Watch the above video to learn how to post a review for any local business in the new Google+ Local (formally known as Google Places or Google Maps). Reviewing a small business really does wonders for their business.
If a small business owner sends you this video or this pdf, be sure to take 5 minutes to post a review for them. If you need some reason’s why it’s important that you leave a review about your local businesses, just read these 12 review statitics (snagged from a great post searchenginepeople.com here) on how reviews effect comsumers buy from a small business.
12 Important Reasons Why Leaving a Review For Your Local Businesses Helps!
- Traffic to the top 10 review sites grew on average 158% last year (Compete.com)
- 97% who made a purchase based on an online review found the review to be accurate (Comscore/The Kelsey Group, Oct. 2007)
- 92% have more confidence in info found online than they do in anything from a salesclerk or other source (Wall Street Journal, Jan 2009)
- 90% of online consumers trust recommendations from people they know; 70% trust unknown users, 27% trust experts, 14% trust advertising, 8% trust celebrities (Econsultancy, July 2009, Erik Qualman, Socialnomics)
- 75% of people don’t believe that companies tell the truth in advertisements (Yankelovich)
- 70% consult reviews or ratings before purchasing (BusinessWeek, Oct. 2008)
- 7 in 10 who read reviews share them with friends, family & colleagues thus amplifying their impact (Deloitte & Touche, Sept. 2007)
- 51% of consumers use the Internet even before making a purchase in shops (Verdict Research, May 2009)
- 45% say they are influenced a fair amount or a great deal by reviews on social sites from people they follow (46% say reviews in newspaper or magazine influence them.) (Harris Poll, April 2010)
- 34% have turned to social media to air their feelings about a company. 26% to express dissatisfaction, 23% to share companies or products they like. (Harris Poll, April 2010)
- Why do they share? 46% feel they can be brutally honest on the Internet. 38% aim to influence others when they express their preferences online (Harris Poll, April 2010)
- Reviews on a site can boost conversion +20% (Bazaarvoice.com/resources/stats ‘Conversion Results’)
If you are a small business and you are looking for a free tutorial you can send your customers/clients on how to review your business feel free to send them this video here or download this pdf and send that to them too.
Great info Matthew..thanks for sharing
Hey Matt,
Great instructions! I like your PDF, too. A pity more people don’t leave spontaneous reviews (I know I do, and I know you do). IMHO, the big problem is that businesses don’t even *ask* – not even once. They don’t even bother to learn your name – let alone ask you to take a second
Sure, most people won’t know how, and many more will forget, but some people will actually do it…if asked. This post and these stats would make many business owners realize that they should at least ask – and once they do, they’d be pleasantly surprised by most people’s willingness to put in a good word.
Phil, totally agree. Asking is step one. Even if you ask 10 people and only get one review, it’s a success!