At the age of 15, Ozzy Osbourne was set to start his first job, not as a musician, singer or even producer, but as something wildly different: a plumber. Luckily, for metalheads, Osbourne quit his teenage job and became of the greatest hardcore musicians and, even luckier for people with clogged water systems, better plumbers were hired.
Believe it or not, if the musician had kept his previous job, his client’s opinions would have weighed on his reputation and worse, the plumber's company reputation.
On many occasions, a business's reputation is not given by awards or prizes, on the contrary, it is conferred by customers' opinions on how well people do their job. During the ’60s, when Ozzy was a teenager, that reputation was mostly given by word of mouth, or in other words, how well neighbours spoke of the young plumber. Nowadays that credibility is given by the internet and not just a few comments, but hundreds.
Google Reviews are online’s ‘word of mouth and their repercussions could cost a business a good or bad reputation. About 54,7% of online users turn to Google to consult on a service they desire to hire and 79% of users trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
How could this apply to plumbers and the plumbing industry?
Well, imagine a neighbour has a problem with a blocked drain in their kitchen, which is causing a terrible smell around its house. Worried about the odour dilemma, this person turns to a nearby resident who recommends a household solution to his trouble. But, the tip falls short on efficiency and the homeowner resorts to the internet to look for a professional.
The neighbour looks up ‘plumbers near me’ on Google and many results are shown, however, he decides to go for the first option ‘Larry’s Pipes’, because the business had a ranking of four stars out of five and some positive comments. Previous customers' opinions made the concerned neighbour choose a certain business, that’s basically how Google Reviews work.
But how can Plumbing businesses ask for more Google Reviews? Here is a quick guide:
1. Attach your Google Business Profile to Google Maps
Google Maps is a web mapping platform that offers satellite imagery, street maps, real-time traffic conditions and even route planning for travellers or bystanders. But, when it comes to guiding people to get to places, a determining factor is customer reviews. However, to locate a business on Google Maps, there needs to be a Google Business Profile linked to it.
A Google Business Profile is basically a crash course in online marketing where potential clients get accurate information about an enterprise of their interest, depending on their inquiry. Since it is a personalised tool, owners will manage their profile through the Search Engine and Maps, allowing them to add customised data such as pictures of the venue and schedule updates.
But, the profile will most importantly let them communicate with online users, especially over the ‘question and answer feature or the review section. Let us further explain:
Great reviews are a necessity for businesses offering services, especially as essential as plumbing.
Just like qualifying is the way to know which driver is starting first in a Formula 1 race, Google Reviews are the way to know which business is ranked first on a search in Google.
2. Include a Review Link on your website or virtual receipts!
Clients evaluate every aspect of your business, both positive and negative. Therefore a great way to ask for Google Reviews is to make it easier for your customers to write a simple yet positive review.
An easy way for customers to find where to leave a review is through a link or a QR code included on your website or through added to the virtual receipts, an email or social media.
You can also send customers a text with a link to leave you a review as this method has proven to be one of the most effective ways of getting reviews for plumbers.
A great way to track customers and upgrade your SEO marketing game is to include a template that grants clients the opportunity to fill a ‘keyword’ filled comment about their experience with your enterprise.
Sites like EmbedSocial allow corporations to make plug-ins that aggregate your Google reviews onto your website automatically. The simpler the template is, the more chances your business has of getting a review!
You can also include a QR code and leave it at the end of your visit.
3. Quick reminders after delivering your service!
Most customers are always in a rush, so you clearly don't want to bother your client. But taking into account that reviews are such an important part of growing your business, you might consider asking for a review personally.
After finishing the job, you could suggest your plumbers ask their customers for a quick review. For example, asking simple questions such as:
On a scale from 1 to 10, how helpful did you find our service?
What aspects would you change about our service?
How did our employees treat you?
Feedback is always useful as a way to improve your services and gain more clients.
One last tip: Always remind your clients that they don’t need to create a Google account just to leave a review, and once you educate them on this, you have the potential for a huge increase in reviews and better search engine results.
Remember that your goal is to boost your online traffic and make your plumber business accessible to potential clients, whilst building a trustworthy relationship with recurrent customers.
Getting customer reviews is easier said than done, but the reality is that the more positive reviews you have, the higher the chances that customers prefer your business to the competitors, and Google selects your website or listing as trustworthy and high-quality
We regularly get our customers to rank within the top 3 positions in local Google Search results - which is where you want to be! Rank in the top 3 or get your money back! Book a free consultation call to get started.