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How to Write a Review At Google Maps

As Nicki Hicks, over at the Maine SEO blog reports, good reviews may improve your local search visibility. Before we talk about how to get these reviews, let's talk about how to leave them for other businesses.

Start with Google maps and enter in the business name, town, and state. My example is: "market street eats, portland maine".

Gmaps1

Hit "search maps" and you see:

Gmaps2

If the business has a particularly generic name you may have to search through some results. Once you've found the business you want to write a review for you should see a link called "Write a review"; click on it.

Gmaps3

You can give your review a title, choose from 1 – 5 stars, and leave a detailed review. Then click "save." A few seconds or minutes later your review should appear.

Gmaps5

That review is now available to anyone searching for the company in question, and can appear in Google maps as well as Google's local search. (And who knows where else, down the road.)

Whether reviews impact the search engine visibility of your business (seems to me that it's pretty easy to game the system), or if it just encourages some prospects to contact you, positive reviews are a good thing. Here are some suggestions on how to get your customers and clients to write them for you:

  1. Do a good job. Seems obvious, doesn't it? But if you're not doing a good job, then there's little chance people will want to go out of their way to write a recommendation or a positive review.
  2. Ask for a recommendation. Talk to your most satisfied customers, engage guests at the front desk, include the suggestion on a takeout bag.
  3. Show people how to leave a recommendation. Either write up your own how-to, or just print this post in part or in whole. Your call.

Also, don't lose sleep about a couple of mediocre or even bad reviews. Recent studies have shown that products and companies with mostly positive reviews do better than ones with only positive reviews. A perfect record can come off as authentic as astroturf.

And, if you're feeling generous (or even if you're not), feel free to review flyte new media. Let us know how we're doing.

Rich Brooks
Market Street Eats Fan

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  • http://www.anuvatech.com Seo company india

    A good post and a manual for writing a review into google maps.

  • http://www.anuvatech.com Seo company india

    A good post and a manual for writing a review into google maps.

  • http://www.piperpartners.com Ann Arbor real estate

    Thanks for the nice and simple how to on writing a review for google. I looked a while before I found your simple explanation.

  • http://www.piperpartners.com Ann Arbor real estate

    Thanks for the nice and simple how to on writing a review for google. I looked a while before I found your simple explanation.

  • Resident at Homewood Gardens

    Here at Homewood Gardens, apartments, you feel like home, the Staff is very professional and they're always there when you need them. Building quiet and clean, it is very relaxing with the enjoyment of the pool B.B.Q area, Elevators ETC: I live here and I don’t want to move out because I feel very happy to be live here.,

  • Resident at Homewood Gardens

    Here at Homewood Gardens, apartments, you feel like home, the Staff is very professional and they're always there when you need them. Building quiet and clean, it is very relaxing with the enjoyment of the pool B.B.Q area, Elevators ETC: I live here and I don’t want to move out because I feel very happy to be live here.,

  • Darling400

    I would like to comment on the poor service from the members of naturacle.com, false advertising, along with information quoted but not disclosed on the web site. “Terms and conditions”…are no where located on the site. I was charged $78.98 for a product I cancelled and the csr stated that it is because I did not cancel the initial order withing 14 days of [original] purchase…not disclosed. I was supposed to pay only the shipping of $1.95. NATURACLE.COM is refusing to credit my card.

  • http://justinbiebershop.blogspot.com Donna

    Thanks for the info. But does google index the review part?

  • http://twitter.com/therichbrooks therichbrooks

    I’m not sure if they index it from an SEO standpoint, but it figures into their algorithm for local search.

  • Nlouj

    Having a bad time with Bray and Scarff’s repair service. Came on a Wednesday about refrigerator not working. Said would order fan to repair, and would come in about a week, then would return to fix. I called them the following Monday (5 days later) to find out if fan was in. Was told not ordered yet, and someone would probably be calling me later that day to get my authorization to order fan! When didn’t call later I called them, authorized fan, and asked if they could rush to make up for delay. Was told for extra $35 they would overnight the part. I asked if they would do without charging me considering their delay in not contacting me right away for authorization. They refused so I have been waiting an extra week for the fan to come in. They were so unapologetic and unhelpful for the delay they caused, and uncaring about my problem, that I will go elsewhere in the future, not only for repairs but for the new dishwasher I need!

  • guest

    Do not shop at the Birks in Scarborough Town Centre. The person I dealt with was very rude and had no respect. I have been a Birks customer for many years and was never treated this way. I will never shop at that location again….I walked in the store with money in my pocket and ready to spend, but all he saw was a young black girl. Mr. Indian man I have payed your wage many times…..

