Have you ever wondered why we stick to certain habits without questioning them? Picture an office where everyone avoids using a specific coffee machine because it once broke down years ago. Even though it’s been repaired and works fine now, people still steer clear of it out of habit. This shows how outdated practices can linger, even when they no longer make sense.
In the business world, holding onto old habits might not be the smartest move. We often continue doing things a certain way just because that’s how we learned them, not because they’re the most effective strategies today.
So, what’s this got to do with online reviews? Many small businesses pour time and money into collecting as many Google Reviews as possible, hoping it will boost their ranking on Google Maps. They believe that more reviews automatically lead to higher visibility. But is that really the case?
According to WhiteSpark, the quantity of reviews has only a minimal impact on local search rankings. While reviews are important, focusing solely on increasing their number might be like avoiding that perfectly good coffee machine—an outdated habit that doesn’t contribute much to your goal.
Make Your Reviews More Visible
Let’s tackle the main question: How can you get more people to see your Google Reviews?
To boost visibility, more people need to visit your Google My Business (GMB) listing. This involves improving your ranking for relevant keywords on Google Maps, which can help your business appear in the “map pack” on Google’s search results.
There are several strategies to enhance your GMB ranking. Some are complex, but others are straightforward. One effective method is regularly posting on your GMB profile.
What Are Google My Business Posts
First off, what are GMB posts? When you log into your GMB dashboard, you’ll find an option to create posts. These can include text, images, and links to your website. When published, they appear on your business’s Knowledge Panel on Google Search.
For example, when someone searches for your business, they’ll see your posts alongside your business information. This not only provides valuable info to potential customers but also helps improve your keyword relevance, boosting your ranking on Google Maps.
01. Write Posts About Local Events and Places of Interest
Write about the local happenings or spots nearby that catch people’s eye. It’s smart to talk regularly about your city, especially if you’re trying to give it a bit of focus in your Google My Business page. One simple way is by sharing updates on events happening around town or favorite spots, even if they aren’t the most famous.
Toss in the city’s name a few times, but don’t go overboard. You’ve got space for 1,500 characters in each post, so make the most of it. Mentioning the location a couple of times, maybe three at most, is plenty. Any more than that might seem forced, and nobody likes that.
There’s a choice to add a link and an image to the post, and it’s worth doing both. Pick a solid image that gets attention quickly and isn’t too flashy but still stands out. When it comes to the link, things get a bit trickier, though. If you’re talking about a cool spot, link it up with a map showing directions from that place to your business. If it’s an event, make sure the map leads from the event spot to where your shop is.
Let’s say you’re based in Lehi, Utah, and you want to show this using a spot like Thanksgiving Point, which is nearby. Open maps.google.com, type in your business name, and bam—your location shows up. This makes it easy for you to share with others. It’s quick, straightforward, and connects your post right back to your business in a simple way.
Here is how our business shows up in Google Maps:
First, hit the little circle with the arrow to flip the view to a directions map. It’ll ask you to punch in a starting spot – that’s the place you’re talking about in your post. Once you’ve got the starting point in, the directions should pop up right there on the map. It should look something like what you’re seeing now:
After that, all you need is the link for this directions map. Go up to the menu at the top left of the screen. When you click it, a dropdown menu will appear.
In the menu, find the option that says “Share or embed map.” Clicking that will hand you a link to the map.
Copy it and head back to the post you’ve been working on. Now you’re looking at something familiar again, right?
There’s a part where it says “Add a button (optional).” Click it, and pick “Learn more.” You’ll notice a space pops up for your link. Paste that directions map link in there. Once your post is complete, with the image and link all set up, just hit “publish” at the top. Done!
How often should you drop a location post?
Ideally, you want to get something out there daily. Since there are three kinds of posts we’re covering here, aim to push out a location post once or twice a week. Keep it steady but not over the top.
02. Service Posts
Now, onto service posts. The way you kick these off is pretty much the same as location posts. Start by logging into your GMB dashboard and hitting “posts.” This time, you’re writing about one of the services you offer. Stick to the 1,500 character limit again.
Hopefully, you’ve already got a page on your website talking about this service. After writing up the post and sticking in an image that fits, click the “Add a button (optional)” option again. Choose “Learn more” like before, but this time, drop the link to that service page on your website. There you go—now you’ve got both location posts and service posts figured out.
How often should you post service posts?
Similar to location posts, try aiming for about 1-2 service posts each week. Keeping things fresh and consistent works well.
Review posts are pretty straightforward and quicker than the other types. Head over to your business’s Google Reviews, and pick a review you’d like to feature.
After picking the review, click on the reviewer’s name. This action will bring up all of their reviews. Scroll to the one about your business, and you’ll notice a share option – it looks like this:
Hit the share button, and a link will pop up. Copy that link so you can add it to your post.
When it comes to writing the post, you’ll want to find a good image related to reviews. Feel free to reuse the same image each time if that makes things easier. Now, for the review content, you can either use a snippet or the whole thing. Something simple like, “We love hearing from our customers! Check out what Jeff had to say about working with us” works well. Then, include the review text you selected.
After that, add a button like in the other posts by clicking “Add a button (optional).” Pick the “Learn more” button and paste the review link you copied earlier. Hit publish, and that’s all there is to it for review posts!
How often should you be putting up review posts?
Well, it depends on how many reviews you’ve got. If you’ve got a decent number, aim for doing one of these every week. But if you’re working with only a handful of reviews, it’s probably best to space them out a bit more. Keep things balanced and avoid rushing.
Putting It All Together
Consistency matters. By regularly posting a mix of location highlights, service descriptions, and customer reviews, you keep your GMB profile active and engaging.
Remember to:
- Use relevant keywords naturally.
- Include high-quality images.
- Add appropriate links.
Over time, you’ll likely notice an increase in views and engagement on your GMB listing. Google provides insights in your GMB dashboard, so you can track how your posts are performing.
