Reviews or Bust: A No-Nonsense Look at Why Customer Feedback Makes or Breaks Local Businesses

Take Mike’s van and car hire business: He'd been in business for 20 years, always got by on word of mouth.

Then something changed. His phone got quieter.

The enquiries dried up. Why? His competitors had pages of online reviews, and he had none.

He thought the new, up-to-date fleet of clean vans and cars spoke for itself, but it turns out, these days, running a good business with a good service isn’t good enough anymore.

The internet has changed the marketing landscape…

Mike's not alone. Walk down any high street in Britain - from the local chippy to the fancy salon - businesses are living or dying by their online feedback.

And here's the kicker: it's not just about having reviews anymore. It's about managing them properly.

The Brutal Truth

Let's get real for a minute. When was the last time you called a tradesperson without checking their reviews first? Exactly.

Here's what's actually happening on the ground:

• That decorator with 50 glowing reviews is booked solid through the summer
• The new café with no reviews is wondering why their tables are empty
• Your competitor down the road is snagging all the good jobs because they look trustworthy online

A local small roofing business increased their bookings in six months.

Their secret? They started asking happy customers for feedback. Simple as that.

The Stuff Nobody Tells You About Reviews

The Money Side

Here's something interesting:  businesses with solid review management typically see at least an increase of 20% more enquiries.

That's not marketing waffle - that's real money in your pocket.

Getting It Right

You know what doesn't work?

Begging for reviews when business is slow. Or worse, buying fake ones (seriously, don't).

What does work?

• Making feedback part of your everyday business routine
• Responding to reviews like a human being, not a robot
• Using the good ones to attract more customers
• Learning from the iffy ones to get better

The Real Cost

"But I haven't got time for all that review stuff" is often said. Neither is having the time for an empty diary. Harsh but true.

Looking Forward

The local businesses crushing it right now aren't necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets or the flashiest websites. They're the ones proving their worth through customer feedback.

Take Action

If you're reading this thinking, "Blimey, I need to sort my reviews out," you're right. But here's the good news - it's not as hard as you think.

Start here:

1. Check your current online reputation

2. Make collecting reviews dead easy for your customers

3. Manage them properly (because half-doing it is like not doing it at all)

Remember this: every happy customer who doesn't leave a review is a missed opportunity to win new business.

Want to know where you stand? Complete our free reputation scorecard. It might just be the wake-up call your business needs.