McKinsey: Peer reviews outperform advertising in driving new customers

Stop losing jobs to businesses
with better Google reviews.

Automated Google review responses for local businesses — via SMS.

Gleam monitors your reviews 24/7, writes a reply in your voice, and texts you to approve it. You reply A. It posts. No app. No dashboard. Just your phone.

Start My Free 14-Day Trial

$47/month after trial · Gleam Solo · Cancel any time

More bookings at 50+ reviews McKinsey
97%
Read reviews before choosing BrightLocal
89%
Read the owner's response too BrightLocal
33%
Won't use a business that ignores reviews BrightLocal
The opportunity

Your reviews are outperforming your ads.
Most businesses don't know it.

McKinsey's research found that peer reviews now influence more purchase decisions than any advertising strategy. The businesses winning local search aren't the ones spending more on ads — they're the ones with more reviews and faster responses.

97%

of consumers read reviews before choosing a local business. Your Google listing is your storefront — reviews are the window.

88%

of consumers are more likely to choose a business whose owner responds to every review. Response rate is now a trust signal.

33%

of consumers say they would never use a business that ignores its negative reviews. Silence reads as indifference.

more bookings for practices and businesses with 50+ Google reviews vs. those with fewer. Volume and velocity are what move the needle.

Sources: BrightLocal Local Consumer Review Survey 2025/2026  ·  McKinsey & Company

Responding to reviews generates more reviews.

McKinsey's research found a compounding effect: businesses that respond consistently attract more reviews, which attracts more customers, which generates more reviews. The businesses that ignore this flywheel are falling behind the ones that don't.

New Review
💬
Fast Response
📈
Higher Ranking
🏠
More Customers
⭐⭐
More Reviews

Source: McKinsey & Company — "Why Businesses Must Heed Online Reviews"

How it works

Four steps.
Completely handled.

The entire workflow happens in SMS. Your team already knows how to use it.

01

A new Google review arrives.

Gleam detects it instantly and texts your manager with the review text, star rating, and a ready-to-send AI draft in your voice.

Gleam Reviews · +1 888 394 4345
New 5★ from Sarah M. — "Amazing staff, so kind and professional. Will definitely be back!" Reply APPROVE to post our draft, or EDIT [your text] to customize.
02

We draft a reply in your voice.

AI reads the review and writes a warm, specific response — not a template. You read it. You decide. 89% of potential customers will read this response before they decide whether to call you.

Gleam Reviews · +1 888 394 4345
Draft: "Sarah, thank you so much — our team genuinely loves what they do, and hearing that means everything. We can't wait to see you again soon!"
APPROVE
03

Posted. Done.

Gleam posts the response directly to your Google Business Profile. You choose what's automatic — text AUTO 5 to auto-post 5-star replies, or approve each one. Default is approve-each.

04

Gleam keeps watching.

Rating drops, review velocity spikes, repeated complaints — Gleam alerts you by text before they become problems. Monthly reports arrive in your inbox automatically.

Everything you're too busy
to handle.

Gleam Solo includes every feature. No add-ons, no tiers, no surprises.

SMS approval workflow

Every review alert, draft, and action lives in your SMS app. Nothing new to learn. Nothing new to open.

AI response drafting

Every reply is written for that specific review — warm, specific, in your voice. Never generic, never off-brand.

Direct GBP posting

Approved replies post instantly to your Google Business Profile. No copy-paste, no browser, no logins.

Auto-post modes

Text AUTO 5 to auto-post 5-star replies instantly. AUTO ALL handles every review automatically. You stay in control.

Rating & velocity alerts

Gleam texts you when your 30-day rating drops below 4.0 or when review volume spikes — before it becomes a problem.

Monthly reputation reports

A clear AI-generated summary of your review trends, top complaints, and top praise — sent to your inbox every month.

ReplyResurrect

When a reviewer edits their review and Google wipes your response, Gleam detects it and sends you a fresh draft automatically.

Sentiment alerts

When the same complaint — response time, pricing, workmanship — appears in 3+ reviews in 7 days, Gleam flags it before it becomes a pattern.

No software to manage

Nothing to install. Nothing to update. Gleam runs in the background. Your team texts. That's the entire job.

Replies that sound
like you wrote them.

Gleam writes in your business's voice. Every response feels personal — because it is.

Generic template
"Thank you for your feedback. We strive to provide excellent service to all our customers and appreciate you taking the time to share your experience."
Gleam response
"Sarah, thank you so much — our team genuinely loves what they do, and hearing that means everything. We'd love to work with you again!"

Built on data, not guesswork.

We don't have years of customer testimonials yet — we're early. But the case for what Gleam does isn't opinion. It's documented.

McKinsey & Company

Peer reviews now outperform advertising in driving consumer purchase decisions.

Practices with 50+ Google reviews book at 2× the rate of those with fewer.

BrightLocal 2025/2026

89% of consumers read the owner's response to a review before deciding.

Every response you post is being read by your next customer — not just your current one.

BrightLocal 2025/2026

33% of consumers say they'd never use a business that ignores negative reviews.

A missed response isn't neutral. It's a visible signal to everyone who searches you.

If your phone rings to book jobs, Gleam is for you.

Gleam is designed for local service businesses where the owner or manager is already stretched thin. Every feature runs by text — nothing to log into, nothing to manage.

🔧 Plumbers ❄️ HVAC 🏗️ Roofers ⚡ Electricians 🌿 Landscapers 🏥 Dental Practices 🚗 Auto Repair 💅 Med Spas
Pricing

Simple. One plan.

Everything included. No per-review fees. No add-ons.

Gleam Solo · 1 location

$47/mo

14-day free trial · Card required to start — cancel before day 14 and you're never charged

Start My Free 14-Day Trial →

One new customer from better reviews pays for a full year of Gleam.

Join early. Shape what we build.

Gleam is in early access — a small group of local businesses helping us build the right product. 14 days free. Three steps, five minutes, and you're live.

Straight answers.

How do I respond to Google reviews without logging in? +

Gleam monitors your Google Business Profile 24/7 and texts you when a new review arrives — along with a ready-to-post AI-written response in your voice. Reply A to approve. It posts instantly. No login, no dashboard, no app required.

How quickly should I respond to a Google review? +

Speed matters. BrightLocal found 88% of consumers are more likely to choose a business that responds to every review. A slow response to a negative review amplifies the damage; a fast one neutralizes it. Gleam catches new reviews within about 30 minutes, day or night.

What if I already have decent reviews? +

Recent velocity matters as much as your overall rating. 50 reviews from three years ago sends a weaker signal than 5 fresh reviews this month — to Google's algorithm and to customers checking your recency. Gleam keeps new, responded-to reviews coming in consistently, which is what keeps your listing ranking.

Will my customers know the response was written by AI? +

No. Gleam writes in the brand voice you choose — professional, warm, or casual — plus any style guidance you give it. Every response is written specifically for that reviewer — on-brand and personal. You read it before it posts. If it doesn't sound right, you edit it or write your own reply instead.

How much does Gleam cost? +

$47/month for one location, everything included. 14-day free trial — add your card, cancel before it ends and you're never charged. No contracts — cancel any time. One new customer from better reviews pays for a full year.