How to use Google Plus to showcase customer testimonials and reviews

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When Google+ was active, it offered an effective platform to showcase customer testimonials and reviews, much like how current social media platforms do today. Although Google+ is no longer available, many of the strategies used for customer testimonials and reviews on that platform can be adapted for modern-day networks such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Google My Business (GMB). Let’s explore how you could have leveraged Google+ for this purpose, as well as how these tactics translate to today’s platforms.

1. Post Customer Testimonials as Visual Content

On Google+, you could share posts in various formats, including text, images, and links. One of the best ways to display customer testimonials was by creating visually appealing posts that highlight customer reviews. This strategy is even more effective now on visual-heavy platforms like Instagram or Facebook.

How to Do This:

  • Create Eye-Catching Visuals: Turn customer testimonials into visually attractive posts. Use tools like Canva to design images that incorporate the review text, along with a photo of the customer (if applicable) and a branded background.
  • Share Testimonial Posts Regularly: Just like you would have done on Google+, you can create a series of testimonial posts and share them consistently on platforms such as Instagram or Facebook. Aim to share at least one testimonial per week to keep your followers engaged.

Example Approach:

  • Instagram/Facebook Post: A photo of a smiling customer holding your product, with a quote from their review written in a stylish font overlay. Accompany the visual with a caption that elaborates on their positive experience.

Tips for Success:

  • Use Customer Photos or Videos: Testimonials that feature a customer’s photo or video are more relatable and trustworthy. Ensure you have permission from customers to use their images.
  • Add Quotes in Captions: Include the full testimonial in the post’s caption to ensure it’s readable even if the image doesn’t show the entire review.

2. Share Video Testimonials

In the era of Google+, video was growing in popularity, and video testimonials were a powerful way to showcase satisfied customers. Today, platforms like Instagram Stories, TikTok, and YouTube make video even more impactful for building trust and credibility.

How to Do This:

  • Ask Customers for Video Reviews: Request customers to record short, authentic videos where they talk about their experience with your brand. You can share these videos on your social media pages or website.
  • Feature Customer Success Stories: Create professional customer success story videos that go deeper into how your product or service solved a problem. Share these longer testimonials on YouTube, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

Example Approach:

  • Instagram Story/IGTV: A short video of a customer enthusiastically describing their experience with your product, followed by clips showcasing how the product works or the outcome they achieved.

Tips for Success:

  • Keep Videos Short: For most social media platforms, keep videos under 2 minutes for optimal engagement. Instagram Reels or TikTok videos should be even shorter (30–60 seconds).
  • Include Captions: Add text captions to your videos to make them accessible to viewers who prefer to watch without sound.

3. Leverage Google+ Collections (or Modern Equivalents)

Google+ had a feature called “Collections,” where you could group content into specific categories, making it easy for your audience to find related posts, such as customer reviews and testimonials. Modern equivalents include Pinterest boards, Instagram Highlights, or Facebook albums.

How to Do This:

  • Create Dedicated Sections for Testimonials: If you’re using Instagram, use the Highlights feature to store and showcase customer testimonials in one place. For Facebook, create a specific album or section for customer reviews. On Pinterest, dedicate a board to customer success stories.

Example Approach:

  • Instagram Highlights: Create a Highlight labeled “Testimonials” where you compile stories or posts that feature customer reviews.
  • Pinterest Board: Use Pinterest to pin all testimonials and customer feedback in a dedicated board. Each pin can include an image and a quote from the customer’s review.

Tips for Success:

  • Keep Content Organized: Make it easy for your followers to find customer reviews by keeping all testimonials in one easily accessible place.
  • Refresh Testimonials Frequently: Update these sections regularly with new testimonials so they always appear relevant and fresh.

4. Incorporate Customer Testimonials in Blog Posts

While Google+ allowed for long-form content sharing, this same idea works well on blog posts, especially when combined with social media promotion. Today, you can share blog posts that feature customer success stories, case studies, and testimonials, then promote these posts on your social media platforms.

How to Do This:

  • Write Blog Posts Highlighting Customer Experiences: Craft blog posts that tell the stories of your customers and how your product or service made a positive impact on them. These could be in-depth case studies or simple testimonial compilations.
  • Share the Blog Post on Social Media: Promote these blog posts on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter with a short snippet or quote from the testimonial and a link to the full post.

