Move to the Top: How Movers Can Turn Google Reviews into #1 Rankings

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As a moving company, you know the value of word-of-mouth referrals. Without them, you will struggle to grow your local moving business. You need local customers who are telling their friends and family about the great job you did when they also need a mover.

So, how can you get that type of lead when someone needs moving services in your area? The answer is through online reviews. Online reviews for movers are one of the most powerful marketing tools you have at your disposal because they serve as that word-of-mouth referral without the new client and past client actually knowing each other.

However, if you’re not leveraging these well, you’re going to struggle to bring in new leads using your reviews. So, how can movers improve Google rankings using reviews? Here are some strategies that will help.

Create a Place for Reviews

First, people need a place to leave their reviews, and the one you want is your Google Business Profile. If you haven’t already set up and verified your Google Business Profile, this is your starting point. Google reviews for movers are some of the most effective, but you can’t get them if you don’t have a page.

Once your profile is up, make sure it’s accurate with your name, address, and phone number exactly as they are listed on your website. List all of your service areas as well, especially if you have a large metro area you serve. Then, add pictures to show the viability and validity of your business.

You can also set up reviews on business directories and moving company directories, but start with Google. Your Google Business Profile has the most direct impact on your local SEO rankings, making it the prominent place to focus on gathering reviews.

Publish Your Link

On your Google Business Profile, you’ll have a direct link that goes to the form for customers to leave a review. Find this link, and publish it on your website and social media pages. Add it to email communication, invoices, and text-based communication. The more often you send out the link, the greater the likelihood that you will get a review.

Another way to utilize that link is to turn it into a QR code. Add the code to business cards, surveys, and websites. Again, the more eyes you get on it, the better the chances that you will get reviews from that link.

Ask for Reviews

When people are moving, they’re busy. Helping your company with your marketing goals isn’t their top priority. Yet satisfied customers are often more than happy to leave online reviews for movers who did a great job, especially if you took good care of their belongings during a move. Get in the habit of asking.

One of the best times to ask is at the end of the move when you’re going over the final details before the team leaves. Having a card you can hand the customer or asking them for permission to text a link to the review page, and specifically asking for a review, is a great way to get some new ones. Not every customer will take the time, but some will, and the more positive reviews you get, the better your ranking will be.

You can also ask in post-move survey emails or texts, on your social media pages in a general post, or over the phone when talking to customers. Time the request so that it comes fairly quickly after the move, so they can still remember how thankful they were for your help.

Think outside the box with your reviews, too. While your customers are the best people to ask for reviews, you can also ask other companies. Do you partner with a particular realtor to promote each other’s services? Do you interact with agents when helping someone move into a home they just bought? If so, then ask that real estate professional to leave a review for you, and offer to do the same for them.

When requesting reviews, make sure you tell the customer how quick and easy it is. These words will prevent concerns due to time investment, making it more likely that they’ll click the link and leave the review.

Handle Reviews Right

Getting reviews is the first step, but you’ll need to know what to do with them when they come. Here are some strategies for local movers to use to respond to reviews:

• Five-star reviews: If someone gives you a five-star review and glowing remarks, don’t ignore it. Thank them for taking the time to review you, and add in something personal if you can remember the customer’s move.
• Three and four-star reviews: While three and four-star reviews aren’t the perfect review, they aren’t necessarily negative. Some people view five stars as “exceptional” and four as “satisfactory.” Read the review, and respond to it accordingly, thanking the customer for taking the time and addressing anything negative shared.
• One- and two-star reviews: These are your negative reviews. Don’t get too frustrated if you receive one. These still give you a chance to show your professionalism. Respond with gratitude for the time it took to leave the review, then apologize for any issues that arose during the move. If possible, frame the apology with an explanation so you can show that you’re a professional company without admitting serious fault in the incident.
• Unfounded reviews: Sometimes, bots or competitors will leave low reviews with no comment or a generic comment, like ‘terrible service.” A little digging will show that these reviewers weren’t customers at all. If you have this scenario, report the review to Google. They’ll remove it if it’s unfounded. While you’re waiting, leave a response that indicates the reviewer was never a client, but still remain professional and upbeat.

When responding to reviews, keep these tips in mind:

• Be specific – The response should not be a generic, cookie-cutter response. Reply to the person and reference the job.
• Be timely – The sooner you respond, the more responsive you look, which helps your online reputation and your local SEO ranking.
• Be grateful – Always say “thank you” to someone who takes the time to leave you a review.

Every time you respond to a review, whether it’s positive or negative, you’re showing Google and future potential clients the validity of your business. If you keep these responses professional and courteous, they will go far to brand you as a local expert in the moving industry.

Showcase Positive Reviews

Your goal, however, is to get positive reviews. These provide an opportunity to leverage reviews to increase visibility for moving companies. You can showcase your high star rating on your website or social media pages. You can quote happy customers on your pages as well.

Consider adding a plugin that shows scrolling reviews on the home page of your website, provided you have several positive ones. This increases your authority and validity when people land on your page. It also adds additional content for your local SEO purposes.

Use Reviews to Find Content

One way local moving companies can leverage reviews without using the actual words in the review is to use them for research. Local SEO for moving companies involves keyword research, and those reviews can show you the terms people use when they need the services you offer. Comb through them, and keep a running list of potential keywords you could target.

In addition to finding content, reading reviews can tell you what people want more information about. If you’re finding that your customers have similar concerns, like how to handle heavy furniture and pianos, through reviews, you can add that to your blog or FAQ pages. You can also use that data to create social media posts. All of this content gives you another place to add keywords and improve your local ranking, while also meeting the needs your moving customers have for informative content.

Manage Reviews Conveniently with Surefire Local

Online reviews for moving companies are a valuable marketing tool, but it takes time and effort to request, read, respond to, and utilize these reviews. Surefire Local provides an effective platform to do all of this in one place. With Surefire Local, you can connect your Google reviews for movers to your other marketing activities, and then manage them all in the same back office. Quickly respond to reviews, schedule SMS texts to request reviews, post to social media, and create and publish content, all from the same platform, with Surefire Local.

Leveraging Google reviews to improve your ranking requires knowledge, but it also requires the right platform. Attend a demo of Surefire Local to see how our platform can help.