Tips Writing A Blog Post

In the age of social media, consumers are more aware than ever of what your company has to offer. Your content should not only be informative and relevant, it should be the foundation of your campaign.

Every article on your blog is an opportunity to impress potential customers, increase sales and create brand loyalty. If you want to stand out from your competitors and win over your audience, we provide the following list of blog writing tips to help you succeed:

• Be original. Don’t fall into the trap of plagiarizing someone else’s work. It isn’t just unethical, it is also illegal.
• Keep your target audience in mind. You can’t please everyone, so focus on sharing relevant information that is of interest to the people who will be reading your blog.
• Get to the point quickly. If your blog is more than 500 words, you are providing enough information. Try to stick to the facts and avoid excessive, irrelevant details.
• Keep your sentences short. Not only is this easier to read, it keeps your blog content concise. You can always go into more detail on the subject in future posts.
• Use keywords in headers. This makes them easier to find using online search engines, which are the gateway to most of your audience.
• Include a call to action. Tell your readers what you want them to do next, whether that is visit a related article, buy a product or share your content with someone else.
• Be encouraging and uplifting. Your blog entries should inspire and motivate people to be their best selves, or at the very least be aware of your products and services.
• Link to relevant content on other sites. When you do this, you not only earn yourself an extra link (and therefore another chance for your
  page to appear on the first page of search engine results), you support the other company’s campaign.

Be yourself! Don’t try to be someone you’re not just to impress your readers. If you are genuine and honest, your audience will appreciate your honesty and candor.

Why It’s Important To Have Correct Business Information

What is the importance of the correct business information )name, address and phone number) on search engines and directory listings for small businesses?

Correct business name, address and phone number (aka NAP) are very important to maximize your visibility on search engines. If you have a small business in North Carolina, you may not be going out of your way to take advantage of some little-known secrets that make it easier for people to find your company online. The strategies I’m about to share with you will help build credibility around your brand, establish relationships with new customers and help existing clients remember who you are when they need more services in the future.

In today’s economy, it has never been more important to get the word out about an organization or small business. Today’s small business owners know that it’s absolutely critical to develop an online presence and build a web presence.

What most of them don’t know is how search engines work and why NAP (correct name, address and phone number) is so important. Search engines rely on algorithms that understand IP addresses used by the major search engines when they look for content targeted to your specific area or region.

For example, if you live in Huntersville, North Carolina (outside of Charlotte), then your IP address would be associated with Huntersville-specific results in search engine queries as well as map display results on the maps feature of Google Maps™. This is because the algorithm will assign priority to businesses that reside in your geographic location (provided you have a business presence on the web).

This is just one of many factors that are used when a search engine evaluates which websites will be displayed first in their results. The correct business name, address and phone number (NAP) assigned to your website (and all other digital properties you own) are very important things for local businesses to include in their search profiles. Here’s why:

1. Search engines use the zip code as an indicator of where your business (or PO Box or physical location – whichever you prefer) is located. Even if you have a virtual office with no physical location, it can still be helpful to use a business address at least within your regional area so when we’re looking at Google Maps you will have a presence. If you live outside of North Carolina, pick an area where you would like to target your business.
2. It helps search engines determine which listings on the first page of results are relevant and trustworthy. When a user searches for businesses in Huntersville, NC, it’s important that they see accurate information about each listing so that they can choose an option based on their needs and wants (price, location etc.) instead of making a decision solely based on the fact that one company has incorrect information or is not displayed at all due to data entry errors.
3. Search engines evaluate websites with the correct name and address more favorably when ranking them in their search algorithms than sites without this information. It makes sense if you think about it: If you were looking for Smith Hardware at 123 ABC Street, you’d probably be happy to find Smith Hardware with the correct name and address on a website. If you found the same information with an incorrect spelling or phone number that didn’t match your zip code, it would be less likely that you’d trust this business as much as one where all of the information matched up correctly.
4. It allows people who search for businesses online to find local companies (within their region) before they make purchasing decisions based on price alone. Having correct information in your profiles helps ensure that your company can compete with large national retailers even if you have a smaller marketing budget than them. It also means customers won’t accidentally purchase from a non-local retailer who listed their company at a similar phone number or misspellings of your name.

