More than ever, consumers rely on the internet to determine where they shop, what they buy, where they eat and where they spend their money in general. They conduct research online and read reviews from other consumers to determine the best businesses to use. Knowing the high premium today’s shoppers place on what they see online, businesses must keep a positive online image. A few bad reviews or negative online articles can do some serious damage.

Monitoring your online reputation, especially customer reviews, is more important than ever. According to recent surveys, 70% of consumers check multiple review sites when considering buying from a local business. (The average consumer reads 10 reviews before they feel they can trust a business.) Nearly half of consumers surveyed said they would not use a business that has less than four stars on review sites.

You want customers to judge your business for themselves. However, if they see some bad reviews online, there is a good chance they’ll turn to a competitor that has a better online image. You may never get the opportunity to prove those bad reviews wrong, because shoppers won’t give you a chance. As a small business owner, you must actively monitor your company’s online reputation to ensure you are meeting the needs of your customers.