Example Approach:

  • LinkedIn Post: Share a snippet from a blog post featuring a customer success story, such as a B2B client who improved their sales with your software. Include a call-to-action like, “Read the full case study on how we helped [Client Name] increase sales by 30%.”

Tips for Success:

  • Use Quotes as Teasers: Take a key quote from the testimonial to create intrigue and drive users to click on the full story.
  • Include a Strong Call-to-Action: Encourage readers to learn more about how they can achieve similar results by contacting you or trying your product.

5. Engage with Customers Through Comments and Reviews

Google+ enabled direct engagement with customers who left reviews or comments on posts. Engaging with customers who leave testimonials or reviews on modern platforms like Google My Business (GMB), Facebook, or even Instagram comments can be crucial for reputation management.

How to Do This:

  • Respond to Reviews and Testimonials: Acknowledge and thank customers who leave positive reviews. For platforms like GMB, reply to every review with a personalized response that shows appreciation.
  • Encourage Further Engagement: After a customer leaves a positive review, encourage them to share their experience on social media. You can even incentivize this by offering discounts or other rewards.

Example Approach:

  • Google My Business (GMB): When a customer leaves a positive review on your GMB profile, respond by thanking them and inviting them to share their experience on their own social media profiles for a chance to win a small prize.

Tips for Success:

  • Personalize Responses: Avoid generic responses and take the time to personalize your replies. Mention specific points from their review to show that you value their feedback.
  • Turn Negative Reviews into Positive Outcomes: If you receive a negative review, address the issue respectfully and offer a solution. This can turn a negative experience into a positive one and show other potential customers that you care.

6. Use Google+ Hangouts (or Modern Alternatives) to Host Customer Interviews

Google+ Hangouts allowed for real-time video conversations, which was a great way to connect with customers for live testimonials or reviews. Platforms like Facebook Live, Instagram Live, or Zoom are modern alternatives that can be used for similar purposes.

How to Do This:

  • Host Live Customer Interviews: Invite satisfied customers to join a live broadcast where they can share their experience with your brand. These live interviews offer authenticity and give potential customers a chance to hear real feedback directly from others.
  • Use Live Q&A Sessions: Combine customer testimonials with a Q&A session. Invite your followers to ask questions about your products, while featuring a customer who can answer from personal experience.

Example Approach:

  • Facebook Live: Host a live session where one of your top customers explains how your product helped them achieve their goals, followed by a Q&A segment with the audience.

Tips for Success:

  • Promote the Live Event: Build up excitement by promoting the live event ahead of time. Let your followers know they’ll have a chance to hear real customer experiences and ask questions.
  • Repurpose Live Content: After the live event, repurpose the content by sharing highlights, quotes, or video clips on your other social media platforms.

7. Use Google+ Reviews (or Google My Business) for Local SEO Benefits

Google+ allowed businesses to collect reviews that were visible across other Google services, including Maps. Today, Google My Business (GMB) provides similar functionality, allowing you to showcase reviews that boost your local SEO efforts.

How to Do This:

  • Encourage GMB Reviews: Ask satisfied customers to leave a review on your GMB profile. Positive reviews improve your local search ranking and increase trust for potential customers.
  • Promote Reviews on Social Media: Take reviews from GMB and share them on your social media pages. For example, you can create a post that highlights a five-star review and thanks the customer for their feedback.

Example Approach:

  • GMB Review Post on Facebook: Share a screenshot of a glowing review left on your GMB profile, along with a caption that thanks the reviewer and encourages others to leave their own reviews.

Tips for Success:

  • Automate Review Requests: Use tools that automatically send follow-up emails to customers, asking them to leave a review on GMB. This streamlines the process and increases the number of reviews you receive.
  • Reward Reviewers: Offer a small incentive, such as a discount or freebie, to customers who leave a review.

Conclusion

While Google+ is no longer around, the strategies for showcasing customer testimonials and reviews remain relevant across today’s social media platforms. By leveraging modern equivalents like Google My Business, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, you can effectively showcase positive customer feedback and build trust with your audience. The key is to keep testimonials authentic, engaging, and highly visible across multiple channels.

Categories: Digital Marketing