Incorrect information leads to missed opportunities all over the digital world – from search engines and directories like Google and Yelp, to social media like Facebook and Twitter, to maps on mobile devices. Even if you don’t create a local profile for your website (and there are many reasons why you should), being listed with an address or phone number that is partially correct can still lead customers astray.

Even if the above reasons aren’t enough to convince you, here’s one more: Your competitors will be doing this when they are creating a profile for their website as well. If you want your company to reap the benefits of digital marketing (search engine optimization, social media marketing and custom maps for mobile devices), correct business information is one key ingredient that needs to be included in every company’s online presence.

If you’re already listed with an incorrect name, address or phone number on Google, Yahoo Local or Yelp, it can seem like a daunting task to fix these errors. Fortunately, Pivotal Penguin has Listing Management Services designed specifically for local businesses that allows them to update all of this inaccurate data quickly and easily so that you can start reaping the tangible rewards of having correct business information online.

For more information about our Listing Management Services and how it can help your business, call Pivotal Penguin at (704) 776-6199 or visit PivotalPenguin.com today. We are a nationally recognized, digital marketing agency, built to promote the success of and help small and mid-size businesses control their listing information on over 300+ search engines, increase their Social Marketing along with SEO, Reputation Management, Website Design, Digital Advertising and more. Call us today to learn more!

How To Use Keywords for Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing is a powerful tool for building your business.

What’s the best way to use social media marketing?

Just post as many updates as you can, every day and everywhere!
WRONG!!

If that were true, then wouldn’t everyone be getting excellent results with their social media? Most people don’t, so we know it’s not that simple. Let me share with you a few things I’ve learned about using keywords in my social media efforts…

You see, when you are doing social media marketing well and seeing great success in your strategy, the one thing that jumps out most are the keywords used consistently throughout each effort – especially within each update. You will also notice that these keywords change from time to time, but are present nonetheless.

How do you use keywords in social media marketing? By using specific keywords and phrases within each of your social media posts you reach the audience that matters most with your message. This is known as Keyword Targeted Marketing.

Please keep in mind, it’s not just about using some words here or there, it’s about creating “Keyword Dominated Posts” – where the content around these targeted words creates a message that would not be received by someone who was not searching specifically for that particular keyword phrase.

In order to identify what keywords will work best for us we need to know our target market. For example: If I’m selling toys for kids between 7 and 14 years old, then I’d want to include keywords like:

• toys for boys age 7 – action figures – Star Wars etc.
• toys for boys age 8 – video games, Legos etc.
• toys for boys age 9 – skateboards, baseball cards etc. (You get the picture…)

Now when you have an idea of which group of keywords will work best based on your product or service, here’s how you put it into practice… Let’s say I’m a toy seller and I’ve chosen “girls toys” as my keyword phrase. From there, my job is to create targeted posts that are geared towards any person searching for “girls toys”. Because this person has searched specifically for that phrase they are already in a “buy” mode, so my job is to give them the information they crave.

As I write my posts I’ll think about how this person would want to be found and what they’d like to read. Using this in mind, here’s an example of what I might include within my post…

• I’ve been selling girls toys for five years now and can show you where to get the best deals on brand name toys like Barbie, Disney Princess, Monster High etc.
• I sell all types of dolls including Barbie Dolls , Bratz , My Little Pony and more! You can find the newest releases here.
• My store also has video games for girls , most are age appropriate for kids 7-13 years old. You can find all the best titles here.
• I sell a lot of Princess Toys for little girls. We have Belle, Ariel, Cinderella and Snow White to choose from. (And then I would list them all)

By creating these posts with targeted keywords you will increase your chances of being found by anyone searching for that specific phrase, thus increasing your overall exposure!

Another bonus tip for using this strategy… give people what they want! Many people go into social media marketing hoping to get customers. Instead we should be looking at it as providing content that is relevant and answers their questions. When we are doing this well, the traffic comes naturally!

