[youronlinebusiness]

Google reviews are still the best reviews you can receive on the Internet. With all the changes Google makes there are some glitches but they want to make the system better. They are doing this by weeding out fake reviews and making people accountable because they have to use their real name. Just the fact that you can speak with someone at Google is a huge change for the better.

I had an account that no one could find the login for and it had already been verified. This used to be a huge problem that could take months to fix and I did it in a 10 minute phone conversation with Google’s G+ Support.

That being said here’s some tips: Don’t have your customers do their reviews on your computer. Google will track the IP address and the reviews could be removed.

Respond to all reviews positive or negative but keep it short on the negative reviews and don’t carry on a conversation. Most customers won’t respond and your response will help to diffuse their negatyive review. Ask them to contact you as the business owner or manager.

I like to send my clients an email that makes it easy for them to leave a review. I give them a link to the page my G+ Listing is on and not a direct link to the Write a Review page (Google tracks this activity and may remove this review). I find that 3 out of 10 people that agree to leave a review end up doing so if you want 10 reviews you will need to ask 30 people.

Positive reviews will help build your business.

Google would prefer that reviews be done organically but unless its a bad review it is not easy to get reviews in the auto service industry.

Don’t give up on Google, it is still your best chance to get to page one of a Google search for your keywords and people want to see and will read reviews.

If you haven’t claimed, verified and optimized your G+ Local listing do it now and get some reviews, they will help your ranking.

Another tip, if you don’t know what a Google Hangout is read up on it. Its the fastest way to get to page one for a search if its done properly and I’m talking in minutes/hours not days or months.