Google My Business Reviews and Ratings for SEO
You’re likely reading this article because you run a business that serves your local area, perhaps offering plumbing services, therapy, or even owning a dry cleaners. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is an essential part of running a business in today’s digital landscape.
Google My Business has emerged as a business listing within Google search results. Whenever you’re searching for things like “SEO company near me,” you’ll be presented with a list of local companies providing this service.
One of the key features of GMB that significantly impacts a business’s SEO performance is its reviews and ratings. This article will explore how GMB reviews and ratings influence SEO and offer practical tips for leveraging them to boost your business’s online presence.
Google My Business Reviews and Ratings for SEO
You’re likely reading this article because you run a business that serves your local area, perhaps offering plumbing services, therapy, or even owning a dry cleaners. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is an essential part of running a business in today’s digital landscape.
Google My Business has emerged as a business listing within Google search results. Whenever you’re searching for things like “SEO company near me,” you’ll be presented with a list of local companies providing this service.
One of the key features of GMB that significantly impacts a business’s SEO performance is its reviews and ratings. This article will explore how GMB reviews and ratings influence SEO and offer practical tips for leveraging them to boost your business’s online presence.
Understanding Google My Business Reviews and Ratings
So, what is Google My Business? As mentioned earlier, it is a business listing within Google search results, but it’s more than that. Google My Business is a free platform that allows businesses to create and manage their online presence across Google Search and Maps. It stores a wealth of information, with reviews and ratings being an integral part of GMB profiles. These provide valuable social proof and user-generated content that can influence a user’s decision to engage with your business.
The reviews people leave for a business help Google rank your Google My Business listing. If you get a lot of negative reviews, Google will take this into consideration when deciding where to place you in the rankings. Google reviews are only a part of the millions of factors that Google considers, so just because you have a 2 out of 5-star rating doesn’t always mean you will land last in the listing.
Understanding Google My Business Reviews and Ratings
So, what is Google My Business? As mentioned earlier, it is a business listing within Google search results, but it’s more than that. Google My Business is a free platform that allows businesses to create and manage their online presence across Google Search and Maps. It stores a wealth of information, with reviews and ratings being an integral part of GMB profiles. These provide valuable social proof and user-generated content that can influence a user’s decision to engage with your business.
The reviews people leave for a business help Google rank your Google My Business listing. If you get a lot of negative reviews, Google will take this into consideration when deciding where to place you in the rankings. Google reviews are only a part of the millions of factors that Google considers, so just because you have a 2 out of 5-star rating doesn’t always mean you will land last in the listing.
Impacts: reviews & ratings on SEO
Keyword Density
Similar to SEO, keyword density plays a role in your reviews as well. For instance, if your customers’ reviews only discuss the services you offer without mentioning what you do, it won’t positively impact your Google My Business SEO. If your customers include the term “GMB SEO” when discussing your services in their reviews and you want to rank for that keyword, it will positively affect your rankings in the Google My Business listings.
Keyword Density
Similar to SEO, keyword density plays a role in your reviews as well. For instance, if your customers’ reviews only discuss the services you offer without mentioning what you do, it won’t positively impact your Google My Business SEO. If your customers include the term “GMB SEO” when discussing your services in their reviews and you want to rank for that keyword, it will positively affect your rankings in the Google My Business listings.
Enhanced Click-Through Rates (CTR)
Click-through rate might seem like just another piece of jargon, but it’s simple to understand. Click-through rate on your Google My Business listing refers to the frequency (rate) at which people click on your listing. So, let’s say five people click on your listing, and only one person clicks on your competitor’s listing. In this case, Google will reward you with higher rankings compared to your competition, as it sees this behavior as more trustworthy and credible.
Enhanced Click-Through Rates (CTR)
Click-through rate might seem like just another piece of jargon, but it’s simple to understand. Click-through rate on your Google My Business listing refers to the frequency (rate) at which people click on your listing. So, let’s say five people click on your listing, and only one person clicks on your competitor’s listing. In this case, Google will reward you with higher rankings compared to your competition, as it sees this behavior as more trustworthy and credible.
Rich Snippets and Review Schema
Google may display review snippets, which are brief excerpts from your GMB reviews, in search results. These rich snippets are valuable because they provide additional information about your business, allowing users to make more informed decisions about engaging with your content. By implementing review schema markup on your website, you can further enhance the visibility of your GMB reviews in search results.
