Online reviews have become a crucial element in business success, particularly for local businesses. According to Google’s recent study, 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations from friends or family. With such importance placed on online reviews, local businesses must take steps to ensure they have enough reviews in order to attract and retain customers.
How many reviews does a local business need? That’s an issue many business owners have been wrestling with lately, and Google has provided some answers.
A study conducted by Google Reviews revealed that businesses with an average rating of 3-3.5 stars on Google My Business (GMB) received the most clicks. However, those with an average of 4.5 or higher received more website clicks. This suggests that while having a high star rating may attract attention to a business’s GMB profile, those who have more reviews, even if their average rating is lower, are more likely to receive visits for their website.
The study revealed that businesses with 5 or more reviews on their Google My Business profile had a 70% greater chance of receiving clicks to their website than those without reviews. Furthermore, businesses with 10 or more reviews had an 15% greater probability of receiving clicks to their website than those with 5-9 reviews.
So, how many reviews do local businesses need? While there’s no single answer, having a high number of reviews is clearly beneficial. Businesses should strive for at least 5 reviews on their GMB profile and ideally 10 or more. Businesses also should strive to maintain an above-average rating; however, don’t be discouraged if their average rating falls slightly lower than competitors’; having more reviews still leads to more clicks and ultimately more business.
In conclusion, local businesses must take online reviews seriously and actively search out positive feedback from satisfied customers. Even if the average rating is slightly lower, having a high number of reviews can help attract clicks, which in turn leads to increased business.
