When it comes to content marketing nothing beats UGC – or user generated content. One of the best forms of UGC when it comes to building credibility as a brand are customer reviews.
But how to get them? The answer is, don’t be afraid to ask.
Think about how busy you are, and then think about how many times you’ve wanted to review a place, and never quiet got around to it. I know many times it’s happened over here. We’ll have a great meal, or experience a great stay a RV park, and then never think to leave a review.
This is life in 2026 and beyond – the age of ultra distraction. We’re so busy and distracted, we often forget to leave reviews. And yet if asked, you can imagine, more than likely you’d be happy to do so.
The remedy to all this is simply to ask. Don’t be afraid to ask. Don’t be too proud to ask. Simply ask, hey, if you’ve had a great experience with us, would you mind leaving us a review?
Make it Easy on The Customer to Leave a Review
Take two minutes and grab a link to your Google Business Profile. Simply search your business name, and then click on the share icon to the right of your screen (on desktop). You do not need to be logged in or have special credentials to grab this link.
Once you have the link to the profile simply share that with customers via text or email and a polite short ask.
The Algo Loves Customer Reviews
AI, Google, and all other forms of discovery seem to love customer reviews. This is often referred to as customer sentiment.
Perplexity.ai breaks it down below.
Customer sentiment in local GEO (Google Maps, local pack, reviews, etc.) is a huge ranking and revenue lever for a small business—both the tone of reviews and the accumulation (volume + recency) matter a lot.
Why sentiment in GEO matters
- Positive sentiment (how people feel in reviews, surveys, social) strongly correlates with loyalty, repeat purchases, and word of mouth.inmoment+2
- For small businesses, tracking and improving sentiment is one of the most cost‑effective ways to boost retention versus constantly chasing new customers.cmswire+1
- Even a small shift in average rating can move revenue: a 1‑star increase in platforms like Google is linked to roughly 5–9% more revenue.[kenect]
Role of reviews in local SEO
- Google uses review quantity, quality (star rating), and recency as key signals for Maps and local pack rankings, under “prominence” and “relevance.”eseospace+3
- Businesses with lots of recent, positive reviews are more likely to appear in the top 3 map results, which dramatically increases calls and visits.theadfirm+1
- Detailed reviews with local and service keywords (“embroidery shop in Shelby,” “fast turnaround on hats”) reinforce local relevance and help rankings.thewizard+1
“Accumulation” of sentiment (volume over time)
Think of it like a bank account: every review is a deposit or withdrawal.
- More total reviews = stronger trust signal; studies show most buyers heavily rely on online reviews when choosing a local business.smetoday+1
- A natural mix (not 100% perfect) can actually earn more; one study of 200,000 small businesses found that businesses with 15–20% negative reviews earned more than those with almost none, likely because the profile seems more credible and they respond well.[wpbusinessreviews]
- Recency matters: steady, ongoing accumulation of new reviews beats a big spike and then silence.eseospace+1
Practical takeaways for a small local shop
For a local embroidery / e‑commerce style business like yours, GEO sentiment is basically free marketing plus SEO:
- Ask every happy customer to leave a Google review (QR code at checkout, link in emails, follow‑ups after delivery).
- Reply to all reviews, especially negatives, showing you fix issues; this both improves public sentiment and is a small ranking factor.cmswire+2
- Watch patterns in comments (complaints about turnaround time, communication, etc.) and adjust operations—this directly improves future sentiment and retention.smartsurvey+2
Quick comparison: sentiment vs other local factors
| Factor | What it impacts most | How much you can control daily | Example action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer sentiment | Trust, retention, word of mouthinmoment+2 | High | Improve service, ask for reviews, respond to feedback |
| Review volume/recency | Local pack / Maps visibilitytheadfirm+2 | High | Systematically request reviews after each job |
| Proximity | Who sees you on Mapseseospace+1 | Low | Make sure address and service area are accurate |
| On‑page local SEO | Website organic visibilitythewizard+1 | Medium | Local keywords, NAP consistency, service pages |