Potential customers no longer want to avoid aggressive marketing and discounts when making buying decisions. Instead, they read Google reviews and judge businesses based on real experiences.
Smart business owners see this as a growth opportunity rather than a threat. They keep an eye on their reviews, respond to their customers, and learn from their mistakes.
So, whether you’re a business owner or someone looking to buy something, reading Google reviews is your best bet. However, it’s not always easy to find these business reviews, and that’s where this article comes in. Learn why Google reviews matter and how to read them to make informed decisions.
Why Do Reviews Matter for Businesses and Customers?
Reviews basically serve as a decision-making tool for both businesses and their customers. However, the types of decisions these two parties make using these reviews are on two different sides of the spectrum.
For customers, reviews build trust and credibility. They use other people’s experiences as social proof to decide whether a particular business is worth buying from. However, it isn’t just the star rating that does the trick.
Most people actually read the reviews to learn exactly how a product or service can help them. They look for details about what others liked and didn’t like. Then, they weigh these pros and cons with their needs before making the final call. As a result, they feel more confident in their choices.
On the other hand, businesses use customer reviews to judge their position among their customers. They read these reviews to see whether people like their offerings or have any complaints.
Instead of letting negative feedback dishearten them, they take it as constructive criticism to improve their offerings. This helps them build trust among customers and encourages them to make more purchases.
Moreover, businesses read reviews to manage their online reputation. They respond to their reviewers whether the opinion is positive or negative. This has a positive impact, showing customers that they care.
By apologizing for negative experiences and offering a solution, businesses can turn a churning customer into a loyal one.
Positive Google reviews also have a hand in search engine optimization (SEO). The more positive your reviews are, the higher you’ll appear in the search results. Better SEO can help you get more website visitors, giving you more chances to make a sale.
2 Ways To Read Google Reviews for Business as a Customer
Social media, review websites, and forums are popular places for customers to judge a business. However, the sheer volume of opinions there can quickly overwhelm you. People mention multiple brands when sharing their experiences, while other people negate them and cause confusion.
On the other hand, Google reviews offer a more streamlined and accessible way to evaluate a business. Therefore, it’s a good idea to combine Google reviews with other sources to make a more informed yet balanced decision.
So, here’s how to read Google reviews for business as a customer.
1. Google Searches
The most common method of reading Google reviews is through a Google search. Whenever people want to buy something from a particular brand, they search for it on Google.
If the business only has a physical location, it will appear as a Google Maps listing. You’ll see the reviews on the right side of the screen. You might also be able to see the business’s social media profiles in the search results.
Moreover, you can visit the business’s website (if it has one) for more reviews on a particular product or service.
2. Google Maps
Apart from a quick search, Google Maps also takes you to a business’s reviews in a few taps. This is especially helpful when you want to read the reviews while seeing how close or far the business is.
However, this method will only work for businesses with a physical location. So, here’s how you can use Google Maps to read a business’s reviews.
Start by opening the Google Maps app on your computer or mobile phone. Next, search for the business’s name and select the correct listing from the options available. This will open the business profile.
Scroll down to the Reviews section, where you’ll see customer feedback and star ratings. You can read these reviews individually or even filter them by rating or date to get the most relevant insights.
How Do I Read My Google Reviews?
There are multiple requirements when it comes to reading Google reviews. As a customer, you obviously need to find other people’s reviews on a business. However, you might also have reviewed a business yourself. Therefore, you must also know how to access those reviews so you can edit or delete them.
On the other hand, businesses need to view their reviews to manage their reputation. Plus, they need to look at their competitors’ reviews to see where they’re standing in the market. Earlier, you learned how to find other people’s reviews. Now, let’s discuss how you can read your reviews as a customer and a business.
It’s easy to share your experience on a business’s profile and forget all about it a moment later. However, the need to find these reviews to edit or delete them is more common than you’d think. Or you might simply want to check what you wrote.
To do this, open Google Maps and click Menu > Your Contributions > Reviews. Next, simply scroll down to find your desired review.
On the other hand, businesses can find their reviews by logging into their business account. Next, go to Google Maps or Google Business Profile (GBP), type in your business’s name, and visit the Reviews tab.
3 Tips for Managing Google Reviews as a Business
Businesses that read their Google reviews regularly are taking an intelligent approach. However, more innovative businesses not only read their reviews but also manage them.
As a result, they have a positive impact on potential customers, turning visitors into paying buyers. So, keep these three tips handy when managing your reviews:
- Use a reputation management tool: This first tip is probably the most underrated. However, having a tool at your disposal can help you keep better track of your reviews. It will notify you as soon as you have a new review so you never miss out.
- Respond to all reviews: Remain active and always respond to reviews, whether they’re negative or positive. Apologize and provide a solution for negative reviews while showing gratitude for positive reviews. This will help you turn negative situations into fruitful ones and show customers that you care.
- Get more positive reviews: Balancing your reputation isn’t just about avoiding negative reviews. You can also balance things out by getting more positive ones. This is possible by improving your service and keeping your customers happy. Moreover, encourage customers to leave reviews by sharing the review link and listing your business on review websites.
Now you know the importance of reading reviews as a customer and a business. Knowing how people found a business’s products or services helps you judge whether they’re worth your investment.
Alternatively, businesses can manage their reputation, resolve issues, and attract customers by monitoring their reviews using Beambox.
With Beambox, you can:
- Capture data from your real customers.
- Get useful insights to improve the entire customer experience.
- Customize your captive portal to grow your social media pages.
- Build your contact list for emails or SMS marketing.
Want to start your review management and WiFi marketing journey? Start your trial today!
If you’re still confused about the question, “How do you read Google reviews?” keep reading!
Frequently Asked Questions to Read Google Reviews
Here are frequently asked questions about Google reviews.
What should I do if I see a suspicious review?
If you see a suspicious or fake review, you should immediately report it to Google. If the review violates Google’s terms and conditions, it will take it down.
However, this doesn’t always happen, even if the review is fake. So, another option would be to respond to the review as if you’re responding to a genuine one.
By reading Google reviews, you can get insights into product quality and customer service. They also highlight the strengths and weaknesses.
This information helps you make informed decisions as a customer. However, if you’re a business owner, you can understand customer feedback, improve offerings, and build trust with potential buyers.
How do I determine the credibility of Google Reviews?
You can determine the credibility of Google reviews by considering the number of reviews and their recency.
Also, look for specific details in feedback, a mix of positive and negative ratings, and how the business responds. Remember, established reviewers often provide more reliable insights.
