87% Read Reviews Before Choosing. What Do Yours Say?
Before someone calls you, they read your reviews. 87% of consumers check Google reviews before choosing a local business. Your star rating, review count, and how you respond tell the whole story before a single conversation happens.
Reviews are also the second most important ranking factor for Google's Local Pack. More quality reviews = higher rankings = more visibility = more customers. It's a compounding cycle.
Buzz Cue builds review management systems that generate consistent, authentic reviews and protect your reputation.
What We Do
Review Generation System
Getting reviews shouldn't depend on remembering to ask. We build an automated system:
- Automated email/text sequences — After every completed job or visit, your customer gets a friendly review request via Brevo (timed for maximum response)
- Direct review links — One-click links that take customers straight to the Google review form (no hunting for your profile)
- QR codes — For in-person businesses: print and place at checkout, on invoices, on job completion forms
- Review landing page — A custom page on your site that guides the process
The goal: 5+ new reviews per month, minimum. Consistent velocity matters more than getting 20 in one week and then nothing for three months.
Review Response Management
Every review deserves a response. We handle:
- Positive reviews — Personalized thank-you responses that reinforce keywords and encourage repeat business
- Negative reviews — Professional, empathetic responses that show future customers you take feedback seriously
- Response time — Within 24 hours of every review
- Response templates — Customized for your voice, ready for your team to use directly if preferred
Learn more: How to Respond to Google Reviews (With Templates)
Reputation Monitoring
We monitor your reviews across all platforms — not just Google:
- Google Business Profile
- Yelp
- Industry-specific review sites
- BBB complaints
You get alerts when new reviews come in and monthly sentiment reports showing trends.
Competitor Review Analysis
We track your competitors' review profiles too:
- Their star ratings and review counts
- What their customers praise (and complain about)
- Review velocity comparison
- Opportunities to differentiate
If your top competitor has 15 reviews and you have 40, you own that market in the eyes of both Google and customers.
Why Reviews Matter More Than You Think
For Rankings
Google's local ranking algorithm heavily weights reviews:
- Review count — More reviews signal a more established, trusted business
- Star rating — Higher is better, but perfection isn't required (4.2-4.8 is the sweet spot)
- Review velocity — Steady new reviews signal an active, current business
- Keywords in reviews — When customers mention your services and location in their reviews, it reinforces your relevance
- Review responses — Google considers your engagement with reviewers
For Conversions
- 87% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses
- 73% only pay attention to reviews written in the last month
- A half-star improvement can increase revenue by 5-9% for local businesses
- Businesses with 4.0+ stars get 12x more clicks from the Map Pack than those below 4.0
Reviews don't just help people find you — they're the deciding factor in whether they choose you.
The Review Generation Framework
We don't just set it and forget it. The system works in layers:
Layer 1: Automated Requests
Post-service email or text sent automatically via your CRM or our Brevo integration. Timed 2-4 hours after service completion — close enough to remember, far enough to have formed an opinion.
Layer 2: Follow-Up
Gentle reminder 3 days later if they didn't respond. One touch, not harassment.
Layer 3: In-Person Touchpoints
QR codes on invoices, receipts, business cards, and signage. For businesses with foot traffic — physical reminders work.
Layer 4: Happy Customer Identification
We help you identify your happiest customers (repeat buyers, vocal fans) and personally request reviews from them. These tend to be the most detailed, keyword-rich reviews.
What We Don't Do
Let's be clear about what ethical review management looks like:
- ❌ We don't buy fake reviews
- ❌ We don't offer incentives for reviews (violates Google policy)
- ❌ We don't write reviews on your behalf
- ❌ We don't use review gating (filtering who can leave reviews)
- ✅ We build systems that make it easy for real customers to share real experiences
Shortcuts in review management can get your GBP suspended. We do it right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you remove negative Google reviews?
Only if they violate Google's policies (spam, fake, irrelevant). Legitimate negatives can't be removed. But a professional response often builds more trust than the review damages. We help you respond strategically and build enough positive reviews that a rare negative one doesn't define you.
How many reviews do I need?
10+ to look credible. 25+ to compete in most Kitsap County markets. 50+ to dominate. But recency matters as much as quantity — a steady flow of new reviews beats a large number of old ones.
Is it okay to ask for reviews?
Absolutely. Google encourages it. You can't offer incentives, but asking happy customers to share their experience is expected. We make it systematic so you don't have to remember. Full guide →
Should I respond to every review?
Yes. Every single one. Positive and negative. It shows potential customers you're engaged, and it sends signals to Google. We provide templates and can handle responses for you.
How do reviews affect my Google ranking?
Reviews are the second most important local SEO ranking factor. Google considers quantity, quality, velocity, keywords in review text, and your responses. More quality reviews = higher Map Pack rankings.