You know you need to get online reviews for your business, but just exactly how many do you need to reach new customers? We’ve got the answers for you.
Some people love cilantro, others think it tastes like soap. Yankees or Red Sox? Talk about strong opinions. And if you ask 10 people about the best TV show on right now, you’ll probably get at least five different answers.
People have wildly different opinions about a lot of things, so when you’re looking for guidance on where to shop and who to hire, it can be hard to make a choice with confidence unless you can get some sense of a consensus: this business is basically good and trustworthy, that business is not.
That’s where online reviews come in. They give us the chance to learn about a lot of different people’s experiences with a business. If the overall consensus is good, that can be the deciding factor in determining whether you’ll use that business.
As a business owner, you can use that to your advantage… assuming you put the effort into making sure that your customers are having a good experience.
You deserve good reviews, but how can you make sure that you’re actually getting them?
And how many reviews do you need to convince prospective customers that you’re worth using?
Understanding the Importance of Reviews
These days, online reviews are more than just feedback – they’re the cornerstone of your business’s online reputation.
Think of reviews as modern-day word-of-mouth. When potential customers are deciding where to spend their money, they turn to online reviews to guide their choices.
Positive reviews can be a game-changer, increasing your visibility on search engines, building trust with new customers, and ultimately driving more sales. On the flip side, negative reviews can have a significant impact, deterring potential customers and harming your reputation.
Understanding the impact of reviews is very important for any business owner.
But it’s not just about how many reviews you get – it’s also about managing them effectively. A well-thought-out review strategy can help you harness the power of positive reviews while mitigating the effects of negative ones.
By prioritizing review management, you can ensure that your business maintains a positive online reputation and continues to attract new customers.
Numbers to Know
Let’s start with good news: You probably don’t need as many online reviews as you think.
Research shows that most people read just a handful of reviews before deciding whether or not they can trust a business.
In fact, 90 percent of consumers read 10 or fewer reviews before making this determination, according to recent research.
Furthermore, 68 percent read between only one and six reviews before deciding.
Another thing worth noting? Consumers are actually reading fewer overall reviews now than in past years. It seems they’ve realized that they can get an accurate picture of a business by reading 10 or fewer reviews, and that it’s not necessary to read dozens of reviews of a business before using it.
But keep in mind that generally speaking, the more reviews, the better.
When figuring out how many Google reviews you need to rank well in local search results and outshine the competition, it’s important to understand that the required number can vary based on your specific business goals and circumstances.
Written in the Stars
So if you can get customers to write 10 reviews on each of the most important review sites for your business (like Yelp, Google, Facebook), you’re good to go, right?
Well, not exactly. The number of reviews that you have doesn’t tell the whole story.
Research shows that consumers care about two other factors: the recency of your reviews, and your overall star rating.
First, “recency”. Nearly three quarters of consumers think reviews older than three months are irrelevant, according to the above mentioned research. In fact, 23 percent of consumers say that in order for reviews to impact their buying decisions, those reviews should be no more than two weeks old.
Second, “stars”. Your overall Google star rating is the single most important factor that consumers consider when reading online reviews, but you don’t have to have a perfect five-star rating to earn their business.
Most consumers will use a business that has a minimum overall rating of three stars. Only 14 percent of people will use a business with a one- or two-star rating.
Seriously, consider this for a moment: Don’t be scared of attracting a few three-star reviews, or even the occasional one-star rant.
People want to know they’re reading real reviews written by real customers, so a few negative ones can actually make the rest of your reviews seem that much more real.
So here’s what we know:
Your customers aren’t reading a ton of reviews before making up their minds about you.
They want to see recent reviews.
Your reviews should be mostly positive, but a few bad ones won’t spoil the bunch.
Those positive reviews you’ve collected over the years are great for your overall rating average and attracting consumers to consider you in the first place, but you need recent positive reviews in order to close the deal and turn the review reader into a customer.
What Should I Do to Get More Online Reviews and Build a Positive Online Reputation?
So how many reviews do local businesses need, exactly? It depends on your overall star rating.
If you get a bunch of negative reviews, you’ll need to attract even more positive reviews to get your star rating back above three stars.
In general, though, you should aim to get at least 10 new reviews on each of your review sites in every three-month period. (Remember, most people read 10 or fewer reviews before making up their mind about a business.)
That adds up if you’re on a lot of sites, though.
If you’re on Yelp, Google, Facebook and two niche sites, that’s a total of 50 reviews every three months, or 200 reviews a year. That’s a lot of reviews.
You’re going to need an easy way to make sure those reviews come pouring in.
You can use an automated system like ReputationStacker to help you get more online reviews.
ReputationStacker automatically reaches out to your customers with a single-question survey and directs them to the review site of your choice where they can post a review.
Over time, this has a serious impact on the volume and freshness of your reviews. The average ReputationStacker user triples their online reviews in the first three months.
It’s All In The Numbers… And The Recency
No matter what business you’re in, you could probably benefit from more online reviews.
Research shows that customers place a ton of confidence in what they read in reviews, so if you want to attract more business, attracting more reviews is the place to start.
Both the number and type matter when it comes to reviews – you want a steady stream of positive ones coming in all the time.
Using an automated system like ReputationStacker can streamline your review management process.
It makes it easy to attract more reviews by reaching out to your customers and guiding them to leave feedback on the review sites that matter most to your business.
This way, you can ensure a steady stream of recent, positive reviews, helping you maintain a strong online presence and attract more customers.
FAQs About How Many Reviews You Need For Your Business
What is the ideal number of reviews for new businesses?
For a new business, starting with at least 10 to 20 reviews (with mostly 5-star ratings) is ideal to establish credibility. Focus on obtaining a mix of positive feedback and addressing any negative reviews to build a strong foundation. As your business grows, aim for a higher total volume of reviews to continuously improve your online reputation.
How many Google reviews do I need to improve the online reputation of my business?
How many Google reviews a business needs can vary widely. Generally, a steady stream of good reviews helps build a strong online presence and credibility. Aim for at least 20 to 30 reviews to start seeing a significant impact on your Google rating and overall reputation. You can use review software like ReputationStacker to consistently get new reviews on Google or any other review site.
What is the magic number of reviews needed for a high Google star rating?
There isn’t a specific “magic number” of reviews needed for a high Google star rating. However, having a higher total volume of reviews compared to your competitors can help you achieve a good rating, as well as help you rank better in local search results. Focus on consistently getting reviews to boost your star rating and attract more customers.
How can businesses deal with fake reviews?
To handle fake reviews, businesses should flag and report them using the review sites’ reporting feature. Regularly monitor your Google reviews and other review sites to manage your rating, maintain an accurate reflection of your services, and make sure that fake reviews don’t start to outweigh your legitimate 5-star reviews. But note that getting a review removed (yes, even a fake review) isn’t easy. Your time is far better spent focused on getting legitimate reviews from your happy customers. Over time, they will far outweigh any negative reviews (even fake ones).
