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Online reviews are some of the most powerful tools you can use to promote your business and attract new customers, especially young customers. In fact, research shows that 91 percent of consumers aged 18-34 trust online reviews to guide them to the right businesses.
Google Reviews vs Yelp: Which is Better for You
You know that online reviews are important. Does it matter where you’re getting your reviews, though? Should you prioritize reviews on Google over Yelp reviews, for example?
If you’re not sure, Read on to learn more about the difference between Google reviews vs Yelp reviews. This information will help you decide which one to focus on more for your business expert recommended streamline.
Pros and Cons of Google Reviews
In some circles, Google reviews are not as well known as Yelp reviews. They play an important role in your business’s online reputation management strategy, though. Here are some of the keys pros and cons you ought to know about these reviews:
Pros of Google Reviews
One of the greatest benefits of Google reviews is that they can help with your overall Google search engine ranking. If you have a Google My Business profile with lots of positive reviews associated with it, more people will be able to find you online.
Remember, Google My Business profiles are free, too. Now’s a good time to get one if you haven’t already.
Google reviews tend to rank higher on the search engine results page than Yelp reviews as well. This means more people will see them, and they can carry more weight overall.
Many people also believe that Google has a better review algorithm. There’s less pressure to pay for ads to try and get your reviews and business to rank higher.
Cons of Google Reviews
The biggest downside to Google reviews that they tend to get fewer views per month than Yelp. For some, this isn’t a big deal because Google reviews are more like to lead to clicks and conversions than Yelp reviews. It can still be a bummer when you’re first starting out, though.
It can also be harder to use Google to dispute inaccurate reviews. If you have a problem, the process of getting it resolved takes more time than it does when you’re using Yelp.
Do you know Supreme Court stays New Cancer Diagnoses, life-saving surgeries as it reviews conflicting health care rulings? Keep reading to know more.
Pros and Cons of Yelp Reviews
Like Google, Yelp also has its own pros and cons when it comes to online reviews. The following are some of the most noteworthy ones:
Pros of Yelp Reviews
Yelp has been viewed as a trusted review authority for a long time (over 10 years). Most people are familiar with Yelp and are willing to visit the site when they want to learn more about a business and people’s experience working with it.
Yelp backlinks are also valuable from an SEO standpoint. They might not help as much as Google reviews, but they’re definitely not useless.
A profile on Yelp is also free for business owners. Like Google My Business, this is a cost-effective tool that can help you gain more reviews and start developing a positive online reputation.
Cons of Yelp Reviews
It’s true that Yelp has been in the game for a long time and is trusted by a lot of people. It’s not without its issues, though.
There have been reports in the past of people writing fake reviews or business paying Yelp to take down bad reviews. The process of disputing reviews is fairly easy on Yelp, too, which has led some people to question the accuracy of the reviews that remain.
Yelp’s review algorithm is very unpredictable, too. This means that some reviews never get shown at all, which can make it harder for people to get an accurate view of your business.
Google Reviews vs Yelp Reviews: Which Matters More?
If you ask most online reputation management experts, they’ll tell you that Google reviews ought to be a higher priority for your business. Google reviews can lead to more clicks and purchases for your business, which helps to boost your bottom line. People also don’t seem to have the same trust issues with Google that they do with Yelp.
That being said, that doesn’t mean you should ignore Yelp altogether. There’s still a lot of valuable business to be gained from focusing on your Yelp reputation. You just might want to place a little more emphasis on Google and encourage new customers to leave reviews on that platform first.
How to Get More Reviews
Now that you’ve had a chance to learn about Google reviews and Yelp reviews, you’re probably wondering what you can do to attract more reviews on any platform. It can be tricky to get customers to take an extra step and leave a review. These tips can help, though:
- Simplify the process by sending customers direct links to your preferred review site and sharing instructions on how to leave a review
- Ask soon after a customer has made a purchase (the same day is best, or the day the item was delivered if it’s an online order)
- Send prompts to let customers know what information they should include in their review
- Make your review requests mobile friendly
- Offer an incentive in exchange for a review (a small discount, free gift, etc.)
Be sure to thank those who leave reviews, too. If someone takes the time to leave a positive review, respond to that review and let them know that you appreciate their business. Be sure to respond to negative reviews, too, and find out what you can do to solve the problem as soon as possible.
Get More Reviews Today
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter where you stand on the Google reviews vs Yelp reviews debate. We can all agree that more positive reviews for your business are always a good thing.
That’s why it’s important to keep the tips listed above in mind. By using them, you can encourage your customers to leave positive reviews and enjoy the benefits they have to offer your company.
Do you want to learn more about collecting reviews or other powerful marketing techniques? If so, visit the Media section of our site today.
