Google Reviews
Google Reviews
During one of the breaks at last week’s Leadership Gillespie County Retreat, there was a conversation about the importance of Google Reviews. While I do leave Google Reviews and use the reviews to make decisions on restaurants while traveling, I realized I did not know much about the Google Review and other review systems. So, off to Google Land I went.
Among the various articles I found there were five common reasons why reviews are important to small and micro-businesses:
Credibility and trust: Positive Google reviews serve as social proof, signaling to potential customers that your business is reputable and trustworthy. People are much more likely to visit or buy from businesses with high ratings and many positive reviews—especially in a small community where word of mouth is crucial.
Local search visibility (SEO): Google’s search algorithms heavily favor businesses with frequent, high-rated reviews. This means that strong Google reviews help your business show up more prominently in local search results and on Google Maps, making you easier to find by people nearby. Businesses that appear in the "Local Pack" (top 3-5 results with map) are much more likely to receive customer visits.
Customer insights: Reviews offer direct feedback about what customers appreciate or want improved, letting you adapt and provide better service. Monitoring these reviews can help you make informed decisions based on actual customer experiences.
Improved click-through rates: Listings with higher ratings and more reviews get more clicks from searchers, driving more website traffic and foot traffic to your business.
Emotional connection and community trust: Responsive engagement—replying thoughtfully to both positive and negative reviews—shows you care about customer satisfaction. This can strengthen your bond with local consumers and even turn a negative review into a chance to win trust.
Then I tested how our top businesses and organizations in our community rated on Google Reviews:
The top 3 for rating and reviews:
- Grape Creek Vineyards with 11,400 reviews and a 4.8 rating
- Enchanted Rock with 7,700 reviews and a 4.8 rating
- National Museum of the Pacific War with 4,300 reviews and a 4.8 rating
After the top 3 the list of successful businesses is not surprising (listed based on number of reviews): Cabernet Grill, Auslander, Wildseed Farms, Sunset Grill, Otto’s, Hondo’s on Main, Pioneer Museum, Der Lindenbaum, Carousel on Main, Haberdashery Boutique, and In-Step Fashions. There are many more businesses with an excellent rating and have a low number of reviews.
Google Land has recommended practical methods to increase Google Reviews—go ahead and “Google It” and find what will work for you to increase your Google Reviews. Also, you can reach out to our Chamber members who specialize in digital marketing:
In summary, Google Reviews play a key role in staying visible online, building/maintaining trust, and gathering feedback.