Reputation Management in Western NC

One Bad Review Shouldn't Define Your Business

A contractor in Canton called me after a bad Google review nearly tanked his business. One unhappy customer wrote a long, detailed complaint. It sat at the top of his reviews for months. New leads dried up.

The frustrating part? He'd done hundreds of great jobs. Happy customers just never thought to leave reviews. So that one negative review was all anyone saw.

We put together a simple system to ask happy customers for reviews. Within three months, he had 40 new five-star reviews. That one bad review got buried. His phone started ringing again.

Why Reviews Matter More Than Ever

When someone searches for a business in Western NC, Google shows them a map with three options. Guess what determines which businesses show up? Reviews. How many you have, how recent they are, and what your average rating is.

Reviews affect your business in three big ways:

• Search rankings. Google uses reviews as a ranking factor for local search. More positive reviews = higher visibility on Google Maps and in the local pack.
• Click-through rates. When people see search results, they click on businesses with more stars and more reviews. A 4.8 rating with 150 reviews beats a 5.0 with 3 reviews every time.
• Conversion. Once someone lands on your Google Business Profile or website, reviews are often what pushes them to call. Social proof matters.

This is all connected to your local SEO. Reviews are one of the biggest factors Google looks at when deciding who shows up for local searches.

How We Get You More Reviews

We don't do anything shady. No fake reviews. No review gating (which Google hates). Just simple systems that make it easy for your real customers to share their experience.

Here's what that looks like:

• Timing matters. We help you ask at the right moment, when the customer is happiest with your service.
• Make it easy. One click to leave a review. No hunting for your Google listing. No confusion.
• Follow up. A friendly reminder for customers who meant to leave a review but forgot.
• Train your team. Simple language your staff can use to ask for reviews without feeling awkward.

Most businesses see a significant increase in reviews within the first 60 days.

What About Negative Reviews?

They happen. Even the best businesses get them. What matters is how you respond.

A thoughtful response to a negative review can actually help your business. It shows potential customers that you care and that you take feedback seriously. Sometimes it even wins back the unhappy customer.

We craft responses that acknowledge the issue, offer to make it right, and move the conversation offline. No defensiveness. No arguing in public. Just professionalism.

Part of a Bigger Picture

Reputation management works best when it's part of your overall marketing strategy. It connects directly to your Google Business Profile, your local SEO, and your social media presence.

When all these pieces work together, you build real trust with potential customers before they ever pick up the phone.