By Eva Lacalle
In today’s digital age, online reviews have become an integral part of the decision-making process for travelers. As a hotelier, it’s crucial to understand the impact of guest feedback on your business. This is where Google hotel reviews come into play. In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about Google hotel reviews and provide valuable insights on leveraging them to enhance your hotel’s reputation and attract more guests.
Why Google hotel reviews matter
Travelers rely on Google in their research, planning and booking process. Reviews are one of the first things potential guests see when they search for your hotel online. They can influence a guest’s decision to book a room and affect your hotel’s search engine rankings.
Positive reviews can help your hotel stand out in search results and attract more bookings. Although not ideal, negative reviews can provide valuable feedback that you can use to improve your guests’ experiences. Travelers consult both positive and negative evaluations when booking: having both sides of the story helps have a closer-to-reality perspective.
How to get more Google hotel reviews
Getting more Google hotel reviews is essential for improving your hotel’s online reputation and attracting more bookings. Here are some tips for getting more feedback.
Ask guests to leave a review
One of the easiest ways to get more Google hotel reviews is to ask your guests. Include a note in your guest rooms or at the front desk, or send a follow-up email or text message after the guest checks out.
Make it easy to leave a review
The easier you make it for guests to leave a review, the more likely they will take the time to do it. For example, you can provide a direct link to your hotel’s Google Maps listing in follow-up emails or text messages. You can also use a post-stay survey to ask specific questions, as long as you keep it short.
Provide great service
The most effective way to get more positive Google hotel reviews is to provide great service to your guests. Guests who have a positive and memorable experience at your hotel are more likely to give you higher scores.
Respond to reviews
Responding to positive and negative reviews shows potential guests that you care about their feedback and are genuinely interested in improving the experience. It also allows you to address any issues that may have led to a negative review, increasing the chances of your guests returning.
How to monitor Google hotel reviews
Monitoring your hotel’s Google reviews is essential for staying on top of your online reputation. Here are some tips for monitoring your reviews.
Set up Google Alerts
Google Alerts is a free alert system that allows you to receive email notifications when new reviews or mentions of your hotel appear online. Create a Google Alert by including your hotel name in the search query to make it easier to monitor whenever someone mentions your property in reviews, blogs or videos.
Check your Google Maps listing regularly
Make it a habit to check your hotel’s Google Maps listing regularly to see if there are any new reviews. You can also respond to reviews directly from your listing. Before replying, check Google’s policy to adhere to best practices.
Use a reputation management tool
Use a reputation management tool like TrustYou to monitor your hotel’s online reputation across multiple review sites, including Google, TripAdvisor and Booking.com. They’ll also help to create surveys and provide actionable insights from your reviews.
Conclusion
Google hotel reviews are an essential part of your hotel’s online reputation. They can help you attract more bookings, improve your search engine rankings, and provide valuable feedback for improving your guests’ experiences. By following the tips in this article, you can get more reviews, monitor your online reputation, and stay ahead of the competition.