Rich Snippets and Review Schema
Google may display review snippets, which are brief excerpts from your GMB reviews, in search results. These rich snippets are valuable because they provide additional information about your business, allowing users to make more informed decisions about engaging with your content. By implementing review schema markup on your website, you can further enhance the visibility of your GMB reviews in search results.
Leveraging GMB Reviews and Ratings for SEO Success
Harness the full potential of GMB reviews and ratings for a business's SEO strategy, consider these tips:
Encourage Customer Reviews
By now, you’ve probably realized that having reviews on your business is part of the ranking factors Google considers when placing your listing. So, when you get a chance, encourage your past customers to leave reviews for your business. However, there are some things to avoid when asking customers to leave reviews. Ideally, ask customers to leave a review from their personal Gmail account, which they actively use. If customers set up a new Gmail or use a new Gmail account to leave a review on your GMB, it won’t have as much impact as if they use an aged account. Google knows that there is a black hat practice of people creating new Gmail accounts with limited activity to leave a review on your GMB. If you receive too many reviews from such accounts, your GMB may lose rankings, and it will be difficult for you to determine why you are losing rankings.
Once you have your reviews, as part of social proof, you can embed these reviews on your website to instill confidence in your services for potential customers.
Respond to Reviews
Google wants to know that you care about your customers and that your listing is genuine. When you respond to your customers’ reviews, both negative and positive, it signals to Google that you have an authentic local GMB. When responding to customer reviews, make sure to mention the keyword you want to rank for in Google listings.
For example,
If you want to show up more for “Local GMB SEO” and you’re replying to a review about “Local GMB SEO,” you could reply with something like this:
“Thank you very much for your positive review about using our Local GMB SEO services. Let us know if there’s anything else we can do for you.”
Encourage Customer Reviews
By now, you’ve probably realized that having reviews on your business is part of the ranking factors Google considers when placing your listing. So, when you get a chance, encourage your past customers to leave reviews for your business. However, there are some things to avoid when asking customers to leave reviews. Ideally, ask customers to leave a review from their personal Gmail account, which they actively use. If customers set up a new Gmail or use a new Gmail account to leave a review on your GMB, it won’t have as much impact as if they use an aged account. Google knows that there is a black hat practice of people creating new Gmail accounts with limited activity to leave a review on your GMB. If you receive too many reviews from such accounts, your GMB may lose rankings, and it will be difficult for you to determine why you are losing rankings.
Once you have your reviews, as part of social proof, you can embed these reviews on your website to instill confidence in your services for potential customers.
Respond to Reviews
Google wants to know that you care about your customers and that your listing is genuine. When you respond to your customers’ reviews, both negative and positive, it signals to Google that you have an authentic local GMB. When responding to customer reviews, make sure to mention the keyword you want to rank for in Google listings.
For example,
If you want to show up more for “Local GMB SEO” and you’re replying to a review about “Local GMB SEO,” you could reply with something like this:
“Thank you very much for your positive review about using our Local GMB SEO services. Let us know if there’s anything else we can do for you.”
Monitor and Manage Your Online Reputation
More often than not, your competitors might resent your success when you start ranking above them and taking away business. Competitors may try to bring down your Google My Business listing. Even if you have many happy customers, you might receive false negative reviews. It’s essential to take these negative reviews seriously, write your response mentioning that you don’t recognize the customer, and offer a phone number they can call if they are a genuine customer. If you think the review isn’t genuine, you can say that you believe it isn’t a genuine review and may have been left by one of your competitors.
Optimize Your GMB Profile
When you first set up your GMB, ensure your profile is complete and accurate, including your business’s name, address, phone number, and website URL. This will make it easier for Google to match your profile with relevant search queries and improve your chances of ranking higher in local search results. Additionally, include relevant categories, business hours, and a detailed business description to provide users with comprehensive information about your services.
Conclusion
Google My Business reviews and ratings play a pivotal role in your business’s SEO performance. By actively managing your online reputation, encouraging customer feedback, and leveraging review data to improve your offerings, you can enhance your search visibility and attract more potential customers. Implementing a robust review management strategy is crucial for harnessing the full potential of GMB reviews and ratings, ultimately driving long-term success for your business in the competitive online landscape.