Customer reviews are crucial to your local ranking in Google Places. I’ve found that the average #1 ranking has 33% more customer reviews than the average #7.
In particular, “Google reviews” (reviews written directly on your Google Places page) have become even more important than ones written through third-party sites, like Yelp and CitySearch. Since July 2011, Google has shown only your Google reviews to customers who see your Google Places listing. Google reviews are more visible to customers than ever before.
Not having Google reviews is not a good option. When potential customers see your Google Places listing in the search results, they’ll only see the number of Google reviews you have. It doesn’t matter if you have 100 Yelp reviews and 200 InsiderPages reviews: if you don’t have any Google reviews, it will appear to potential customers that you have no reviews at all. Then they’re less likely to click on your Places page—and more likely to take an interest in any local competitors of yours who do have customer reviews.
Worst of all, without Google reviews, you’re unlikely to rank as well locally as any competitors who have more Google reviews than you do (even if their average review ratings are lousy).
Problem: how to get Google Places reviews
You know Google reviews are crucial to your local visibility. But I’m guessing the problem you face is you don’t know of an easy way to get your customers to write you reviews.
If you’ve ever tried explaining to customers how to sign up for a free Google account (which they need), how to find your Google Places page, and finally how to write you a review, you probably know what a pain all of this explaining can be. You find it frustrating and time-consuming, your customers get confused, and you end up with no reviews.
Solution: clear instructions for your customers
Getting reviews doesn’t have to be difficult: you just need a system that makes it easy to ask your customers for reviews, and that makes it easy for them to write you reviews.
That’s why I’ve put together a one-page handout that you can give your customers. All they need to do to write you a review is follow the simple steps on the handout. Then you’ve got a stream of Google reviews coming in—and most likely a Google Places ranking that’s more visible to more local customers.
Here’s how the handout makes Google reviews a breeze for you and your customers:
- It’s simple and easy for your customers. The handout walks them step-by-step through how to set to set up a Google account and how to write a review directly on your Google Places page. No frustration or guesswork for them.
| Got Positive Reviews Almost Immediately “Before reading Phil’s information, I had no idea that Google Reviews even existed. I purchased Phil’s “Google Review Handout” to distribute to my clients, and almost immediately I had two very strong, positive reviews show up on Google. Other clients have indicated to me that they will write a review soon. What an easy way to have clients share their experience while at the same time, help grow my business!” —Jenny Lancette Perspective Consulting, Oakdale, MN |
- I’ve laid out the steps in an easy-to-follow flowchart, complete with pictures. You’re not asking your customers to read paragraphs of text.
| Practical, Logical, & Easy to Follow “The Google review handout is practical, logical and easy to follow for anyone. I found it useful to be able to leave clients with the handout knowing that I just maximised my chances of being left a positive review.” —Alex Worth Clear Web Marketing, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, UK |
- It’s one page. You’re not intimidating or belaboring your customers by giving them a fat packet of instructions. It’s short and sweet and easy to follow.
| Crystal-Clear & Indispensable for Getting Reviews “I’ve purchased all of Phil’s “Google review” materials, and they’re outstanding. Crystal-clear organisation, easy for my clients to give their customers & easy for customers to follow. Indispensable tools for getting Google Places reviews.” —Mark Watts SEOManchester, Haslingden, Rossendale, Lancashire, UK |
- You can simply hand copies to your customers in-person. Done deal.
| Couldn’t Be Easier “If you want customers to make the effort to write a Google review about your business then you need to make it an easy process. The Google review handout does just that. Our staff don’t have to explain to clients how to write the review. They just hand them the step by step instructions fully customized for our business. It’s now super easy for our clients to write reviews about our business on Google. Whenever we want to add a few more reviews, we simply give some of our customers the Google review handout. Asking customers for reviews used to be a relatively difficult task for our staff. Now it couldn’t be easier. It’s definitely worth the tiny investment.” —Joseph Puglisi Physical Addiction Fitness Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
- It also works great if you email it to customers. When I customize your handout, I include links to your Places page and website. So if your customers view the handout electronically, they can simply click on the steps to write you a review.
- It’s custom-tailored to you: the steps are specific to your business. (That’s why once you order the handout, I’ll email you to ask you the name of your business and where it’s located, so that I can customize your handout.)
- I can always make tweaks to the handout. If you see a change you’d like made after I send you the document initially, no problem. I can also make tweaks later on—like if you ever change your business name. Of course, if Google makes changes to its review area, I can update your handout so that it’s still 100% accurate.
| Phil Takes the Time to Get It Right “I really liked the Google review handout as soon as I received it, but I also wanted Phil to make a couple of minor tweaks and customizations to it. Not only did he make the adjustments, but he did it fast, within an hour or two. Phil paid attention to detail so that I didn’t have to—and took the time to get the handout exactly the way I wanted it.” —Jay Dunbar Raleigh Wi-Fi Marketing, Raleigh, NC |
- You can pick the format. I’ll automatically send it to you as an easily printable PDF, but if there’s another format you’d prefer, I can probably make it happen.
- I’ll give you a handout specific to each location, if your business has several locations and Google Places listings.
- The handout is tried and true: I’ve already given it to many of my clients, and they’ve field-tested it by giving it to their customers and getting Google reviews in return.
| Instant Home Run “I had created several handouts to give my clients, that they in turn would give to their customers to walk them through the review process, but the “Google Review Handout” I bought from Phil was an instant home run, my clients love it because it saves them time and they get more reviews.” —Bill Enross Bill Enross Internet Marketing, Foxboro, MA |
The shortest route to more Google reviews
If you need more customer reviews but don’t want to spend all your time walking each customer through the process, you can order my one-page handout securely through Paypal right now. It’s $20 flat.