If we think about how our readers actually interact with us (because that’s what we really want to happen) then we’ll understand that they don’t want us to force our messages down their throat. Instead, most people just want answers to their questions – in the form of relevant information.

With this strategy you are providing content that would not be available without your input. You offer new and unique ways for people to find solutions to issues they care about, thus gaining respect and trust from them along the way. This is a win-win scenario!

The more targeted traffic you can accumulate for your site based on specific keywords, the better chance you have of being seen as a trusted resource when it comes time for a purchase or sale online. As an added benefit, you will also be able track your stats and see what works best for you!

A few more tips…Don’t use the same keywords over and over again. Try to rotate at least two or three variations of each keyword. This will make it easier for you to rank higher on searches. Don’t be afraid to try something new if you are having trouble getting found with your current approach. For example: If I were selling Star Wars stuff, instead of using “Star Wars” as one of my keywords in my previous example, I might want to include “action figures”, “collectibles”, “toys”, etc.

Never give up ! The work does not end after your first post — it’s an ever-evolving process that takes time to master.

You might want to take a look at this article it will give you 10 Ideas to increase website traffic through social media

10 Ideas to increase website traffic through social media

It is no secret that incorporating social media can help your business in a multitude of ways – yet many people still do not harness its potential. But if you are ready to give it a go, there are certainly some things to keep in mind. The following article provides tips on how to make the most of social media marketing.

#1: Don’t ignore the importance of reviews

Having positive reviews leave an impression on customers, but negative ones (if answered correctly) can be extremely helpful as well. Online reviews about your company will impact whether someone decides to do business with you.

#2: Make yourself accessible online and offline

Social media allows you to provide information regarding your presence at events and other local happenings. While this may seem like something only a brick-and-mortar business would do, many consumers are also attracted to this aspect.

#3: Use keywords for social media marketing success

Keywords and phrases can help you reach people all across the globe. This article explains how to use them effectively in social media marketing.

#4: Respond to feedback online

It is especially important that you address any negative issues or comments head on via social media channels. Doing so will let others know who you are as a business owner and show them that you have nothing to hide.

#5: Follow up with a conversation

If someone has replied to one of your posts, pick up where it left off by asking additional questions through social media. By doing this, you can help them feel as if your brand is one they can trust.

#6: Market efficiently on social media

When offering coupons via your Facebook page, track whether the promotion is working effectively.

#7: Be cautious of what you share online

If you are going to discuss anything that might be seen as controversial or political, make sure it doesn’t damage your company’s reputation. You should also remain conscious of any major news stories that could affect your business in some way.

#8: Put an emphasis on quality over quantity

Though many people think more posts will equal more success, this isn’t exactly true – at least when it comes to social media marketing. When you post in adequate amounts, you can pay closer attention to the materials.

#9: Start a positive conversation online

A great way to start off your social media marketing efforts is by giving support on various channels and encouraging people to do the same. By doing this, you’ll create a safe environment for consumers.

#10: Become an authority figure online

The more information you share about your business via social media, the more people will be able to find answers there. This may also lead customers to think of you as an expert in your industry – which is something that most businesses strive for!

Keyword Research

Have you heard that improving your SEO will help you get found online more easily? You’ve probably heard that implementing keywords into the content on your website, blog, and URL are key strategies for improving your SEO ranking. However, including the wrong keywords or too many keywords can be just as detrimental.

Although you may not always notice them, keywords play an integral role when it comes to helping a small business get found online. So let’s get to it by breaking down the long and short (tail) of it.

Do Your Own Keyword Research

Keyword research should never be a one-time commitment, but rather an ever-changing process that involves a strategy and a comprehensive understanding of your business and your industry. Including keywords that are specific to your business and industry will help to ensure that the right customers are being driven to your door rather than just any customer. Although we want to increase our customer base, we don’t want to target consumers that may not find the value in our business.

