Here’s a quick SEO tip.

1.  Type the name of your business into Google, not your url, just the name of your business.  If your site is built correctly, it should come up on one of the first 8 – 10 pages.  Make a notation as to exactly where it comes up.

2.  Now type into Google one of the categories your site was keyed for.  Make a notation as to exactly what spot you show up in there as well.

3.  Have some of your clients do the same thing.  This time, when they see your site show up, have them hit the “Maps” link at the very top of the Google page.  “Maps” is located to the right of “Images”, which is to the right of the very first word on Google’s page, “Web”.
When they hit the “Maps” link at the top, it sends them to a mapped section of your location, as well as a place on the left hand side for someone to “Write a Review”.

Once they see your business on the left side of the map, ask them to click on, “Write a Review”.

Have them write a good, honest, review of your business.  Have them be thorough and give you a star rating, as well as a comment or two.

We are noticing that just 5 – 10 reviews is providing some businesses a nice jump in page ranking.  Restaurants, and service businesses, that collect a large number of reviews are seeing sizable jumps in page ranking.  The size of the jump is in direct proportion to the amount of competition above your site, prior to your clients writing their reviews.

Since the Google Reviews are an “in-house” platform, Google seems to be putting a decent amount of weight towards these.  My guess is so that word-of-mouth will catch on and people will talk and write about the “Google Reviews” as I’m doing here.  We have yet to hear of someone collecting a good amount of reviews and NOT moving up in their respective ranks.

4.  Finally, after you’ve collected 5 or more reviews, check your organic ranking, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve moved up a bit.

-Ken
Growth Consulting for Today