How Google My Business Reviews Can Transform Your Small Business
In this article, I will explain how Google My Business reviews can transform your small business. A few days ago, my friend Wura, who owns an electrical shop, reached out to me and said, “Please come and write a review for me. Do you still have that iron?” I replied yes, and she said, “Okay, please drop a review for me.” She was referring to an electrical iron I bought months ago.
When I visited Wura’s shop, the first thing she said was, “Write a review for me na on Google My Business!” That’s when it hit me—Wura just discovered the power of Google My Business (GMB) reviews for small businesses.
This Is Why Google My Business Reviews Matter
If you’re a business owner, you need to understand one thing – customer trust is everything. Every day, people are searching online for products and services near them. Whether they want to buy something or gather information, their first stop is usually Google. You are reading this because you are searching to understand how Google My Business reviews can transform your small business.
Now, imagine someone searching for a business like yours. You instantly stand out if your Google My Business page is well-optimized and filled with great customer reviews. It’s like free advertising! Potential customers will feel more confident choosing your business over others with little or no reviews. This has worked like magic for my home-based travel agency business. I get lots of clients without spending a dime on adverts.
Benefits of Google My Business Reviews For a Small Business
Increases Trust & Credibility
The first thing my former boss would always ask me, any time she asked me to check a product online, is how the reviews were. People trust online reviews just as much as personal recommendations. A business with many positive reviews appears more reliable. I know this travel agency that lost millions because of bad reviews. Even though they had affordable and the best flight deals, people declined to work with them simply because of the numerous negative reviews.
Boosts Visibility on Google
Google uses reviews to rank a business. The more reviews and engagement your business has, the higher it ranks in local searches. This means more people will find you when they search for the services you offer. If you have a Google My Business page, always encourage your happy customers to leave a review for you.
Encourages More Sales
A well-reviewed business attracts more customers. When people see others sharing positive experiences, they’re more likely to choose your business. This is just one benefit of the reviews people leave on your Google My Business page. It automatically turns into a customer’s lead magnet.
Getting Started with Google My Business
Do you know the best part? Google My Business is completely free! It doesn’t matter if you have a physical shop, an office, or even a home-based business—you need to be on Google My Business.
In just 5 steps, you can set up your own Google My Business account. See the steps on how to set up your account below.
- Go to Google My Business and sign up. If you have a Gmail, automatically, you have a Google My Business account. Just a few clicks and you are done.
- Fill in your business details (name, location, hours, etc.). Outline all your products and services.
- Add high-quality photos of your products or services.
- Ask happy customers to leave reviews. You will get a like you can share with customers to drop reviews for you.
- Keep updating your page with posts, offers, and updates.
If you need guidance, you can reach out to me in the comment section.
