The “Review Gap”: Why Low Review Counts Quietly Cost You Calls
Picture this.
A customer pulls out their phone, types in what they need, and sees several businesses.
They don’t know you.
They can’t feel your integrity.
They can’t see your work ethic.
They see stars… and they see reviews.
And then they decide.
That moment is where businesses win or lose the war for customers.
Here’s the part most business owners don’t realize
There’s a review gap in the market right now:
Customers have a certain “minimum” number of reviews that makes them feel safe…
but many businesses are sitting below it.
BrightLocal studied more than 93,000 local businesses and found:
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The average local business has 39 Google reviews BrightLocal
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74% have at least one Google review (meaning about 26% have zero) BrightLocal
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Businesses in Google’s top 3 local positions average 47 reviews BrightLocal
That’s the supply side.
Now here’s the demand side:
BrightLocal’s Local Consumer Review Survey (2024) found that:
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Most consumers expect a business to have 20–99 reviews (59%) before they trust the overall star rating. BrightLocal
Do you see the gap?
If customers feel safest when they see at least a solid review base…
and a huge chunk of businesses have little (or none)…
then the businesses that act have an advantage.
Low reviews don’t mean you’re bad — but customers read it that way
If your review count is low, customers don’t think:
“Oh, they probably do great work but just haven’t asked.”
They think something simpler:
“Not sure… feels risky.”
And when two businesses look similar, customers choose the one that looks safest.
Why this matters even more than your skills
Because customers choose businesses based on what they see on Google — not what you know about your business.
Online proof is the shortcut your customers use to avoid regret.
The good news: this is fixable (and it compounds)
The nice thing about reviews is that they build like interest.
The sooner you start, the sooner your proof stacks up.
And the harder it becomes for competitors to catch you.
This doesn’t require a bigger ad budget.
It requires a better system.
Quick self-check (be honest)
When was the last time you looked at your Google presence the way a customer would?
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Are your reviews recent, or scattered across years?
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Do you have enough reviews to feel “safe” compared to others nearby?
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If you were a stranger… would you choose you?
Want to see where you stand in 10 minutes?
Request your Free Google Business Comparative Analysis™.
You’ll see:
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how you appear next to your closest competitors
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where you look strong
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where you’re quietly losing trust
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what to fix first
And from there, you have two paths:
You either repair a weakness that’s costing you customers…
or you sharpen a strength that helps you pull even further ahead.
đź“ž Call: (803) 556-6526
Ask for your Free Google Business Comparative Analysis™
Because customers trust the opinions of other customers.
That’s why Reviews Get Customers™.
From the team at TheLohrAgency.com™ —
helping you Win the War for Customers™.
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