Replying to Google reviews builds trust and keeps your profile looking professional
Racking up plenty of positive reviews on Google Business Profile is beneficial for obvious reasons: users trust the opinions of their peers and will likely choose well-reviewed businesses over those with a lower star rating. But do you need to respond to Google reviews every time you receive one?
Absolutely! When you reply to Google review—both positive and negative—you’re showing users you take customer feedback seriously and value their opinion.
In fact, Google says that responding to reviews “can help build customer trust“, so the search engine likely favors businesses that reply to reviews.
Semrush Local's Review Management tool makes it easier to track all your online feedback so you can respond to Google reviews quickly and efficiently.
This Semrush interface makes it easy to learn how to respond to Google reviews
Knowing how to reply to Google reviews the right way can really set you apart from competitors’ Google Business Profiles.
In short, it‘s really just a case of being polite, making sure the user feels heard and showing that you appreciate them taking the time to write a review.
The best Google review responses can be as simple as: “Thanks for the review, Katie! We’re so glad you’re happy with the service! Hope to see you again next weekend!”
However, there are a few things you’ll want to bear in mind when you respond to a Google review:
Semrush Local's Review Management tool is the simple way to reply to Google reviews, leaving you the time to give your customers the response they deserve.
According to World First, 83% of users look at reviews before buying a product, while 50% check customer opinions to determine if a company can be trusted.
So, you got a one-star review…
There’s no need to tear your hair out in despair; most businesses get a bad review once in a while - and you simply can’t please everyone.
Negative reviews displayed in Semrush Local's Listing Management tool
So before you take to the keyboard in anger, let’s take a look at how to respond to a bad Google review the correct way:
Unfortunately, you might receive a review that’s not genuine, perhaps submitted by a spammer or a rival company attempting to damage your reputation.
If you suspect a review isn’t from a genuine customer or the content of the review is offensive, you’re within your rights to report it.
Consult Google’s prohibited and restricted content guidelines to determine if the review you received can be removed.
Feel like the review needs to go? Here’s what to do when you get a fake Google review: