Most owners think of reviews as social proof for prospects. They are - but they're also one of the strongest signals AI tools use when deciding who to recommend.
What AI Looks For
- Recent reviews (last 90 days matter more than 5-year-old ones)
- Volume relative to category
- Owner responses
- Sentiment trends
- Distribution across platforms
How to Build a Review System
Ask every happy customer at the moment of value. Make it easy - a short link, a QR code, a text. Respond to every review, especially negative ones.
El Paso Reality Check
Most local businesses have fewer than 30 Google reviews. The ones with 100+ recent reviews dominate both Google Maps and AI recommendations.