Using the Right Keywords

Short-tail keywords, or keywords composed of very generic keywords, might seem appealing because they’re searched more often than long-tail keywords, however, they’re also a lot more competitive. So, unless you’re writing content for a large organization, like Apple or Macy’s, and consumers are likely searching specifically for your product, you don’t want to enter into a sea of competitors with big brands that have even bigger pockets.

Long-tail keywords, on the other hand, may not be as frequently typed into a search engine—think, “Egg” vs. “Poached Egg with Avocado and Bechemel”. By including more long-tail keywords into the content on your page, you’ll attract a larger number of customers who are likely to search for any combination of those long-tail keywords.

Location-based keywords are keywords that directly relate to your business’s physical location. For example, if your business is a bakery in a popular neighborhood in Charlotte, NC, you’ll want to include not only Charlotte, but also the name of that specific neighborhood. By doing so, you’re more likely to target visitors in your area rather than across town who may or may not ever make it to your location.

Avoid Keyword Stuffing

Speaking of misleading customers that may not find value in your business, adding practically any keyword under the sun is referred to as keyword stuffing and is largely considered a taboo in the digital marketing world. Like with any other digital marketing rule of thumb, less is more and quality will always conquer quantity. Ideally, a website’s content should include keywords in a natural way. However, by inputting keywords into a few sentences and repeating them over and over, you’re stuffing your content with keywords. Even if they’re good keywords, it’s still too much.
Now that you’ve read through these tips, you’re ready to become an SEO expert too!

Listings are an online summary of essential information for your business that serve as a powerful tool to help customers find you online and in real life. Here’s what you need to know:

NAP+W

No, we didn’t fall asleep on the keyboard. NAP+W is the acronym that explains all the information that should be included in business listings.

Name
Address
Phone number
+
Website

These four pieces of information are the business listings starter-pack. They provide the basic information potential customers need to have in order to research, contact and locate your business.

Want to score some major bonus points? Include information like hours of operation in business listings—it’s what consumers are most interested in!

Will my listings work?

The effectiveness of a business listing depends on the information’s presence and accuracy. Listings are available through a variety of sources, including search engines, online directories and maps, or social sites. When it comes to listings presence, more is definitely better. Availability on as many sources as possible will create multiple avenues for consumers to find your business. But (and this is a big but), presence only pays off if the listings are accurate. Listings are accurate if the information is correct and consistent across all potential sources. Seems easy enough, right?

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Why are listings important?

Listings with good presence and accuracy will undoubtedly pay off for your business. Here’s how:

No more hide and seek

Just as the brightly lit bat signal guides everyone’s favorite caped crusader (that’s right Batman, we said it!), accurate and readily available listings will help guide consumers right to your business’s door steps.

They even have similar shapes. Coincidence? We think not…

If a business’s listing is incorrect or missing, the majority of consumers will feel less confident about the brand, likely leading them to choose a competitor’s product or service. The availability of accurate listings ensures customers are actually able to find brick and mortar locations while they’re open for business. This means money in the business owner’s pocket and, just as importantly, it means the business can be reviewed.

“In my humble opinion…”

An ample review pipeline is an essential tool for developing a business’ online reputation and fostering brand loyalty. Reviews allow customers to communicate their experience with a business to potential buyers, but if consumers can’t find a business listed online, their opinion of it won’t be well-informed. Accurate listings create the opportunity for transparency between businesses and consumers in the form of reviews, and the availability of this information will help increase a business’s visibility.

All aboard the search engine

Consistent, accurate listings and the generation of reviews will directly benefit a business’s visibility by boosting its ranking in local search engine results. Search engine optimization is a complex tool, so why not take advantage of it by simply ensuring your business is listed accurately! Increased visibility means more customers, and what business owner doesn’t want that?

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Now what?

This listings low-down provides a basic definition and describes the benefits of business listings. Create listings on sites worth lots of points to improve your listings score. We’ve ranked them by importance using a lot of key factors—how many sites reference them, traffic, demographics and more.

As a business, how likely is it that potential customers will come through your door?
The whole point of an online presence is to entice customers into your store, your leasing office or your showroom so you can convert them to paying customers rather than just browsers online.

