Google’s algorithm assesses websites by measuring their expertise, authority, and trust. These metrics are what make third-party reviews very helpful in improving your brand image and business trustworthiness. As such, if you want to improve your search engine optimization (SEO) ranking, you have to consider using this third-party SEO strategy for your business.
The volume and content of third-party reviews are big factors in SEO. To help build volume and content, here is an SEO strategy that will help improve your third-party review methods:
Increase your review volume
It will do you well if customers that interact with your company leave a review about you at online review sites. The more up-to-date reviews you have, the more likely new customers will trust you.
To do this, you can send messages requesting reviews to your customers. It will also help if your receipt has a QR code link so they can easily go to the review page. Moreover, make it a company policy for your employees to ask customers to leave a review.
Encourage location mention
Social media has made it easier to tag a location. You can ask your customers to pin your lo-cation whenever they post about your business or when they leave a review. Location is a great SEO strategy that can improve your business.
Respond to ALL the reviews you get
One SEO tip that you should practice is responding to all the reviews you get, be it positive or negative. You have to take the time as well to respond to negative reviews. Responding will show your customers that you are concerned about their experience. It also gives you the upper hand in controlling the narrative. Just make sure that you include keywords from your business. It will allow you to improve your ranking on third-party review sites.
Avoid breaking third-party guidelines
There are guidelines that you should make sure not to cross. For example, Google does not allow reviews that are left by paid employees. They do not allow reviews that are posted by customers who are paid to write them. Fake reviews from business owners are also a no-no.
Third-party review sites also prohibit businesses from forbidding negative reviews. Each third-party review site uses differing guidelines, so it is important that your company familiarize itself with it so you can follow its rules.
Learn from your reviews
Reviews can help you improve your business and your customer service, which is why you should always read the reviews. You can learn even from reviews that are inaccurate. Customers sometimes do not know how to express their feelings and thoughts in words, but you can still find clues about what they want in the reviews they leave.
These are some ways you can improve your online presence. You must never take for granted the influence third-party reviews have. It has the power to make or break your business.
To learn more about this topic, you can check out the blog How Can I Generate the Best SEO Content?.
Contact me today for more information on how SEO or PPC marketing can leverage your business.
Rob Dunford is a Marketing Consultant in the Great Toronto Area with over 20 years of experience in building and implementing marketing plans for small business.