Local · 8 min read · August 27, 2026
Online Reputation Management for Local Businesses: Protect the First Impression
Before anyone calls you, they read about you. Here is how to build a steady flow of reviews, respond to criticism and keep your search results working in your favor.
By Ryan Pereyra, Founder & Agency Owner, RPM National
Search your own name first
Google your business name and your name as the owner, then look at page one the way a new customer would. Reviews, directory listings, news mentions and social profiles all shape the decision before anyone visits your site.
Make asking for reviews a habit
The businesses with the best ratings are not always the best businesses. They are the ones that ask consistently. Send a short text with a direct review link right after every completed job, while the experience is fresh.
Respond to negative reviews like a future customer is watching
Because they are. Thank the reviewer, acknowledge the issue without arguing, and offer to resolve it offline. A calm, professional reply often reassures readers more than a perfect score.
Own more of page one
Claim and complete profiles on the platforms that matter in your industry, publish helpful content under your brand and keep social profiles active. The more positive properties you control, the less room there is for a single bad result to dominate.
Ryan Pereyra’s take
Ryan Pereyra, founder of RPM National, reads a business’s review replies before he reads its reviews. How an owner responds to a bad review tells prospects more than the star rating does.
His advice: reply to every review, keep it short and human, and take the details offline.
