How to Show Google, Facebook, and Yelp Reviews in WordPress

As a seasoned WordPress expert with over 15 years of experience, I’ve witnessed firsthand how crucial customer reviews are for building trust and driving conversions. Many businesses rely on third-party platforms like Google, Facebook, and Yelp to gather feedback, but showcasing those reviews directly on your WordPress website is a game-changer. By strategically integrating these reviews, you can significantly enhance your site’s credibility, boost customer confidence, and ultimately drive more sales.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through the process of displaying Google, Facebook, and Yelp reviews on your WordPress website, covering every step from setting up API keys to customizing the display. Get ready to unlock the power of social proof and elevate your online presence!

Why You Should Display Business Reviews in WordPress

You might be wondering, “Why bother displaying reviews on my WordPress website when they’re already on Google, Facebook, and Yelp?” Here’s why it’s a smart move:

• Increased Trust and Credibility: Potential customers are more likely to trust a business that has positive reviews, especially when those reviews are prominently displayed on the business’s website. It’s like having a trusted friend vouch for your company.
• Enhanced Conversions: Studies have shown that businesses with positive online reviews experience higher conversion rates. Reviews act as social proof, giving customers the confidence to make a purchase or take the desired action.
• Improved Search Engine Rankings: Google, Facebook, and Yelp reviews can influence your search engine rankings. Integrating these reviews into your website can provide valuable signals to search engines, potentially boosting your visibility in local search results.
• Reduce Cart Abandonment: Adding reviews to your checkout page or product pages can help reduce cart abandonment rates. Seeing positive feedback from other customers can encourage hesitant shoppers to complete their purchase.
• Encourage More Reviews: By showcasing your existing reviews, you can inspire others to leave their own feedback. This creates a positive feedback loop that benefits your business in the long run.

How to Show Google, Facebook, and Yelp Reviews in WordPress

You could manually copy and paste reviews onto your website, but that’s time-consuming and doesn’t update automatically. A much more efficient approach is to leverage a dedicated plugin like Reviews Feed Pro by Smash Balloon. This powerful plugin allows you to display reviews from multiple platforms in a beautifully integrated way. It automatically updates the feed, so you don’t have to worry about manual maintenance.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to integrating reviews from Google, Facebook, and Yelp using Reviews Feed Pro:

Step 1: Install and Activate Reviews Feed Pro

Start by installing and activating the Reviews Feed Pro plugin from the WordPress Plugin Directory. If you need help with this process, check out our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin. Once activated, click on “Reviews Feed” in the left-hand menu.

Step 2: Obtain Your API Keys

Before you can pull reviews from Google, Facebook, and Yelp, you’ll need to obtain API keys for each platform. These keys grant Reviews Feed Pro access to the relevant data. Here’s how to get them:

Method 1: How to Show Yelp Reviews in WordPress

• Create a Yelp Developer Account: If you don’t have one already, visit the Yelp Developers page and create a free developer account.
• Create a New App: Once logged in, click on “Manage API Access” in the toolbar. Fill out the form to create a new app, including a name, industry, email address, and description. Accept the terms and conditions and click “Create New App.”
• Get Your API Key: Your App ID and API Key will be displayed on the success page. Copy these to your WordPress dashboard.
• Add Your Yelp API Key to Reviews Feed Pro: Go to Reviews Feed » Settings in the WordPress dashboard. Under “Manage API Keys,” click the pencil icon next to “Yelp.” Paste your Yelp API key into the popup and click “Add.”

Method 2: How to Show Google Reviews in WordPress

• Create a Google Cloud Console Project: Visit the Google Console and sign in using your Google account. Click “New Project” and give your project a name. Click “Create.”
• Enable Places API: Click the menu icon in the top left corner and select “APIs and services” followed by “Credentials.” Choose your project, search for “Places API,” and click on it. Click “Enable” to activate the API.
• Create an API Key: Click “Create Credentials” and select “API key” from the dropdown. Copy the API key that is generated.
• Restrict API Key: Click “Edit API Key” in the popup. Click on “HTTP referrers (websites)” under “Application Restrictions” and add the URL of your WordPress site and www.googleapis.com. Restrict the key to “Google Places API.” Click “OK.”
• Add Your Google API Key to Reviews Feed Pro: In the WordPress dashboard, go to Reviews Feed » Settings and click the pencil icon next to “Google.” Paste your Google API key and click “Add.”

Method 3: How to Show Facebook Reviews in WordPress

• Connect with Facebook: Go to Reviews Feed » All Feeds in the WordPress dashboard and click “Add New.” Choose “Facebook” and then “Connect with Facebook.” Select the radio button next to “Page” and click “Connect to Facebook.”
• Log in to Facebook: Log in to your Facebook account and grant the necessary permissions to Reviews Feed Pro. Click “Done” after reviewing the permissions.

