Beyond any doubt, local reviews are becoming major ranking factors. It is clear that online reviews are not just dabbling with other key factors like relevance, distance, and prominence. Brands and businesses registered in the relevant online review websites have an edge over those that lack feedback in the form of online reviews. So what can you do to improve your local search ranking by utilizing online reviews?
When we talk about local SEO reviews, we mean reviews that help both your reputation and your SEO.
Initial Steps
Once you get your business on Google (either by creating or claiming a listing), you start climbing the top local search rankings. In addition, you need to join other local business directories that emphasize the importance of reviews and ratings. Yelp, Yell, TripAdvisor, even Facebook are good examples of such directories. They add up to your business but they can’t replace the importance of your Google My Business account! You shouldn’t look for just any review site, it must be related to your business. Once you submit your business in the biggest platforms, make sure you are also present in industry-specific sites. For instance, if your business is about car dealing, you definitely need to create a listing in Cars.com as this is specific to your industry.
Provide Consistent and Updated Information
While your NAP (company name, address, phone number) is supposed to be central to the identity of your business in local search results, not all organizations are doing it right. 37% of companies in the US alone have at least one incorrect or missing name on their listings.
Adding Reviews Is a Dynamic Approach
As we all know, Google loves fresh and relevant content. Therefore, a review of several hundred words is almost as important as a new service page on your website. In addition, reviews boost the overall conversion rate of your business. However, the question remains — how can you incorporate reviews without making the process a menial task? Simple – just use a widget. Some review sites have their own badges and widgets. This way, the latest reviews on their platform will show up on yours. WordPress plugins do wonders too.
In a Nutshell
Content is king, and your audience is the queen. That’s why you need to analyze and closely study what your customers are searching for, how they like your product or service, and how you can earn and keep their trust. By generating reviews, you will know more about these things, and your rankings will improve in the process.
