93% of Consumers Read Reviews Before They Buy

Today's customers research before committing. According to research from review management platform LocalImpact, nearly 93% of people surveyed say they have consulted online business reviews in the previous 12 months. And Google is the most popular place to do it: 86% of consumers consult Google for reviews.

Reviews aren't just social proof anymore — they're a search ranking factor, a conversion driver, and a primary source for AI-generated local summaries. The businesses with the most recent, most relevant, and most responded-to reviews win the click.

Why reviews matter more than ever

Reviews influence three things at once: your local search ranking, your conversion rate, and your visibility in AI Overviews. A business with 250 reviews and active responses signals trust to algorithms and humans alike.

Three actions to take now

• Ask for reviews at the right moment. Request a review right after project completion, when the experience is fresh and positive.
• Respond to every review. Businesses that respond build trust with both future customers and search engines.
• Make it easy. Send a direct Google review link in your follow-up email or thank-you page — friction kills participation.

How CGM helps

We build review-generation systems that turn happy clients into your strongest marketing asset. Request a marketing assessment to start collecting reviews that convert.