Further, nothing is more frustrating as a customer than finding out that you have been given the wrong information about where a business is located. As a customer, how likely are you to give this company your business? Not very. In fact, according to Placeable, 73% of consumers stated that they lose trust in a brand when the online listing shows incorrect information.

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Missing hours of operation information can be a dealbreaker

There are many things that people look for in listings, whether they are looking at that search engine on a PC or on a mobile device. The top piece of information that most people look for is the hours of operation, since their search is likely for a business that they frequent quite often.

In fact, in a study conducted by local data aggregator Localeze, hours of operation were noted as the most helpful feature in selecting a business during local search. 76% of respondent reporting that they expect this information when searching and 61% believe that it is a feature that helps them to select a business.

Even if people are new to a business, it doesn’t give people a good impression if the business hours are not listed and they don’t know that it’s only open from 11 a.m-6p.m. Tuesday-Saturday .Imagine that potential customer who is ready to spend their money in store, but shows up on Monday at 7 p.m. only to find it closed. That customer is likely going to do another search on a mobile phone to find a different store and spend their money there.

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You can’t spell NAP data (and score a citation) without an A(ddress)

While most people would assume that the number one reason people do a search online is for the address or location of a business, the address is actually behind hours of operation as the second most desired information. But, of course, the whole point of being in business is to make money doing what you love or selling what you love. And that happens by attracting foot traffic and increasing customer base.

It bears repeating that if a business address is incorrect on listing sites such as Google or Bing, then customers will not be crossing the threshold. A simple thing such as the wrong number on a street address, or even the wrong town, can mean that a customer cannot find you. The US Postal Service relies on a complex system of checks to verify and standardize addresses, and many of the search engines will default to the USPS for correct mailing addresses.

What this means for the average new business owner is that unless a business is in an established location, getting the correct address on their listing means that both the address from City Hall and the information on USPS must be consistent. If USPS doesn’t recognize that address, then a business owner must contact them to verify their new address and get that information updated on USPS’s online database.

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Local searchers are mobile creatures

According to Localeze, mobile-phone-based searches drive in-store purchases with more than 75% of searches ending in a purchase—if a business has their listing details correct. Now if half of the people searching for a business listing on a local search engine, such as Google Local/Maps, can’t find the store’s business listing details, then the business is going to lose 100% of their business.

For ease of use for potential customers, some of those details need to be as readily available as possible in a mobile-friendly manner. This can be accomplished with a responsive website that supports cellphone and tablet-specific versions.

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Updated, accurate websites still serve as a first impression

At the same time, more than 60% of searches on PC platforms such as website portals, Internet Yellow Page directories and local sites have a similar chance of ending in a purchase. While mobile searches are becoming more of a standard in where a customer searches, a business owner should not discount the power of a fulsome, consistent and accurate listing that is reflective of the business website.

Any listing should be linked to the business’s website and feature the exact same information, but more of it. While a website should be enough to entice a customer to visit or buy, if those inconsistencies exist, then trust issues may arise in a business’s practices before a customer ever crosses their threshold.

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Local searchers mix it up across multiple devices, situations and times

People who search for listings are doing it in many more ways than when the Internet first coalesced into existence about two decades ago. In that time, we went from working on desktops to laptops to PDAs to Blackberries to Apples to tablets—and in each iteration, the methods of search have changed.

However, that has slowed over the last five years or so as web developers realize that they need to be smarter. Rather than designing three different sites for three different platforms, they have created websites that are scalable to the search device. And that has been helped along by the proliferation of types of devices in use everyday.

According to Pew Research Center, In 2019, smartphone ownership in America was at 81%, with tablet and computer ownership at 73%. Statista says that almost half of American adults use their smartphones the most to search for local information online, the other half being split between computers (40%) and tablets (11%). According to Localeze, like the types of devices used, what we are searching for varies by the time of day and device. Entertainment is searched for during work hours on computers, restaurants during evening using phones and health/fitness evening using tablets.

