Google reviews are a superb way to make a great first impression, but they aren’t easy to get.

This week, you can find two simple tricks that will increase your review count.

First things first though; why are Google reviews so important?

The answer is very simple: they are displayed when someone, including potential new clients, search for your business online.

Try it now. Search for your business, and on the top right-hand side of the search results page, you should see your Google My Business listing displayed, including any reviews you have.

As we say, it’s the perfect way to make a fantastic first impression.

However, Google reviews aren’t easy to get. In practice, your client needs a Google account to leave a review and it’s generally attributable to them personally. Both are significant barriers for some people. That’s why we always recommend using VouchedFor as well as Google.

And, before we go any further:

• No, asking for reviews on two platforms isn’t overkill
• Yes, some clients will leave reviews on both (although you will always get many more on VouchedFor)
• And, no, VouchedFor isn’t there to generate leads. It isn’t the same as Unbiased.

Ah…it feels good to have got that off my chest!

Anyway, back to Google reviews.

The firms who collect them most successfully start by running an initial project to ask all clients to leave a Google and VouchedFor review. Then, they amend their processes to ask for reviews after a new client has been onboarded and after every review meeting.

Sometimes though, even that isn’t enough, which is where our two tricks come in.

Trick #1: Asking to be paid with a Google review

Hear me out as I explain why this isn’t as daft as it sounds!

From time to time, you will speak with a prospective client who isn’t the right fit for your firm. Naturally, you want to be helpful and leave them with a positive impression of you and your business. So, you give them some time. You point them to alternative options. You give them other sources of information.

Now, here’s the clever thing.

Instead of putting the phone down and basking in the warm glow of your altruism, ask them to pay you for your time with a Google review. Grab their email address and send them the link.

Most will be grateful that you have spent some time helping them for free, and they will be very happy to leave a review.

Pro bono might not put money in your pocket, but it can build your Google reviews.

Trick #2: Turning unsolicited feedback into valuable Google reviews

From time to time, you and your team will receive an email from clients with unsolicited positive feedback.

The natural reaction is to reply to the client, say thank you and move on. If you do that, you’re missing out on an opportunity to boost your Google review numbers. Instead, change your reply to something along the following lines:

“Thank you for your feedback, it’s very much appreciated. I wonder if I could ask a favour; could you copy and paste what you said into a Google review? If you’re happy to do that (and absolutely no problem if you’d rather not), here’s the link you need <insert link>. Thank you again for your kind words.”

This method works for two reasons. Firstly, the client is already thinking positively about you. Secondly, they don’t have to think about what to write (something that’s always a barrier with Google reviews). All they need to do is cut and paste what they have already written.

We’ve used both techniques and they work

As we said, getting Google reviews is hard enough in the first place, so you need to take every opportunity to increase the number that you have.

We know that both these ideas work because we’ve used them!

Try them out and then drop us a line to hi@theyardstickagency.co.uk and let us know how you get on.