Do Online Reviews Impact Business Success? (Case Study 2025)

You’ve probably asked yourself this at least once: “Do online reviews really make that much of a difference?”

If you’re running a local business – plumbing, dental, HVAC, legal – and you’re relying on search to bring in leads, the answer isn’t just yes. It’s absolutely yes.

In 2025, online reviews are one of the strongest ranking and conversion factors for local businesses. If you’re not showing up in Google Maps, if you’re not getting clicks, and your phone isn’t ringing, chances are your review profile has something to do with it.

And here’s the harsh reality: If you don’t have reviews or you only have a couple, people won’t trust you enough to call you. Even worse, most won’t even see you in the first place.

In this article, we’re going to prove it. You’ll see how businesses with the same service and in the same city perform completely differently. We will also give you a few tips to get those much-needed reviews!

What Happens When a Business Has No Reviews?

If a business has no reviews, it has no proof.

Customers notice and more importantly, they hesitate. You might have the best service in your area, but if nobody’s vouching for you online, potential buyers will scroll right past.

According to a survey by Fan & Fuel, here’s what happens when people don’t see any reviews:

• 35% are less likely to buy
• 32% delay the decision and look for more information
• 23% say they find it hard to choose without reviews
• Only 2% go ahead with the purchase

That means 98% of potential customers either delay or skip the purchase altogether when there’s no social proof.

It’s not about having a perfect reputation – it’s about having at least some reputation. A completely blank review profile triggers doubt. People wonder:

• Is this business real?
• Has anyone used them before?
• Why hasn’t anyone left a review?

This is important in local services, especially where many buyers are searching “near me” and making fast decisions. 

If your business has no reviews, most people will skip over it. They won’t trust it. They won’t click it. They’ll choose someone else who looks more established. That’s the reality.

Google Reviews vs No Reviews: Comparing the Impact of Online Reviews on Business

To really show how much reviews matter, we decided to look at two plumbing businesses in New York City. Same city. Same type of service. But completely different visibility.

When you Google something like “plumber near me NYC”, one of the first listings you’ll see is RR Plumbing Roto-Rooter.

They’ve got:

• Over 1,400 Google reviews
• An average rating of 4.8 stars
• Full Google Business Profile with photos, booking, hours, service areas, the works

People that don’t know any particular brand names normally search “profession” in “city” or just “near me” and they usually don’t look past the first three results. 

That’s the Google Map Pack – the top businesses shown right below the ads. If you’re not there, you’re already missing most of the clicks. Very few people scroll past that, and almost no one digs into page 5 or 9 looking for options.

Look at the positive reviews here, you know that people will trust them before they even click. That trust translates into calls, bookings, and more customers, which means even more reviews over time. It’s a loop that keeps working in their favor.  If you’re a customer with a plumbing emergency, are you going to scroll down? Probably not.

Now compare that to another business we found – Bleeker Emergency Plumbing & Heating.

They’re also based in NYC. They offer the same kind of emergency plumbing services. But instead of being in the top results, we had to scroll all the way to page 9 of Google Maps just to find them.

Their profile?

• Just 2 reviews total
• One good, one bad
• No real photos, no recent updates, no customer proof

If you’re a homeowner in a rush, would you ever scroll that far to call someone with 2 mixed reviews and no online presence? Of course not. You’ll call someone who looks trusted, someone with proof.

Bleeker might be doing great work. They might be reliable and still have tons of work by word of mouth in that area, but online, not so much.

Google doesn’t just show results randomly. You can sort by rating, by number of business reviews, and by distance. So if one business has 1,400 reviews with a 4.8 rating, and another has two reviews and one of them is negative, the choice becomes obvious.

The difference between these two businesses isn’t just about how they look today. It’s about how reviews affect everything – visibility, clicks, conversions, reputation. One is getting steady calls and growing. The other is hidden and likely losing customers every single day. That’s what online reviews do.

If you’re a business with no reviews or only a few, the solution isn’t complicated. You need more Google reviews, and you need to get them consistently.