The most important part of those mobile searches is accuracy. If someone cannot find your business in a local search or find inaccurate results whilst out and about, then your business has lost the chance for that browser to become a customer. So having those listings correct in all of the device formats is a must as we, and our technology, continue to evolve in the way we interact with local businesses.

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Local search results are trusted sources of information

Last but certainly not least is the fact that local search results are considered the most trustworthy. In a study by Neustar, it was determined that these searches, such as “used games Raleigh”, are what people do the most since they put that trust in local business more than big box, big website stores.

Think about it, would you rather find a local store where you can get that latest purse in town right now? Or you can wait a week for delivery, which is four days past the event that you want it for! Local searches lend themselves to instant gratification and that interaction between browser and salesperson will convert that browser from someone who might get just the minimum to a loyal customer who feels like a million having spent a little more, but getting what they consider to be gold!

Those interactions are what lead people to local searches and the absolute necessity of getting your listings correct. Trust leads to loyalty, which leads to more business, which leads to happy customers and business owners.

And it all starts with that correct listing in that customer’s local search.

Intro to Social Media Monitoring

Have you ever been at a party and caught a person or a group glancing at you while whispering covertly?

What’s up with that? Is your fly open? Does someone have a crush on you? Does someone want to throw a drink in your face?

You’d want to know, wouldn’t you?

The online universe is a lot like that party; It’s a system of digital communities in which people are gathering and discussing a wide variety of topics, including YOU. In your personal life, you may or may not care to find out what they’re saying, but in business, it’s essential to your survival that you know.

At the party, you may never get the answers you seek without shaking someone down. However, online, you can use social media monitoring to track mentions of your brand, competitors, product and any other keywords that are applicable to your business.

Monitoring your social media channels is about more than just listening.

The information you accumulate can help you make major decisions about your marketing strategy, the products and services you offer and how people regard your brand. Plus, it can help you identify leads, build relationships, stay on top of trends, learn about your competitors, protect your brand and more!

Note: This post is outlining organic social media monitoring tips, as opposed to paid social campaigns. Organic social media is more geared toward building brand awareness and connecting with your target audience. Paid social is typically centered around driving targeted actions like content downloads, webinar or appointment signups, and other specific goals.

Here’s more on why it’s so important that you monitor what people are saying about your business online.

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Why Should You Use Social Media Monitoring?

1. To gauge social sentiment
What do you know about your brand’s reputation? You can get a feel by reading your reviews and speaking with customers, but you’d be missing a wealth of more informal brand or product mentions.

Plus, you need to be there to respond! In a recent survey, Sprout Social found that 89% of social messages go ignored. That’s a problem—and an even bigger missed opportunity.

People use social media to discuss the topics they care about within the communities they choose. That’s where you need to listen to truly discover how people regard your business, the issues they’re having, and the things they love.

2. To find leads & build relationships
Are people searching for your products and services? You’ve seen those calls on Facebook for recommendations, or the plaintive cries for help on Twitter: “I want pizza!” When you monitor your brand’s keywords or phrases, you can jump in and answer these requests (Just mention your current Monday 2 for 1 pizza deal!). NOT selling anything can be really effective too. Be a part of the conversations that are happening online about your industry.

3. To stay on top of trends
When you’re closely monitoring discussions in your niche, you may be able to catch new and evolving trends as they emerge. For example, when Instagram launched its “Stories” product, Snapchat growth took a major hit (growth slowed by 82%). In response to news like this, you may decide to alter your marketing strategy to be one of the first to dive into a new social channel or try a new tactic.

The importance of responding to customers online could not be more prevalent as reviews continue to grow more than ever before. Aside from the fact that reviews from customers help others decide whether they should visit a business or not, reviews are now more prevalent on search results pages—meaning a lot of eyes can see what is being said about your company online.

