Why Rate Google
We are Why Rate Google. We aspire to provide an open-source platform in which business owners just like you can discuss their experiences with Google My Business. Born out of a concept that was initially known as Google+ Local, which was designed to let users add reviews to Google Map listings, Google My Business has become a juggernaut in its own right.
How big is Google My Business? In 2015-2016 alone, the service saw a 278% jump in review volume from the previous twelve-month period. By comparison, Trip Advisor saw an increase of just 82% in that same range of time. Websites like Yelp should be kept in mind, but there is no question that Google My Business dominates this particular area. Strong, varied reviews on Google can prove invaluable in making it possible for a business to dominate Google search results. It isn’t the only factor to weigh in the world of SEO (Search Engine Optimization), but it is a very important one.
Unfortunately, Google My Business is not without issues. This fact is what we want to address through our website.
Google My Business Isn’t Perfect
While Google My Business can be useful and beneficial to both customers and businesses, the system itself is not without certain issues. While is a free and effective means of driving large-scale traffic, it can also cause considerable harm to a business.
For example, the monopoly Google My Business currently enjoys is problematic at best. While it is free for business owners to read and manage these reviews, disputing a bad review, as many will tell you, can be difficult. The effort can be time-consuming and frustrating in equal measures. Furthermore, Google My Business also suffers from simply being the biggest show in town. If you can’t make any headway with getting meaningful reviews on Google, your business will struggle to make a dent in search results.
Obviously, Google search results are essentially the end-all/be-all of business visibility these days. It remains the most dominant search engine on the planet. This certainly holds true for people who use Google to find and consider local businesses and companies in their area. You have to take Google seriously, which means having to take Google My Business seriously, as well. Given that Google My Business isn’t particularly helpful in addressing issues and concerns with business owners, it is not unreasonable to become overwhelmed by what you need from the service.
That specific point is what we hope to address with Why Rate Google. We are creating a network of reviews and discussions that can help you to better understand how to make the most of Google My Business.
