Top 10 Strategies for Getting Local Reviews on Google+ Local

@krisjonescom

Local Search : Reviews and Rankings

Presented by:Kristopher B. Jones

Chairman, Internet Marketing Ninjas

@krisjonescom

About Kris• Founder of Pepperjam – Sold to eBay• Chairman of Internet Marketing Ninjas• Angel Investor at KBJ Capital (French

Girls App, ReferLocal, Highlighter, VigLink…)

• Best-selling author of SEO Visual Blueprint; Author of digital LSEO Book

@krisjonescom

Why are reviews important?

• Google uses them for purposes of local search ranking

• Integrated into search results• Build trust• Generate more clicks• Grab attention; influence behavior• Reviews get shared within G+ circles by

reviewers

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What Review Sites Matter Most?

(Included on Google Search)• Google+ Local• Yelp• CitySearch• Yahoo Local• Super Pages• Merchant Circle

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How do reviews play into your local search ranking?• Quantity of reviews• Velocity of Reviews (how often you

receive reviews)• Quality (i.e. rating, sentiment) of reviews• Reviews on Google+ Local are likely

more important than reviews on 3rd party sites like Yelp, CitySearch, Yahoo Local, etc.

@krisjonescom

What is the first step to generating lots of reviews?

• Create a Step-By-Step Guide and provide examples for prospective reviewers!!!

• Walk prospective reviewers through process of each platform you want reviews (If I were you I’d focus mainly on Google+ Local).

• Don’t assume prospect has a Google+ account• Provide links and instructions from beginning

to end• Provide one or more examples of well written

reviews

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What does a step-by-step guide look like?

SOURCE: LocalVisibility.com

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What about sample reviews?

Provide desirable ones if you have them; if not, write sample reviews of what you’d like to see.

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Here are examples of reviews that have been written about Patsy’s

See more reviews like this at https://plus.google.com/yourname

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Top 10 Strategies for Getting Local Reviews

@krisjonescom

(1) Ask existing raving fans

• First, identify your most enthusiastic customers and ask them to write a review for you.

• Second, provide your step-by-step “how to” guide on exactly what they need to do.

• Finally, offer a free dessert or something else of value to show your appreciation for being a raving fan (regardless of writing the review).

@krisjonescom

(2) Leverage your existing social media followers

• Be honest. For instance – “Hey friends – we are looking to increase our local search rankings on Google. One way to do that is to generate reviews on Google+ from social media followers like YOU. Can you help?”

• If a follower agrees provide them w/ your step-by-step guide and follow-up w/ them until they write the review.

@krisjonescom

(3) Run a contest• Thank your followers for being loyal customers

and fans and encourage them to post comments.• Prompt comments by saying “Enter to win a $100

gift card by telling us what you like most about our business and what we can do to improve.”

• Select a winner at random.• However, the gold here is identifying the most

enthusiastic commenter’s – the ones that just can’t find anything wrong with your business and asking them to write a more formal review.

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NOTE - Be creative with the types of contests you

run, but don’t go overboard and get in trouble with Google.

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(4) E-mail• Send a dedicated e-mail to current

customers asking if anyone would be willing to write a review

• Include promotion “Want to help us rank higher on Google?” in all future e-mail communications

• Link to your step-by-step guide

@krisjonescom

(5) Direct Mail• Include a post card or note in any

mailers you send (including invoices and marketing materials) to customers or clients

• Personalize your ask – Always be honest.

• Include your step-by-step guide

@krisjonescom

(6) Buy Ads• Buy traffic to your Google+ Local

page (including Google’s internal advertising systems) to drive more followers to your page.

• Once you have more followers you’ll have a much larger pull of people to get to write reviews.

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(7) Promote at your POB• Post a sign or sticker in your place

of business.• Create an advertisement that

directs people to your Google+ Local Page to write a review.

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(8) Promote Reviews on Your Website

• Place reviews on your site from happy customers with a link requesting others to do reviews (link to your Google+ Local profile page).

• Include your step-by-step guide

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(9) Have your friends and family write reviews.

• You certainly don’t only want reviews from friends and family but chances are you’ll get positive sentiment and scores from friends and family, which Google loves

• Give them your guide!

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(10) Leverage social media

• Leverage your friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter.

• Use social media to build relationships and add value – sell nothing just give.

• Also, don’t be afraid to ask your neighbors and friends from church (literally) for reviews on Google.

@krisjonescom

Conclusion• Be proactive about getting reviews• The more you get on a regular

basis the higher you are likely to rank on Google

• Don’t forget to offer a step-by-step guide with examples to anyone willing to write a review

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Let’s stay connected• Facebook.com/krisjonescom• Twitter - @krisjonescom• LinkedIn –

linkedin.con/in/internetceo• Google+ - +kristopherjones• Get a FREE Copy of my digital LSEO

book - http://referlocal.com/seobook