Why Reputation Management and Online Reviews Are Important in Business

Reputation used to spread by word of mouth, one conversation at a time. Today it's compiled into a star rating and a handful of paragraphs, sitting directly beneath your business name in the search results — and it is read by nearly everyone who considers hiring you.

Why it matters more than ever

• Most shoppers read reviews before choosing a local business.
• A one-star difference in rating changes how many people tap your listing.
• Reviews influence your visibility too: Google uses engagement with your profile as a local ranking signal.
• Negative results on page one are the most expensive marketing problem a small business can have.

What reputation management actually is

It isn't spin, and it isn't buying positive coverage. It's the steady work of shaping what people find when they look you up:

• Monitoring every review across Google and the major platforms
• Answering each one professionally and promptly
• Making it easy for happy customers to leave a review
• Defusing negative reviews before they become the loudest voice
• Keeping your Google Business Profile complete, current and active
• Promoting the good work you do, consistently, on the channels customers use

The compounding effect

Reviews accumulate. Every request you send, every reply you write, and every post you publish adds another piece of evidence that your business is real, active and worth trusting. Six months of consistent management looks dramatically different from six months of hoping.

Where to start

Start with your Google Business Profile, because that's where local customers look first. Keeping it optimized, active and well-reviewed is exactly what our Google Business Profile Management service does — $350 per month, on its own or bundled with your website.