How to leave a review for a local business on Google. Writing a great review for a local business on Google is an easy way to support local businesses and help others make informed decisions about where to spend their money. Reviews significantly impact local businesses’ online presence, as they can dramatically impact how potential customers perceive a business. A positive review can boost a business’s reputation and drive more traffic to its website, while a negative review can have the opposite effect.
How to leave a review for a business on Google
You will need your own Google account to leave a review for a local business on Google. A Google Account is free and takes only a few minutes to set up. If you already have a GMail account, then you already have a Google account. The cool thing is that as you start to leave reviews for businesses, your personal ‘score’ (or reputation) on Google will go up. A higher rating on Google means that reviews are more likely to ‘stick’ and be noticed by other users and the business.
Let’s start with the basics. You may leave Google reviews in two ways: through a browser (on your laptop, computer, tablet or mobile) or through the Google Maps App (on your mobile). Each has its own procedure and you will need a Google account to complete it.
Leave A Google Review Using Your Browser
- Log in to your Google account and search for the company you wish to evaluate.
- Locate the reviews section (next to the star rating in your search results, or beneath the establishment’s name in the sidebar in Google search) and click the blue “WRITE A REVIEW” button.
- Rate the company from 1 to 5 stars (the higher the number, the better the experience), comment about your experience, and then click “POST” when you’re finished.
Leave A Review Using The Google Maps App
- Search for the company you wish to evaluate in the Google Maps app on your phone.
- Maps will provide a search result with a map and a banner about the company at the bottom. Click on the banner.
- Scroll down until you reach the reviews area in the window that appears. You will see five empty stars with your profile picture above them. Click on for the business and then write about your experience.
- Click “POST” to leave your review.
Here’s how to write a GREAT review for a local business on Google
In today’s highly competitive business environment, every little helps. By learning how to leave a great review for a local business you can help your favourite local business considerably. So, if you have enjoyed your experience at a local business, why not reward them? It’s free!
1. Be specific
When writing a review, it’s essential to be specific about what you liked or didn’t like about the business. Instead of simply stating that you had a great experience, mention specific details about the service, food, or atmosphere. Specific information will help other readers understand why you liked or didn’t like the business. Detailed information will help other readers know why you liked or didn’t like the business. For example, you could say, “We took our two children for an Italian meal at XXXX. Our server Marco was amiable and attentive, and the food was delicious,” rather than simply writing “, I had a great experience.”
For businesses with multiple staff, it helps if you name the employee. This not only encourages the staff member, but helps to personalise and add validation to your review.
2. Use the location
When writing a review, it’s helpful to mention the location of the business. Noting the area will help other readers identify the specific place of the business, which will be especially helpful for companies with multiple locations. Additionally, mentioning the location can help to provide context for your review. For example, you could write, “I recently visited the Northern Quarter location of XYZ restaurant and had a great experience.”
TIP: Before setting off to visit a local restaurant or venue, open the Google Maps App on your smartphone and search for them. You can search for the business by name or by keyword; eg. “Italian Restaurant near me”. Then, click on ‘Get Directions’ to give yourself a route to the location (this will work whether you are on foot, in a car, or on public transport). The App will tell you when you have arrived, and will send a powerful engagement signal to Google that will be positive for the business.
3. Use keywords
When writing a review, it’s really positive to use keywords relevant to the business. These keywords will help the company appear in search results when potential customers search for businesses like it. For example, if the business you’re reviewing is a pizza restaurant, you might include keywords like “pizza”, “Italian food”, and “takeout”.
4. Include photos and videos
When writing a review, it’s a good idea to include pictures or videos if possible. Pictures can help to provide context for your review and give other readers a better sense of the business. For example, if you’re reviewing a restaurant, you could include photos of the food, the interior, or even the exterior of the building. Additionally, images can provide evidence of the claims made in the review.
5. Be honest
When writing a review, it’s essential, to be honest. A review is not the place to hold back or sugarcoat your opinion. If you had a negative experience, you must express that in your review. At the same time, if you had a positive experience, it’s also essential to say that. Honesty will help other readers to understand the business’s strengths and weaknesses and make an informed decision about whether or not to visit the business.
6. Be concise
When writing a review, it’s essential to be brief and to the point. Google reviews have a character limit of 5,000 characters, but it’s better to write a shorter review highlighting the main issues. Additionally, shorter reviews are more likely to be read, as people generally have shorter attention spans. Therefore, make sure to get straight to the point and be concise.
7. Use proper grammar and spelling
When writing a review, it’s important to use appropriate grammar and spelling. This will make your review easier to read and understand and reflect positively on you as the reviewer. Also, exemplary grammar and spelling will help make your review look more professional and trustworthy.
Bad grammar or spelling may raise a flag to Google that the review could be a fake one. Sadly, many businesses employ offshore agents to leave fake positive reviews and these are often spotted through their poor writing style.
8. Use a personalised touch
When writing a review on Google, it’s important to personalise and make it stand out. Try to create a unique angle or take on the business and be creative in your language and expression. Personalised reviews will make it more attractive to other readers and make it more likely that they’ll want to visit the business. This also allows for more authenticity in the review.
To wrap it up
In conclusion, writing an excellent review for a local business on Google is an easy way to support local businesses and help others make informed decisions about where to spend their money. By being specific, using the location, keywords, and photos, being honest and concise, using proper grammar and spelling, and adding a personalised touch, you can write an informative, helpful review that stands out.
Writing a great review can boost the business’s reputation and create a positive impact on the community, showing that you are a concerned and responsible consumer.
Additionally, while creating a review, it is vital to abide by Google policies, so make sure to read and follow them.
Chris Giles Snr built his first client website in 1995 and has remained at the leading edge of web development and SEO ever since. He is a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Marketing (FCIM).
