Google reviews have become an essential component for businesses of all sizes in terms of generating customer trust and loyalty.
After all, 89% of people read online reviews before making a purchase or engaging with a service, according to Trustpilot. Moreover, 90% of customers say positive reviews make them trust a local business more than negative ones
I’ll look at the latest Google Reviews statistics and how understanding these numbers could positively impact your marketing performance. With this Google review stats data, you can tailor your marketing strategies to engage effectively with customers.
Google Reviews Statistics: Key Findings
- 81% of consumers read Google reviews.
- Google hosts 73% of all online reviews for businesses.
- 50% of consumers are confident that they’ve seen a fake review on Google.
- 63.6% of consumers say they are likely to check Google reviews before visiting a business location
- 89% of users read online reviews before buying the product.
- 58% of consumers would be ready to pay more or travel further to visit companies with good reviews
- Only 9% of consumers would consider engaging with a business that had a 1- or 2-star average rating.
Source: (BrightLocal, Review Trackers, BrightLocal, Review Trackers, Trustpilot, Findstack, Podium.)
Learn More: https://www.businessdit.com/search-engine-statistics/
#1. What percentage of people look at Google reviews?
Source: BrightLocal
Significance of the Data: Very High
Mentioned By: Luisa Zhou, Exploding Topics, New Reach Agency, Find Stack, News Break, Woosuite, Review Trackers, Website Builder Expert, Vendasta and more.
| What does the data Suggest | Justification |
|---|---|
| Heightened reliance on Google reviews | Consumers are leveraging reviews on Google extensively before making a purchase decision, necessitating an active, managed presence on the platform. |
| Importance of a positive online reputation | With a majority reading reviews, maintaining a positive image on Google can significantly influence purchasing behavior and brand perception. |
| Need for active customer engagement | Interacting with reviews, both positive and negative, indicates responsiveness and customer-centricity, fostering trust and loyalty among consumers. |
#2. Google Dominates Online Business Reviews, Hosting 73% of Total
Source: Review Trackers
Significance of the Data: Very High
Mentioned By: New Reach Agency, Luisa Zhou, Exploding Topics, Nero Digital, The Spinoff, Website Builder Expert, Xola and more.
| What does the data Suggest | Justification |
|---|---|
| Dominance of Google in customer feedback | Google’s vast share of online reviews implies the necessity for businesses to focus marketing efforts and reputation management on this platform, to reach, engage, and influence a substantial audience. |
| Importance of Google-based SEO | A significant portion of online reviews on Google indicates a direct link to SEO rankings. Thus, fostering positive reviews on Google is crucial to improve search visibility. |
| Need for Google-specific reputation management | Given Google’s dominance, businesses must invest in Google-specific strategies for handling reviews to maintain brand image and customer trust effectively. |
#3. Half of Consumers Question Authenticity of Google Reviews
Source: BrightLocal
Significance of the Data: High
Mentioned By: CBC, Exploding Topics, Search Engine Journal, Napoleon Cat, Time Magazine, Oberlo, Investigate TV and more.
| What does the data Suggest | Justification |
|---|---|
| Prevalence of perceived fake reviews | Businesses must build authenticity through transparency, citing reliable sources, and demonstrating integrity in communication to avoid skepticism. |
| Influence of reviews on consumer trust | Investing in genuine user reviews and testimonials is critical to build trust and credibility, encouraging potential customers. |
| Need for proactive review management | A strategic approach to review management, promptly addressing negatives and highlighting positives, helps mitigate impact of fake reviews. |
#4. Consumers Highly Likely to Check Google Reviews before Patronizing a Business
Source: Review Trackers
Significance of the Data: Very High
Mentioned By: Adido Digital, New Reach Agency, Review Trackers, Exploding Topics, Convince And Convert, Woosuite, Field Routes, Quandoo, Brightlocal, Luisa Zhou and more.
| What does the data suggest | Justification |
|---|---|
| Importance of online reputation | Presence on Google reviews is critical as majority of consumers rely on them before visiting a business. |
| Need for positive customer feedback | High-quality and positive reviews can directly influence customer decisions, boosting potential in-store visits. |
| Active review management | Given the significance, businesses should actively request, manage, and respond to reviews for reputation upkeep. |
#5. Nearly 90% of Users Depend on Online Reviews Prior to Purchasing Products
Source: Trustpilot
Significance of the Data: Very High
Mentioned By: Luisa Zhou, Oberlo, Globe Newswire, Findstack, Qualtrics, Exploding Topics, Review 42, New Reach Agency, Woosuite and more.
| What does the data Suggest | Justification |
|---|---|
| High trust in online reviews | Consumers largely depend on online reviews for purchase decisions. Therefore, maintaining a positive online reputation is essential for success. |
| Importance of user-generated content | Online reviews are a form of user-generated content, implying their impact on customers’ buying behavior. This necessitates encouraging satisfied customers to leave reviews. |
| Digital presence and customer engagement | Consumers are actively engaged online before purchasing, highlighting the importance of an interactive, user-friendly digital presence to attract and retain customers. |
#6. Consumers Willing to Pay More, Travel Far for Businesses with Positive Reviews
Source: Findstack
Significance of the Data: High
Mentioned By: Forbes, Trustmary, Findstack, Coveo, Help Scout, Zendesk, Hubspot and more.
| What does the data Suggest | Justification |
|---|---|
| Emphasis on Reputation Management | With 58% willing to pay more or travel further for good reviews, a firm’s reputation becomes a vital asset to maintain and enhance. |
| Importance of Customer Experience | This data underscores the significant value consumers place on excellent service – it’s a determining factor in their purchase decisions. |
| Investment in Review Platforms | Effective utilization of review platforms can be a key strategy, as they are clearly influential in affecting consumer behavior. |
#7. Low-Rated Businesses Face Consumer Apathy: Engagement Below 10% for 1-2 Star Ratings
Source: Podium
Significance of the Data: Medium
Mentioned By: Trustmary, Search Engine Journal, New Reach Agency, Luisa Zhou, Reputation X, Techjury, Oberlo, Exploding Topics and more.
| What does the data Suggest | Justification |
|---|---|
| Poor ratings significantly harm consumer engagement | A vast majority of consumers rely heavily on ratings to decide engagement with a business. High ratings are critical to securing potential consumer interaction. |
| Businesses must prioritize customer satisfaction for better ratings | The low engagement with poorly rated businesses indicates the imperative of maintaining high customer satisfaction levels for better ratings. |
| Reputation management is key to successful marketing execution | The statistic highlights the need for proactive reputation management. Companies must address negative feedback and enhance their online presence. |