The influence that reviews have on shoppers is staggering: more than 88% of online shoppers incorporate reviews into their purchase decisions (Webrepublic, 2015). Businesses are told to get more reviews on review websites to keep attracting new customers. With so many review websites out there, where does a business even begin? Your business may be afraid to manage customer reviews on review sites as you may not want to end up in one of these situations:

• receive zero reviews
• receive zero recent online reviews
• receive negative online reviews
• or, your business simply has unmanaged online reviews across multiple review websites

Unfortunately, your business is missing out. This lack of free online word of mouth is actually hurting your business through inaction, because reputation drives conversion.

1) Business reviews and social posts help shape your company’s online reputation
In fact, one of the worst things your business can do is ignore your online reviews and social posts. As easy as it is to make a mistake when handling your business’s online reputation, it can also be easy to recover if done properly (and with apology). While damage will inevitably happen, your business can take steps to mitigate the degree of damage that can occur. The biggest mistake of all your company can make is not participating in helping to shape the conversation about your company online.

2) Business reviews provide valuable feedback for your business
While it can be easy for your business to take negative comments to heart, it is important to recognize that reviews are constructive feedback. All in all, reviews are valuable feedback! They help your company gauge their performance and see how you can improve. There is always room for improvement and a lot can be learned even from positive business reviews. Through reviews, your business can see which products or services you should be boasting, which needs work, and even discover which employees rock at customer service.

3) Your business reviews can now appear in search results
Search engines have caught on to the popularity of reviews and are now displaying them more prominently. So, if someone searches for your business, there is a chance that reviews from review websites could be displayed on the search engine results pages. In Google’s markup—the annotated content that appears in search—of a company or product, business reviews and ratings can now be included in search results. In other words, when a user performs a search on Google, Google will find and possibly display review summaries from online business reviews and consumer ratings. Below is an example of how business reviews now showing up in search results.

How can businesses get more reviews?

There are a variety of methods your business can employ to ask for more business reviews, including emailing consumers manually, using surveys, asking consumers to leave reviews with codes and review sites on their receipts, or utilizing review generation software to automate the business review process.

Three important review website management tips:

1) Remember to add or claim listings on the top review sites
It’s a good idea to add or claim a listing or business profile on the most popular review sites (unless your business doesn’t fit with the niche), correct your business’s listing information and start getting more business reviews!

2) Your business should keep asking customers for reviews
Asking the average customer for a review can be hard work. Granted, it is often easiest to get reviews from consumers that are either really happy or really unhappy with the level of service they were provided. Your business should always remember to ask as customers are busy creatures and will not remember unless they are asked or reminded to leave feedback.

3) Customers are more open to leaving reviews on review sites
Why not just ask for business reviews or testimonials on your business’s website? Well, asking consumers to leave a review on your business’s website seems a lot more screened and inauthentic than simply asking consumers to leave reviews on a trusted review site. Since the review site is a third party, it feels more open for customers to leave an honest, unbiased review.

Business reviews are here to stay

In conclusion, there’s no getting away from business reviews. The good news is that there are methods to get more business reviews as well as effectively managing reviews from customers. Also, businesses needn’t fear negative online reviews, as there are ways to negate the effect of negative reviews.

Believe it or not, the same premise applies to negative review response as it does to positive reviews. How you respond to a negative review impacts not only the reviewer, but all the sets of eyes that come afterward. Seeing a business handle a particularly challenging review online suggests that management is proud of their business, and willing to go the extra mile to maintain their reputation!

Make potential clients see the light with these four steps: apologize, promote, get offline, keep it simple.

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How to respond to negative reviews

Apologize and sympathize
The first step towards fixing a problem is acknowledging that one occurred. Regardless of what happened, a simple apology and sympathy for your customer’s experience goes a long way.

Promote
So the famous crab cakes weren’t up to par the day this particular customer visited. If they’re what you are known for, why not reiterate that? “Our crab cakes are usually a hit, we’re sorry to hear that they weren’t up to par when you visited!”

Move the conversation offline
Don’t open a can of worms. Keep the lid on tight by offering the reviewer the chance to reach out via phone, email or both.

Keep it simple
Avoid specifics and don’t ask questions. Those conversations are much better served in a space away from the prying public.

One last pro tip: leave your business name, location and category out of this. You don’t want your negative reviews showing up in search!

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