· Reviews · 2 min read
Why Google Reviews Matter More Than Ever for Small Businesses
Google reviews aren't just nice to have — they directly impact whether customers choose you or your competitor. Here's why they matter and what you can do about it.
The numbers don’t lie
93% of consumers say online reviews influence their purchasing decisions. For local service businesses — plumbers, salons, dentists, contractors — Google reviews are often the first impression a potential customer gets.
But here’s the thing most business owners miss: it’s not just about having reviews. It’s about having recent reviews. Google’s algorithm favors businesses with a steady stream of fresh reviews over those with a handful of old ones.
What Google reviews actually do for your business
They improve your local search ranking. Google uses review quantity, quality, and recency as ranking factors. More reviews = higher visibility in local search results and Google Maps.
They build instant trust. When someone searches “plumber near me” and sees two options — one with 12 reviews and one with 120 — the choice is obvious. Reviews act as social proof before you ever pick up the phone.
They increase conversion rates. Businesses with 4+ stars see significantly higher click-through rates. Each additional star can mean a 5-9% increase in revenue.
The problem: most happy customers never leave a review
Here’s the frustrating reality — about 70% of customers who had a great experience will leave a review if asked. But most businesses never ask, or ask inconsistently.
Why? Because after completing a job, business owners are already focused on the next one. The moment passes. The customer forgets. The review never happens.
The solution: make asking automatic
The most successful small businesses at collecting reviews aren’t doing anything complicated. They’ve simply automated the ask. After every completed job, their customers receive a friendly text message with a direct link to leave a Google review.
No manual follow-up. No spreadsheets. No forgetting. Just a steady stream of reviews coming in while they focus on what they do best.
That’s exactly what Ricorda was built to do.
