How to Do Google Reviews Search by Name or Keywords

Online reviews are one of the most important factors influencing consumer decisions. Whether you’re a business owner trying to maintain your brand’s reputation or a consumer researching a product or service, the power of Google reviews is undeniable.

One of the most valuable yet often overlooked aspects of this vast feedback system is the ability to search Google reviews by name.

Why does this matter?

• For businesses, it provides a way to zero in on specific feedback left by customers or clients that mention your business or employees by name. This can give personalized insights into individual experiences, helping you address issues quickly or highlight success stories.
• For customers, being able to search reviews by name or keyword can help identify specific individuals or products tied to the service they’re interested in, providing more precise and relevant information.

Let's explore why searching Google reviews by name is a critical tool, how to effectively do it, and the advanced techniques you can use to make sure no valuable feedback slips through the cracks.

How to search Google reviews manually

While Google doesn’t provide a specific "search by name" function directly within Google reviews, there are several ways to achieve this through a combination of tools and techniques.

Here's how you can perform a Google reviews search by hand.

Using Google search

One of the simplest yet most effective ways to search Google reviews by name is by using Google search.

To do it, simply open your browser and type your business name. If it has Google reviews, you will see them under your logo and business information.

Click on the reviews and expand them by clicking "More user reviews." This will show you all of your reviews.

Let's say I want to find reviews left by Trustpilot users. I can do that with CTRL+F and typing "trustpilot." Now, I only have to pay attention to the highlighted entries.

Searching Google Maps

Google Maps is another powerful tool for locating specific reviews, especially for local businesses. Here’s how to find reviews by name using Google Maps.

Open Google Maps on your browser or app and search for the business name you are interested in. Once on the business profile, go to the reviews section and expand the reviews visible to you. Use the search bar within the reviews section to type in the specific keyword you are looking for, like a feature or a use case.

As I search for OpenWidget reviews in Google Maps, I could use the search bar to enter specific keywords or Google suggestions for the phrases that appeared more often across the reviews.

This method allows you to quickly identify reviews mentioning specific keywords. However, there is one caveat. You can't search by names using this method. You can use CTRL+F again, but remember that this will only work with the reviews you expanded.

Direct search via Google Business Profile

Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is crucial for businesses, and they often have a dedicated review section.

While searching for reviews within this profile might seem straightforward, the key is learning how to pinpoint reviews by name.

Here are three simple steps you need to take:

1. Navigate to the company's Google Business Profile.
2. Scroll down to the reviews section.
3. Use the built-in search function (usually a small magnifying glass or search icon) to input the name of the person or product you are searching for.

For example, if you're managing the business profile for a company and want to find reviews that mention an employee, this method will bring up all relevant mentions.

Mobile vs. desktop search

While all the methods above work on both desktop and mobile devices, slight differences in the user interface may affect how you perform the search.

On mobile devices, for instance, Google Maps reviews may appear with a slightly different layout, but the search functionality remains.

Searching reviews in the Google Business Profile can be done via the Google My Business app, where you can filter reviews by keywords.

Be sure to optimize your search strategy based on the device you're using for the best results.

How to automate a Google reviews search by name

Manually searching Google reviews by name can be time-consuming, especially if you’re managing a large number of reviews or multiple business locations. Thankfully, there are ways to automate the process, saving you time and ensuring you never miss a critical mention.

Here's how to set up automated searches using Google’s tools and third-party services to streamline your efforts.

Using Google’s Review API

For businesses with a technical edge, Google’s Review API offers a powerful way to automate review searches. The API allows you to pull reviews programmatically and filter them based on various criteria, including text content, which can be used to search for specific names.

You’ll need access to the Google Business Profile API (formerly the Google My Business API). This requires setting up a project in the Google Cloud console. Once connected, you can request data from your business profile, including customer reviews.

After fetching the reviews, you can filter them using keywords such as a reviewer’s name or employee names mentioned in the reviews. With the API, you can schedule regular API calls to automatically pull reviews and filter them, allowing you to monitor for specific mentions without manual intervention.