How to Get More Google Reviews (3 Methods That Work)

You don’t need to wait around for customers to maybe leave one someday. Here are three methods that actually work:

1. Buy Google Reviews from ReputationManage (Fastest & Easiest)

The quickest way to build trust and show up higher in search results is to buy real Google reviews from a trusted provider. At ReputationManage, we make that simple.

You can grow faster with safe, high-quality Google reviews that look and feel like other organic ones.

We’ve helped thousands of small businesses improve their local rankings, earn customer trust, and finally show up where it counts – right at the top of Google.

Packages start at just $7.99, and you can scale up based on your needs and how far behind your competitors you are.

What you get with us:

✅ Real, handwritten review content tailored to your business
✅ Aged accounts tied to your country or city
✅ Gradual, natural delivery – not all at once
✅ Refund protection if anything doesn’t stick
✅ 24/7 support team who actually responds

👉 Buy Google Reviews now and start ranking with real results.

2. Automate the Ask With Review Request Tools

Most happy customers are willing to leave a review – they just forget. Tools like Podium, Birdeye, or even a simple CRM-based automation can help send email or SMS requests after a job is done.

Set it up once and let the system do the work. You’ll collect reviews steadily over time and keep your profile active, which Google loves.

3. Make It Part of the Job – Every Time

Train your team to ask for reviews on the spot – after a finished project, a haircut, a legal consult, whatever the service is. Give customers a QR code or a direct link to your Google review form. If the experience was good, most people are happy to help – they just need a small nudge.

Why Google Reviews Build Trust and Drive Clicks

Google reviews do more than just show up on your page – they make customers trust you and click on your listing.

Here’s how:

1. Reviews Drive Consumer Decisions

According to BrightLocal’s 2024 Local Consumer Review Survey, 94% of people say a positive review makes them more likely to use a business. That’s a huge driver for clicks.

2. Businesses with Reviews Get More Clicks

Moz’s Local Search Ranking Factors report highlights that review quantity and diversity significantly impact local search click-through rates. While exact numbers vary, the trend is clear-listings with reviews consistently attract more clicks.

3. Reviews Build Foundational Trust

For small businesses, especially local services, most buyers don’t know you. Reviews offer instant social proof. Sites like Podium found that a lack of reviews often leads customers to go elsewhere or delay decisions.

4. Reviews are a game-changer for small businesses

Big brands have a built-in advantage. People already know the names. They’ve seen the logos, the ads, the trucks on the road. That kind of recognition means customers are more willing to give them a chance, even if their online reviews aren’t perfect.. Small businesses don’t have that luxury.

If you’re a local business, especially in a competitive city or industry, your reviews are often the only thing a customer sees before deciding to trust you. 

Conclusion

If you’ve made it this far, the answer’s clear.

Yes, online reviews matter. They impact how people see you, how Google ranks you, and whether anyone even bothers to contact your business.

We showed you two real plumbing companies in the same city. One has thousands of reviews and shows up at the top. The other has two, and it’s buried nine pages deep. Same service.

That’s the real-world impact of online reviews.

If you’re not getting seen, not getting clicks, and not getting calls, it’s probably not your pricing, photos, or service. It’s your Google review count.

And the fix doesn’t have to be slow.

At ReputationManage, we help small businesses grow their reviews, grow their visibility, and grow their customer base, all without guesswork. You can purchase Google reviews today or let us fully manage your Google Business Profile and handle everything for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do online reviews matter?

Yes, absolutely. In 2025, online reviews directly impact how visible your business is on Google, how trustworthy you appear to potential customers, and whether or not people click on your listing. Without them, you’re likely being ignored, no matter how good your service is.

Are reviews important for a business?

They’re critical. Reviews are often the first thing people see when they search for your business or your service category. Strong reviews help you get found, earn trust, and convert leads. No reviews? You risk being skipped entirely.

Can one bad review ruin a business?

One bad review won’t ruin your business, but it can hurt if it’s one of only a few. The key is volume. A single 1-star review doesn’t matter much if you’ve got 50 others saying great things. But if you only have three total reviews, one negative one can really shake confidence.

Do 87% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses?

Yes and that number keeps rising. For many people, reviews are a bigger factor than even a recommendation from a friend.