Shortly after you hit the button, I’ll email you to double-check the name of your business and where it’s located, so that I can customize your handout. Once we’ve touched base, I’ll email your review handout to you as a PDF—ready to give to your customers.
Just click the Paypal button to start getting more Google Places reviews and better local visibility:
| Fast & Easy for Customers “We love the review handout. When I ordered it, I was impressed with the fast turnaround – I clicked the Paypal button and received the review handout customized with our client’s information right away. The review handout is a great way to ask your customers for reviews and makes the process easy so that they will actually go and do it. Thanks Phil!” —Susan Walsh elSue Local Search Optimization, Holliston, MA |
My 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
My guarantee is simple: you have a full 90 days to see how you like your customized review handout. Both you and your customers must find it easy to use, and you must be satisfied with the reviews it helps bring in, or I’ll give you a full refund upon request, no questions asked.
| Superb Customer Service “Phil provides superb customer service, and $20 is a small price to pay for the Google Review handout, which is clear, attractive and well-written. It has saved us a lot of effort and it makes it quick and easy for customers to write a review. The bonus tip sheet that comes with the handout is also excellent!” —Gary Lawver Skagit Powersports, Burlington, WA |
What parts of the handout are customized?
- A header that asks your customers to write a review for your business
- Which specific words customers can type into Google to find your Google Places page immediately
- A screenshot of how your business appears in the local search results (so customers know where to click to go to your Places page)
- An example review—specific to your business and worded exactly as one of your most satisfied customers would word it
- Embedded links that help your customers do the steps just by clicking on them—perfect for if you email your customers the handout
- Your business contact info
- Your logo (if you want)
| Guides Customers Seamlessly “As the sole proprietor of an SEO company, I’m always looking for ways to save time and work more efficiently. Phil at LocalVisibilitySystem provides me with a great time-saving solution: the handout for Google Places reviews. It’s a simple infographic consisting of custom screen shots accompanied by simple instructions, guiding the customers seamlessly through the process of leaving a review and rating of their recent experience with a business. I provide my clients with these simple handouts, who in turn, give them to their customers, in order to bolster their online review prominence and local search rankings. Again, a great time-saver for me, as well as for my clients – thanks Phil!” —Dino Basaldella Sonoma County Web, Santa Rosa, CA |
Good facts to know about reviews in general
- Reviews may or may not single-handedly improve your Google Places ranking. That just depends on whether you’ve implemented other important steps. But reviews are a huge part of local visibility in Google—and without them, you’re at a major disadvantage to your local competitors.
| “A” in the Areas I’m Trying to Reach “…I purchased the ‘Google review handout’. I have implemented Phil’s ideas and now I am “A” locally for the areas I am trying to reach. The review handout works even better than I expected. From 8 reviews to 14 in 2 weeks—I almost need to slow down!” —Michael Baker Ambiance Pool Service, Tucson, AZ |
- My review handout doesn’t guarantee 5-star ratings (nothing can). It simply shows your customers how to write them. You’ll get great reviews because you do a great job for your customers, not because of anything I can say or do.
- Not everyone you give the review handout to will write you a review. You’re making it easy for them to write you a review, so your batting average should be quite good, but some segment of your customers just won’t get around to it, for whatever reason. That’s always how it is. But that’s fine: you only need some of them to write reviews.
| A Tangible Reminder & Friendly Tool “I love the Google Places handout. It’s not easy to get clients to write reviews, even when they are happy with our service. The handout serves 2 purposes: a tangible reminder as well as a friendly tool to make it easier for my clients to leave me reviews.” —Michael Mandis, CRMS Alliance Mortgage Funding, Inc., Cockeysville, MD |
- You should take your time with collecting reviews. Slow and steady wins the race. If you get too many in too short a time period, you’ll raise a red flag at Google (they’ll think you’re getting phony reviews). The best way to use this handout is to treat it like a business card: something you routinely give to every customer.
Start getting customer reviews easily today
Fortunately, your customers won’t have to slog through everything I just told you: all they have to do is follow the simple steps on the handout, which will take them about 3 minutes, start to finish. Then you’ve got some Google reviews, and most likely more local visibility than you have today.
All you need to do to get started is click the Paypal button to order now. Again, your customized handout is just $20 (which should be tax-deductible as a business expense, by the way).
To Your Success, Locally and Everywhere!
Phil Rozek
| So Easy a Caveman Could Use It “This handout makes it so easy, a caveman could leave your local business a review on Google. Its simple design remedies the painful process of asking for, explaining how it works, and receiving reviews on my clients’ Google Places pages. Great job!” —John Rizzo Globe On Demand, Charleston, SC |
| Even a Dingbat Could Follow It “The review handout gives simple, clear instructions on how to get a client or customer to leave a review for your business on Google Places. Even a dingbat could follow it. Thanks Phil!” —Matt Woodacre Indigo Marmoset Design, Epsom, Surrey, UK |
| Great Tool “These handouts as well as everything else Phil publishes are great tools to help make sense of local search marketing. And for $20 bucks! How can you go wrong!” —Ed Marvinney UserSight Corp, West Palm Beach, FL |
Legal Stuff: I probably don’t even need to mention this, but after you get my customized review handout, please don’t redistribute or sell it. If you have business-owner friends or clients of your own, and want to give the handout to them, just ask me first. My lawyer is a bloodthirsty ogre, and I don’t like to release her from her cage unless I have to (figuratively speaking, of course). Therefore, if you have any questions about the review handout, just talk to me.
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Phil Rozek / LocalVisibilitySystem.com 9 Atlantic Ave Attleboro MA 02703 508-308-4040 | phil ( at ) localvisibilitysystem.com