This method provides the most customization but may require developer resources to implement. The API can also be connected to custom dashboards or reporting tools for seamless tracking.

Automating with Google Alerts

For a more user-friendly approach, Google Alerts is an effective tool to monitor online content, including reviews, for mentions of specific names.

Here’s how you can set up Google Alerts for automated notifications about reviews mentioning your business or individuals.

• In the search bar, enter your alert criteria. It can include a query that triggers alerts whenever Google indexes a review on its platform that matches your specified name and business.
• Choose how often you want to receive notifications (such as once a day or as-it-happens).
• Specify the sources (you can narrow it down to reviews, blogs, news, etc.).

You’ll now receive an email whenever Google finds a new mention of the name in your alert criteria.

Tools for review management automation

Several third-party platforms specialize in automating Google review searches, making it easier to monitor mentions of names, keywords, and other parameters across multiple business locations. These tools often provide additional features such as sentiment analysis, response management, and analytics.

Here are some of the most effective tools for automating Google reviews search by name:

Cloodot

Cloodot is a powerful platform for managing customer reviews across multiple platforms, including Google reviews. It allows businesses to set up keyword-based searches, ensuring that any mention of specific names, employees, or services is automatically flagged.

Features:

• Automated review search by keyword or name.
• Centralized dashboard to view and respond to reviews across different platforms.
• Sentiment analysis and real-time notifications for specific mentions.

Lobstr.io

Lobstr.io is another platform designed for review monitoring and management. It offers a user-friendly interface for setting up automated review searches, helping businesses easily find reviews that mention specific names.

Features:

• Automated keyword tracking in Google reviews.
• Alerts when reviews containing specific names are posted.
• Integration with CRM systems for streamlined response management.

ReviewTrackers

ReviewTrackers is widely known for its review monitoring capabilities. With its automated search and filtering options, businesses can track specific keywords, such as names or products, across multiple review platforms, including Google.

Features:

• Automated tracking of reviews by name, keyword, or product.
• Customizable alerts and reporting.
• Advanced sentiment analysis for deeper insights into review content.

Podium

Podium helps businesses manage reviews, particularly by streamlining the feedback loop between customers and the business. Its automation tools allow you to track review mentions across a variety of platforms, including Google.

Features:

• Review search automation using keywords or names.
• Review collection and response tools.
• Real-time alerts when specific names or keywords are mentioned.

Benefits of displaying Google reviews on your website

As consumers heavily rely on online reviews to make purchasing decisions, showcasing your Google reviews directly on your website allows you to leverage the power of social proof to build trust, enhance credibility, and ultimately drive conversions.

Visitors seeing positive reviews on your website builds trust and establishes your brand as reliable and customer-focused. This trust can significantly influence their decision-making, converting casual browsers into buyers.

If they can easily see customer reviews without leaving your website, you keep them engaged and provide them with the information they need to make a purchase decision. As a form of social proof, reviews have been shown to increase conversions by building consumer confidence.

Once embedded, your Google reviews work for you around the clock. Unlike testimonials that need to be manually updated, Google reviews dynamically reflect the latest customer feedback. This provides an ongoing source of validation for your business that grows over time, continuously adding value without extra effort on your part.

Do you remember searching for your business reviews on Google Maps? With OpenWidget, you can just click on the widget to open the map's view.

Add Google reviews to your website with OpenWidget

Take your website to the next level by displaying your stellar Google reviews with OpenWidget’s Google Reviews Widget. This simple, customizable tool allows you to easily embed your Google reviews directly on your site, giving potential customers a clear view of your top-tier service and product quality.

Not only does the widget highlight glowing feedback, but it also encourages satisfied customers to leave new reviews directly from your website, helping you gather even more valuable testimonials.

Installation is quick and effortless, and the widget is compatible with popular CMS platforms like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. The widget integrates seamlessly into any site, and best of all, it’s completely free. Get started!