Why Google Reviews Matter More Than You Think

April 2nd, 2025 - 6 min read

Key takeaways.

• 98% of people check reviews before choosing a local business.

• Google reviews aren’t optional, they’re your first impression.

• Texted review requests get up to 45% response rates.

• Manually asking for reviews works, but comes with a cost.

• Most customers won’t leave a review unless you ask.

• Automation turns missed reviews into money in your pocket.

Let’s keep this simple. You’re good at what you do. You work hard. You care. And still—people will Google you. That’s your first impression. Not your handshake. Not your smile. Not even your price.

Your Google reviews, your online reputation—that’s what decides everything.

98% of people check reviews before buying.

Almost everyone. Every time. And most read at least 10. Not one. Not two. Ten. They scroll. They scan. They read the good. They look for the bad.

If you’ve only got three from 2019… they’re calling someone else. If you're not showing up on Google Maps with strong reviews, you’re losing leads before you even knew they existed.

Your star rating is your filter.

Do you have 4 stars and up? You’re in the game. You get the clicks. You get the calls. Anything below 3? You’re invisible. They scroll past. You never even know.

Low rating means no trust. No trust means no leads. No leads means no jobs. Any local business, be it HVAC, plumbing, medspas, cleaning, dental, lives and dies by its Google Business Profile.

More reviews means more money.

This isn’t theory. It’s local business math.

Businesses with 80+ reviews make 54% more. That’s more calls, more bookings, more growth. Even a single review bump can mean 5–9% more revenue—from the same work, same staff, same systems. Just more trust.

Think of having more reviews as an easy way close those calls into paying customers. Reviews simply win.

Manually asking for reviews via text works. But at what cost?

Texts get opened 98% of the time. And the response rates go up to 45% if you include a specific request in your text. This is nearly half your customers! Something like:

Hey (insert your customers' name)! Thanks again for doing business with us. I’d really appreciate your feedback. Here’s the link to leave a quick review: (insert your Google review link here).

Once you leave one, just let me know and I’ll make a note. Next time you're back, I might have some bonuses for you.

Don't do a simple "Thank you for doing business with us."

Click here if you don't know how to get your Google review link.

Now, asking for a review via text starts off with the best intentions. You just served your customer. The customer’s happy. You tell yourself, “I’ll ask them for a review later.”

Then the phone rings. You’ve got another customer. Someone’s running late.

Then you push the review request to tomorrow. Then next week. Then it disappears.

You try to keep track. Sticky notes. Screenshots. Mental checklists. Did I ask that guy with the funny hair? What about the repeat job from Tuesday?

It gets messy fast. You text. You ask. You remind. Again and again. It works, but it eats your time. Time you could be spending on providing the best possible customer service.

Automating this process changes everything. It saves you hours. It follows up for you. It keeps the reviews coming. Done right, it's not just a time-saver—it’s a money printer.

Timing is everything.

Only 8% of customers leave a review right away, even when they’re happy. Life happens. They forget. They move on.

So what's the best move? The sweet spot is to send the first review request 2-3 days after completing your service.

If the customer does not respond, send the second review request about a 7 days later. Do the same the third time if the customer does not respond on the second follow-up.

If the customer ghosted you after the third time, the best course of action from our experience is to wait about 1-2 months, and then send review requests every month from then.

And this is where where automating this process shines. It remembers when you don’t. It follows up so you don’t have to.

You run your business and the system builds your reputation.

Final thoughts.

Google reviews are the new word of mouth. They build trust. They bring leads. They close sales.

Don’t rely on luck, hoping and praying that your customers will leave you a review. Don’t wait around. Ask for reviews. Remind your customers to leave one for you. Let the work you already do speak for itself. Loudly. Publicly. With 5 stars. Let your online reviews turn into real revenue.

And most importantly, automate the process so that you can focus on providing the best possible customer service.