  • Dq

    Mark O. Finney, DDS in New Brighton, MN has a fantastic dental office. They do the unheard of thing-they listen to you and what YOU want. Most dental places have been kind of so, so, but this one has the latest in dental techie stuff, the dentist is so calming and nice and the staff are very kind. try it out.

  • http://twitter.com/therichbrooks therichbrooks

    You realize of course that *this* isn’t Google Maps, right?

  • http://twitter.com/therichbrooks therichbrooks

    You realize of course that *this* isn’t Google Maps, right?

  • Ebo51m

    There is no write a review icon for iPad users.

  • DJL

    Molyneaux carpet, tile and wood representative came to my home and was very professional. It was easy and she had exactly what I needed. I was running late and she was very patient and understanding. I’ve used this company before and had great results. I will use them again.
    Thanks. DJL

  • Allandesertsun

    Desert Sun Landscape is a company that has been around for 14 year and
    provides a great service to southern Utah
    http://www.desertsunlandscape.com 

  • Darrin Shinagawa

    ian omalza is a great trainer and mentor. his classes are always productive and fun. need more trainers like this.

  • Alpha B arry

    never take Ashley furniture warranty when they offer it to you it’s rip off ,they will never honor it.
    I bought a bed for 1,70147 at Ashley furniture store in cumming GA,plus 250 for 5years warranty.I was not going to take it but they told me how much this warranty will protect my bed so I ended up taking it.
    after 2 years the bed broke and had some scratch on it .I called Guardsman,the company who should fix it.
    they told me to fill out the papers work and send it wish I did.they never called me back ,after a month I contacted 
    them they said the will not fix the bed  because I should noticed them 5 days after the bed broke not 10 days
    or more.I went to Ashley they said it’s nothing they can do. THAT IS A BS.I lost my bed and the 250 for the warranty. GO TO ROOM TO GO THEY ARE THE BEST  when it come to furniture.

  • Georgecpa2007

    Don’t deal with:
    US Storage Centers
    12700 Braddock DrLos Angeles, CA 90066
    the manager there his name is JULIO, he doesn’t know how to treat customers well, he is a very racy person. I don’t recommend any body to deal with this abnormal guy.

  • Chadcckk

    Do not shop at Affordable Tires and Wheel in Denton TX.  The cheap prices are just to get you in the door.  Then all Heck breaks loose and the courtesy, well there is none…

  • Justin Garrett

    I think Windham Automotive in GarlandTexas is a Good Buisness friendly and Quality Work.There Honest God loving people if you have problem with your vehicle Mr.Jerry Windham and his crew are your men.

  • Anonymous

    so i bought my first sex toy from this company by the name of pleasure pleaser base out of florida, and it was the best thing that happen to me. shipping was very disgreet so was the billing……thanks pleasure pleaser ur the best.. 

  • michael skeans

    michael skeans

    I think wyndam Automotive company prooves to be reliable. Do quality work and go out of the way to do a good job…

  • Alvarezbrittany56

    VW Autoworks @ 4402 Rex Rd in Friendswood, Tx is great. I have gotten great service on my vehicle as well as the truth. I  would recommend this autoshop to anyone with a VW, BMW, or an Audi. The have great rates! For Info contact Keaton Scarlett 832.444.6889.

  • Shakib

    I like to post my review for BIG YELLOW VAN COMPANY – LONDON  and their staff
    .if you are moving your house and think about hire them I will advice think again before hiring them because just call at this number 02078701041 and speak with any member and if u call second time again to confirm u will find it is so misleading………….. specially the manager is saying i am the owner and i can do what ever I want and he is very rude as well…also I think he is a loser coz from the beginning of the call he is so rude…..my suggestion think twice and compare price before you decide to do booking……   

  • Coastcaroline

    Allan Madan, CA

    Madan Chartered Accountant Professional Corporation, Ontario. I was pleased to receive a prompt and ‘easy to understand’ answer to a question I asked via this company’s web site. I wish their office was closer to where I live so I could use their services regularly. Margaret, BC

     

Related posts:

  1. Major Google Maps Bug
  2. Local Search Tips: Get Good Reviews
  3. Verio Rocks! Now, Where’s My $20?
  4. Did Someone Else Write Your Copy? Check This!
  5. How Long Will It Take To Write Your Web Site Copy?

This entry was posted on Monday, May 11th, 2009 at 9:33 am and is filed under Entrepreneur & Small Business, Search Engine Marketing, Social Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.