If you're questioning the importance of reviews for your business, these updated online review statistics will make you a believer. Countless research studies have been conducted with an overwhelming response from consumers pointing to online reviews being a significant factor in buying decisions.

Top 25 Online Review Statistics for 2019

1. 6 out of 10 customers now look to Google My Business for reviews on a local business
2. Nearly 9 out of 10 consumers read reviews for local businesses before making a purchase
3. Prospective customers will read an average of 10 online reviews before they feel they can trust a local business
4. Half of all prospective customers will visit a business's website after reading positive online reviews
5. 49 percent of consumers value the quantity of online reviews a business has - up from 46 percent in 2017 and 35 percent in 2016
6. 57 percent of prospective customers expect a local business to have more than 11 online reviews (up from 51 percent in 2017)
7. The average local business has 39 Google reviews
8. Prospective customers want to see an average of 40 online reviews before they'll believe a business's star rating (up from 34 in 2017.)
9. Local businesses that show up top of the local SEO pack have 47 or more Google reviews
10. The average star rating for a local business is 4.42 stars on Google My Business
11. Only 5 percent of local businesses on Google My Business have a star rating lower than 3 stars 
12. 13 percent of consumers will contact a business after reading positive online reviews
13. 40 percent of consumers will only look at online reviews written within the past 2 weeks (as compared to 18 percent the prior year)
14. 57 percent of prospective customers will only consider a business if it has 4 or more stars
15. Half of all 18 - 34 year old consumers will always read online reviews before considering a local business
16. Only 5 percent of 18 - 34 year old consumers never read online reviews
17. 80 percent of 18 - 34 year old consumers have written online reviews for a local business
18. 91 percent of 18 - 34 year old consumers trust online reviews as much as a recommendation from a friend or family member
19. 75 percent of 35 - 54 year old consumers read reviews on mobile browsers
20. 61 percent of consumers over 55 years old want businesses to have 4 or more stars
21. 78 percent of consumers over 55 years old read online reviews on PCs or Macs
22. Nearly 7 out of 10 consumers are more likely to consider a business with positive online reviews
23. 40 percent of prospective customers will not consider a business with negative online reviews
24. 89 percent of prospective customers read the business owner's response to online reviews
25. Over half of all consumers expect businesses to respond to negative online reviews within 7 days, but 63 percent say that a business has never responded to their review.

Sources for Online Review Statistics