Step 3: Create Your Review Feed

With your API keys in place, you’re ready to create your review feeds. Reviews Feed Pro makes it easy to configure feeds for each platform:

• Add a New Feed: Go to Reviews Feed » All Feeds and click “Add New.” Click “Add New” again in the popup.
• Select the Platform: Choose the platform you want to pull reviews from (Yelp, Google, or Facebook). Click “Next.”
• Provide the Necessary Details: For Yelp, enter the URL of the Yelp page you want to display. For Google, enter the Place ID (you can find this on Google’s Place ID page). For Facebook, select the connected page. Click “Finish.”
• Choose a Template: Select the template you want to use for your review feed (showcase carousel, grid carousel, etc.). Click “Next.”

Step 4: Customize Your Review Feed

Reviews Feed Pro offers a powerful editor that allows you to fine-tune the appearance of your review feeds. Here’s how to customize them:

• Layout: Choose a layout (Grid, Masonry, or Carousel) to best fit your website’s design.
• Spacing and Review Count: Adjust the spacing between reviews and the number of reviews displayed per feed.
• Mobile Responsiveness: Test the mobile version of your feed to ensure it looks great on smartphones and tablets.
• Header: Customize the header text, including the headline, star rating, and “Write a review” button.
• Reviews: Change the appearance of individual reviews, such as the layout, shadow, and corner radius.
• Load More Button: Customize the “Load More” button to enhance its visibility and encourage users to browse more reviews.

Step 5: Add Your Review Feed to Your Website

Once you’re satisfied with your review feed’s customization, you can add it to your website using blocks, widgets, or shortcodes:

• Reviews Feed Block: Add the Reviews Feed block to any page or post to embed your feed. Use the “Shortcode Settings” in the block editor to select the desired review feed.
• Reviews Feed Widget: Add the Reviews Feed widget to your sidebar or footer to display reviews on every page of your site.
• Shortcode: Copy the shortcode from the “Shortcode” column in Reviews Feed » All Feeds and add it to any shortcode block.
• Full-Site Editor: If you’re using a block-enabled theme, use the full-site editor to add the Reviews Feed block directly to your theme templates.

Conclusion

Integrating Google, Facebook, and Yelp reviews into your WordPress website is a powerful strategy for enhancing trust, driving conversions, and improving your search engine visibility. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily showcase these valuable reviews and amplify your online presence. Remember, social proof is a key ingredient in creating a successful online business!

FAQs

What if I don’t have many reviews yet?

Even if you haven’t amassed a large number of reviews, showcasing the ones you have can still be beneficial. Every review counts, and it’s better to display a few positive reviews than none at all. Encourage your customers to leave reviews by sending them follow-up emails or offering incentives.

Can I customize the review feed to match my website’s design?

Absolutely! Reviews Feed Pro provides a comprehensive editor that allows you to customize the layout, colors, fonts, and other aspects of your review feeds to seamlessly blend them with your existing website design.

How often do the review feeds update?

The review feeds update automatically, so any new reviews added to Google, Facebook, or Yelp will be reflected on your website without you having to do anything.

Are there any other platforms I can show reviews from?

Yes, Reviews Feed Pro supports a wide range of review platforms, including Trustpilot, TripAdvisor, and more. You can find a complete list of supported platforms on the Smash Balloon website.

What if I’m using a free version of the Reviews Feed plugin?

The free version of the Reviews Feed plugin only allows you to display reviews from Google and Yelp. If you want to show reviews from Facebook or other platforms, you’ll need to upgrade to the Pro version.

Can I display reviews from different locations on my website?

Yes, you can create separate review feeds for different locations or businesses. For example, if you have multiple stores or branches, you can display the relevant reviews for each location.

How can I encourage more reviews?

Besides strategically displaying existing reviews, you can encourage customers to leave reviews by:

• Sending follow-up emails: After a purchase or service, send an email asking for feedback.
• Offering incentives: Provide discounts or other incentives to encourage customers to leave reviews.
• Making it easy to leave reviews: Provide clear and visible links to your review pages on Google, Facebook, and Yelp.

What are the benefits of using a dedicated plugin like Reviews Feed Pro?

Dedicated plugins like Reviews Feed Pro offer numerous advantages over manual methods, including:

• Automatic updates: New reviews are automatically added to your feed.
• Customizable design: You can tailor the appearance of your feeds to match your website’s design.
• Support for multiple platforms: You can display reviews from various platforms in one location.
• Easy setup and configuration: Plugins simplify the process of integrating reviews.

How can I monitor the impact of displaying reviews?

You can track the impact of displaying reviews by monitoring key metrics such as conversion rates, traffic to your review pages, and customer engagement. Use analytics tools like Google Analytics to gather data and identify any trends or changes in user behavior.

What are some best practices for displaying reviews?

To make the most of displaying reviews, consider these best practices:

• Show a mix of positive and negative reviews: Transparency builds trust. While focusing on positive reviews is important, don’t shy away from displaying a few negative reviews. Address these reviews professionally and show that you’re committed to customer satisfaction.
• Highlight key features: Use your review feeds to showcase specific product features or services that your customers value.
• Use calls to action: Include calls to action like “Shop Now” or “Learn More” to encourage users to take the desired action after reading reviews.

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