The Power of the Google Review
Most people will have come across a Google review in their lives. They’re written by people to share their experiences with a business and can be used to build credibility. Schools are no exception to this, with reviews often coming up in a prominent location on a search engine results page (SERP) as soon as a school name is searched.
In this blog we’ll tackle how to handle these reviews, and how to make good use of them to share your #SchoolStories.
How do I find Google reviews about my school?
The simplest way to find reviews about your school is to search for your school on Google, and in the featured information box - which pops up on the right side of the screen - locate the “Reviews” section. From here you can read comments and see ratings left by people about your school.
Should I reply to reviews about my school?
Replying to reviews is a good way to show that you are listening to your stakeholders and taking a keen interest in what they are saying about your school. When replying to them:
Address the person by name
Thank them for their review
Answer any questions they have
If relevant, direct them to any resources for additional information and offer them an email address to contact and discuss further any concerns they’ve raised
What should I do with reviews about my school?
People who write good reviews are advocates for you! They’re endorsing what your school does from their own personal experience, and you’ll want to make the most of this.
Common themes coming through in reviews (e.g. five different people complimenting how supportive your staff are) can help you promote the best aspects of your school. You can use these to drive your storytelling and reinforce your ethos. Taking quotes from Google reviews and displaying them on your website or sharing them on your social media is a great way to make use of stand-out comments.
If you’d like to discuss more about your school’s storytelling and social media usage, please call your Client Services manager or email clientservices@interactiveschools.com who will be happy to arrange a meeting with you.
Can I integrate Google reviews on my website?
As the importance of online reviews become more recognised in choosing credible services, it is becoming possible to integrate Google reviews onto your website. Interactive Schools are still looking into the most effective way to offer this option for clients in the future, so watch this space!
Can I delete reviews about my school?
The only reviews that Google will remove are those which violate Google’s policies. Any inappropriate reviews can be reported with the use of the “Report” button so they can be flagged for Google to assess. Any reviews deemed to be a violation of Google’s policies will then be removed, though this process may take several days.
Unfortunately, there may be some reviews you come across that you may disagree with, but will not be removed if reported. Reviews which criticise certain aspects of the school are opportunities to identify areas for improvement, and remember that in years to come they will become less significant owing to the fact that schools change all the time!
Do get in touch with clientservices@interactiveschools.com if you have any further questions about Google reviews, or if you’re looking to put them on your website - we’d love to hear more from people who are interested in this feature.