How to choose the best review management software

Online reviews can often be the deciding factor in customer purchasing decisions today. But they also play an important role in determining local search rankings. This means that actively generating reviews for your business is very important for your local marketing strategy.

Review management software turns tracking and responding to reviews into a manageable, even enjoyable, part of running your business. From Google to Yelp, these tools help harness online feedback to boost your reputation and improve your operations. But with so many options out there, how do you choose the best review management software for your situation.

The role of review management software in local SEO

Search engines love reviews because they signal that your business is active and trusted by the community. This trust translates into higher rankings in search results, directly impacting your visibility and, ultimately, your bottom line.
 

Mechanic results in a local Google search

Reviews contribute significantly to local SEO by influencing your business, particularly in terms of prominence, which is one of the three key local ranking factors. Google reviews are especially impactful on these algorithms. But how exactly do reviews benefit local SEO?

Improved search rankings: Google has confirmed that high-quality, positive reviews from your customers increase visibility. Regularly receiving new reviews and managing them professionally is an effective growth strategy.

Increased click-through rates: A higher volume of positive reviews can also enhance your click-through rates from search results. Online reviews are a powerful form of social proof that significantly influence consumer behavior. They provide real-world opinions that help potential customers make purchasing decisions. This behavioral signal can further boost your search ranking, creating a positive feedback loop.

Local Pack visibility: Businesses that actively manage their reviews often appear in Google’s coveted Local Pack. This prime real estate displays at the top of search results, along with their reviews, increasing the likelihood of clicks.

Marketing clout: Convert your reviews into compelling graphics to share in marketing materials, email newsletters and social media.

Google review management software helps businesses achieve more of the above. It’s an investment in boosting organic traffic and saving you valuable time by streamlining the process.

The best review management software for your business

When weighing up review management solutions, begin by taking stock of what you actually need:
 

• How many locations do you have to manage?
• Which platforms are the most important to you?
• How user-friendly is the software interface? 
• Can team members learn how to use it quickly?
• What kind of analytics and reporting capabilities do you need?
• Can the software handle filtering and prioritize reviews based on urgency?
• Is customer support available and responsive when you need help?
• What is your budget for review management software?
• Does the software offer a good return on investment?
   

Before you commit to any review management software, check the platform integration options it offers. Make sure you can connect with Google, Facebook, Yelp, and the other top directories you should have your NAP data listed on. Ideally one that covers as many of the following 20+ sites as possible. 

A list of connected listings for an addiction treatment center

Listing Management features can help get your business on several of these platforms quickly with minimal fuss. Doing this manually is extremely time consuming, so look into what the software can do to save your resources. The best review management tools also offer intuitive interfaces and straightforward processes for monitoring reviews. Time is precious for business owners, so software that minimizes the effort required to manage reviews is invaluable.

For businesses operating in multiple locations, a single dashboard saves a lot of time and admin. This feature simplifies reputation oversight and ensures brand voice consistency across locations.

Engaging with customers with review management software

Effective review management isn't just about monitoring feedback, it's also about customer engagement. Responding to customer feedback demonstrates your business’s commitment to customer satisfaction and positively influences your online reputation. But keeping track of reviewers across multiple platforms is no mean feat without a helpful review management tool. Look for software that facilitates easy and efficient replies so you don’t waste time flipping between platforms.

The best review management software offers:

A prompt alert system: Immediate notifications of new reviews allow businesses to respond in real time. Letting reviews stack up leads to an unwieldy task down the road and delays your replies to more pressing feedback. 

AI-driven replies: Look for software that offers AI suggestions to help you tailor your responses to each customer. This is a better alternative to cookie-cutter templates that don’t give customers the personal reply they deserve.
 

Review sorting : Quickly pull up negative reviews so you can address any serious complaints before it’s too late. Or set a filter to read reviews for a specific location and see what customers are saying about it.

Semrush Review Management’s review interface

Replying to reviews is something a lot of local businesses skip because of how much time it takes—and their rankings suffer. Give your business the edge against the competition by using a tool that makes replying quicker and worth doing.

Leveraging review management software for business growth

The best review management software doesn’t just help you stay on top of your online reputation. Look at it as a tool to transform reviews into a roadmap for improving your business and revenue.

Analytics and reporting features enable businesses to identify areas for improvement and measure the impact of their strategies. Check for examples of reports to make sure they’re easy for you to understand and offer the data you need. 

Review progress reports as seen in Semrush’s Review Management
 

When used properly, good Google review management software can lead to:

Smarter business strategies: Positive reviews shine a light on what’s working for your business so you can double down in the next quarter. Treat negative feedback as constructive criticism and consider how to avoid similar customer experiences in the future.

Product development: Customer suggestions can inspire new features or services, directly influencing your business’s evolution. Thank customers for their recommendations and invite them to try the new and improved version.

Training opportunities: Negative reviews can reveal training needs within your team, ensuring customer service is positive and professional. Use positive feedback to reinforce what you’re doing right and show your team that people appreciate them.

The best review management platforms take review data and present them in a way that makes it easier to draw conclusions. That way, you can rest assured that you’re getting the maximum value out of your customer feedback.