reviews, answer them and keep your business listings correct.
Key Takeaways
- Google shows your star rating beside your listing, so asking for reviews is part of local SEO.
- Ask every customer for a review, and send a direct link.
- Never pay for reviews or offer rewards. Google does not allow it.
- Answer as many reviews as you can, good or bad, with a calm, short reply.
- Keep your business name, address and phone number the same on every listing.
- Check your review sites at least once a week.
Why Reviews Matter
Reviews Are Today’s Word of Mouth
Customers read reviews before they call. A business with many recent, honest reviews looks safer than one with none. Reviews also help customers find you in search.
Where People Leave Reviews
Most reviews land on these four sites:
- Google, in Search and on Maps
- Yelp
- The Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Start with your Google Business Profile. It shows beside your business name in search results and on Google Maps, so it gets the most views.
Getting More Reviews
Ask at the Right Time
Ask right after you finish a job, when the customer is happy. You can ask in person, by email or by text. Ask every customer, not only the ones you expect to be happy. Google does not allow businesses to ask for positive reviews only.
Make It Easy
Send a direct link to your review page. Your 
Google Business Profile. Your Google Business Profile is the free listing that shows your hours, phone number, photos and reviews in Google Search and Maps. See our SEO plans gives you a link you can copy. The fewer clicks it takes, the more reviews you get.
Do Not Pay for Reviews
Google does not allow you to offer discounts, gifts or payment in return for reviews. Do not write your own reviews, and do not ask friends to post them. Reviews that break the rules can be removed.
Answering Reviews
Thank Happy Customers
Reply to good reviews with a short, personal thank-you. Use the customer’s name and mention the service. Other customers read these replies too.
Reply to Negative Reviews Calmly
Every business gets a bad review sometimes. Your reply is public and shows under the review on your Google Business Profile, so it matters. Follow these steps:
- Wait before you reply, so you stay calm.
- Thank the customer for the feedback.
- Say you are sorry for what went wrong.
- Offer to fix it, and give a phone number or email to talk privately.
- Keep the reply short and polite.
A calm reply shows future customers how you treat people when something goes wrong.
Report Fake or Abusive Reviews
If a review is fake, off-topic or abusive, you can report it from your profile. Google decides whether to remove it. Do not argue with the reviewer in public.
Tracking Your Reviews
Check Weekly
Turn on email alerts for new reviews in your Google Business Profile, so you can reply fast. Keep a simple spreadsheet with the site, the date, the star rating and whether you replied. Then check Google, Facebook, Yelp and the BBB once a week.
Keep Your Listings the Same
Search engines and customers trust businesses whose details match everywhere. Use the same business name, address and phone number on every site. If you move or change your phone number, update every listing right away. Check them once a quarter.
| Listing detail | What to check |
|---|---|
| Business name | Spelled the same everywhere |
| Address | Current, with suite number |
| Phone number | Works and is answered |
| Business hours | Updated for holidays and changes |
| Photos | Recent and clear |
How We Help
Our Services
Our Omaha SEO plan starts at $190 a month and includes help with your Google listing. We also place your name, address and phone number on 60+ sites, including Google, Yelp, Bing and Apple Maps, with our Local Directory Citations service for $45 a month.
To talk it over, call us at 402-813-4034 any day from 7 am to 10 pm. We are at 14301 FNB Pkwy #104 in Omaha, and we hold a BBB A+ rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SEO for a local business?
Search engine optimization. SEO tunes your pages and your Google Business Profile so you show up when people search near you. See our SEO plans is the work that helps your business show up when people search near you. It covers your pages, your listings and your reviews.
How can I get more reviews?
Ask every customer right after a job, and send them a direct link. Do not offer rewards, because Google does not allow them.
What should I do about a negative review?
Reply calmly, say you are sorry, and offer to fix the problem privately. If the review is fake or abusive, report it.
How does my Google listing help my business?
Your Google Business Profile puts your hours, phone number, photos and reviews in front of people who search for you on Google and Maps. Keep it complete and current.
Do I need to reply to every review?
Reply to as many as you can. A short thank-you for a good review and a calm answer to a bad one show that you pay attention.
