What customers say about shops near you, and how to use it

Customers near you write reviews of other places like yours. Those reviews show what people miss. Look for a complaint that comes up again and again. If you do that thing well, say so on your listing. Never copy another shop, and never speak badly about one.

Ravi runs a small tiffin service near a college. He read the Google reviews of places like his nearby.

He saw the same line again and again. "Food came cold." Ravi packs his food in hot cases. He had never told anyone.

He added one line to his Google listing and a photo of his hot cases. A few days later, a new customer asked about it on the phone.

This is an example, with a made up name and business.

1. Search like a customer. Open Google Maps. Search for your kind of business and your area.
2. Open three or four places near you. Tap their reviews. Sort by newest.
3. Look for a pattern. One angry review means little. The same complaint in many reviews means something.
4. Be honest with yourself. Read your own reviews too. If customers say the same about you, fix that first.
5. Pick one thing you really do well. It should be something a customer can check when they visit.
6. Show it on your listing. Add a photo, a line in your description, or an update. Our guide on posting on your Google listing shows how.
7. Tell your own customers. Send one short WhatsApp message to people who already message you.

Rules to keep

• Never name another business in your post.
• Never say another shop is bad.
• Never copy another shop's photos or words.
• Never write reviews for yourself or ask friends to.

Pulse gives one tip, about the complaint it saw again and again. Our guides cover each one:

• Prices
• Waiting time
• Home delivery
• Service
• Cleanliness
• Items in stock
• Quality of work
• Food
• Parking
• Your shop space
• A clear listing

Is it fair to use other shops' reviews?

Yes, if you only learn from them. Reviews are public. You do not name anyone or copy anything.

What if I am not good at that thing either?

Then do not post about it. Fix it in your shop first. Post only what is true.

Will this bring more customers?

Nobody can promise that. It helps a customer who is choosing see a reason to pick you.