As we head into 2023, it’s important for local businesses to have a solid strategy in place for winning on local search. One key aspect of this strategy should be generating and showcasing reviews from your customers. After all think of the last time you searched for a local service, did you call without looking at reviews? My guess is probably not. 

According to a study by BrightLocal, 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. This means that having a strong rating and a large number of reviews can be crucial for attracting new customers and building trust in your business.

But it’s not just about the number of reviews you have – it’s also important to be actively managing and responding to those reviews. Google has stated that responding to reviews is a factor in local search ranking, so taking the time to show appreciation for your customers’ feedback and address any issues they may have can have a positive impact on your ranking. Responding to reviews can also help you improve your business my taking suggestions & implementing based on feedback.

Another way to leverage reviews to your advantage is by sharing them on social media. Social proof – the idea that people are more likely to trust and follow the actions of others – is a powerful tool, and showcasing positive reviews from your customers can help build trust and credibility for your business. If you look through some of your 5 star reviews, changes are you have some amazing testimonials out there! Don’t make your prospective customers dig through pages of reviews on Google to look for them. Post them proudly on your social channels.

Finally, it’s important to remember that in addition to the number and content of your reviews, Google also takes into account the diversity of your reviewers and the overall rating of your business when determining your ranking on Maps. This means that it’s important to not only focus on getting a large number of positive reviews, but also to encourage a range of customers to leave feedback.

In summary, investing in a strategy for generating and showcasing reviews can be a crucial part of winning on local search in 2023. By actively managing and responding to reviews, sharing them on social media, and encouraging a diverse group of customers to leave feedback, you can build social proof, increase trust in your business, and improve your ranking on Google Maps.

Dan Tucci is the Founder of ConvertLocal.io  – helping businesses grow their local presence through reviews, listing management, webchat & business sms services.