As a local business, you’re no stranger to the importance of trust and reputation. You know that word-of-mouth is important to build a successful business, but in today’s digital age, the traditional handshake and referral have moved online. Now, your reputation is shaped not only by your physical presence in the community but also by the reviews customers leave about you online.

As a local SEO service provider, Make Me Local, we have been there and understand the pressure you feel to manage your online presence and reputation. We have built our own local SEO agency with an excellent online reputation and have done the same for many local businesses in London, Kent, and surrounding areas. We will happily do the same for you.

Through this guide, we explain why local business reviews are essential to your success and give you actionable advice on collecting and using them to grow your business.

Need in-person assistance improving your local business’s reputation? Call us on 0800 772 0022 or email us at hello@makemelocal.com to arrange your consultation.

“At Make Me Local, we don’t just build websites – we build trust. Your success online starts with a strong reputation, and we’re here to help you grow it.”

What Are Local Business Reviews?

Local business reviews are online customer feedback and testimonials describing your business experiences. These reviews can appear on platforms like Google My Business, local review sites, or even social media pages. They often include ratings (usually out of five stars) and written comments, where customers share their opinions about your products, services, and overall experience.

For example, if someone visits your café in West Wickham and enjoys the service, they may leave a positive review on your café’s Google My Business profile or other local reviews, recommending your café to others. These local service reviews act as public endorsements, showing potential customers that your business is trustworthy and provides high-quality service.

Importance Of Local Business Reviews

It’s no secret that customer testimonials and feedback are the foundation of any successful business, but online reviews carry even more weight today. Here’s why they matter:

1. Business Credibility

Reviews are key trust signals for businesses. People are more likely to choose your business when they see that others have had a positive experience. This boosts your business credibility and helps establish your brand as a reliable choice in your local area.

2. SEO Benefits Of Reviews

Did you know Google favours businesses with regular, positive, credible reviews? It’s true! —they also help improve your search engine visibility. Google My Business reviews and other local business reviews play a big role in boosting local search rankings. When search engines like Google see that your business has consistent, positive feedback, they are more likely to show it in local search results, making it easier for new customers to find you.

3. Local Customer Engagement

Engaging with your customers through positive and negative reviews shows you care about their feedback. It creates a two-way communication channel that fosters more substantial relationships with your audience. As part of your local SEO strategy, regularly responding to client feedback shows potential customers that you’re active, engaged, and ready to address their needs.

4. Influencing Customer Decisions

Reviews are critical because they influence buying decisions. 79% of customers read reviews before making a purchase and trust them as much as personal recommendations. This means the more positive reviews you have, the more likely you are to attract new customers.

Like many positive reviews, these trust signals for businesses help convince shoppers that your business is the right choice.

How To Get Local Business Reviews (The Right Way)

Getting reviews can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can build a solid foundation of local business reviews that will serve as a powerful marketing tool. Here’s how to start:

1. Ask For Reviews At The Right Time

Timing is everything. Don’t ask customers for reviews right after their initial interaction with your business. Wait until they’ve fully experienced your products or services.

For example, a great time to ask for a review might be after a customer has received their order or after a service has been successfully completed.

When you ask for reviews, personalise a follow-up email or message thanking your customers for their business and kindly requesting feedback.

2. Make It Easy For Customers

Asking for reviews can backfire if the process is complicated. Make it as easy as possible by providing direct links to your Google My Business reviews page or local review sites where you want the reviews posted. Use tools that allow customers to leave feedback quickly—such as email prompts, SMS, or even QR codes on business cards or receipts.

Click here to see how you can email your customers to get reviews.

3. Respond To Every Review

You can’t expect customers to leave local service reviews if you’re not engaging with those who have already taken the time to leave one. Responding to reviews—whether they’re positive or negative—shows that you’re committed to your customers. A simple “Thank you” for positive reviews and a thoughtful response to negative reviews can make a huge difference in how potential customers view your business.

4. Leverage Your Google My Business Page

Google My Business reviews are crucial for local SEO and boosting local search rankings. Keep your GMB profile up-to-date, and encourage customers to leave reviews directly on Google. This will improve your chances of appearing in local searches and show up on your Google search listing and Google Maps, helping you capture more leads.

5. Make Your Reviews Visible

Once you’ve collected local business reviews, ensure they are visible to potential customers. Share them on your website, social media, and email newsletters. This builds business credibility and helps boost your local customer engagement. Customers love seeing real testimonials and positive feedback, especially from people living in the same area.

6. Use Reviews To Improve Your Business

Lastly, client feedback isn’t just about boosting your online reputation—it’s also a valuable resource for improving your business. Pay attention to patterns in customer feedback. Are there areas for improvement? Consider adjusting your inventory if several customers mention that a product is out of stock too often.

Negative reviews are an opportunity to grow—here is how to respond, learn, and adapt to them.

Conclusion

In short, local business reviews are powerful tools for building trust, improving online reputation management, and increasing online visibility. Using our outlined strategies, you can start collecting customer testimonials that will boost your local SEO strategy and increase your chances of attracting new customers.

Remember, getting reviews isn’t just about asking for feedback—it’s about creating a relationship with your customers, listening to their needs, and showing them you care. The more you engage with your customers and leverage their client feedback, the stronger your online presence will be.

If you’re ready to build and manage a strong online reputation, just like our client Bromley Vehicle Test Centre, call our Make Me Local experts today on 0800 772 0022 or email us at hello@makemelocal.com.

Let’s discuss how we can help you grow your business with effective reputation management.