Why Google Reviews Matter for Your Online Ads
For tradies in Melbourne and beyond, online advertising can be a powerful tool for lead generation. Google Ads allow you to reach potential customers exactly when they’re searching for your services. But while ad copy, targeting and budget all play a role in success, there’s another factor that’s often overlooked: Google reviews.
Your business’s online reputation can directly impact how well your ads perform. At DM Design Studio, we manage Google Ads and online reputation for trade businesses across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. We’ve seen firsthand how strong review profiles improve ad performance, boost conversions and build trust with local customers.
The link between Google reviews and ad performance
When someone clicks on a Google Ad, they’re not always ready to book immediately. Often, they’ll compare a few options before deciding. One of the first things they’ll check is your review rating and what others have said about your business.
If you have dozens of recent, positive reviews and a high star rating, users are more likely to trust your service and convert. On the other hand, a low rating or no reviews can send potential leads elsewhere - even if your ad copy is well written.
We help tradies improve both their Google Ads and their review profiles to increase the chances of getting high-quality leads and turning clicks into customers.
Trust signals that convert
Online reviews are one of the strongest trust signals available. For someone searching “local electrician Melbourne” or “emergency plumber near me,” the difference between choosing your business and a competitor often comes down to credibility.
Having a 4.5+ star rating with recent reviews shows that your business is active, reliable and customer-focused. In competitive trade categories, this is essential. Google also shows review snippets under some ad formats, giving your rating more visibility right from the search results page.
At DM Design Studio, we integrate review-building strategies with Google Ads to help tradies stand out and win more work.
Better reviews, better Quality Score
Google assigns every ad a Quality Score based on relevance, landing page experience and expected click-through rate. While reviews aren’t a direct factor in Quality Score, they indirectly influence user behaviour, which can improve it over time.
When more people click your ad and follow through to contact you, your ad gains better performance metrics. This can lead to lower cost-per-click and higher ad placement. A strong reputation increases the likelihood of this positive engagement.
We monitor both ad metrics and review patterns to help tradies in Melbourne get the best value from their ad spend.
Higher click-through rates with review-rich ads
Ads with visible review ratings tend to get more clicks. Even if two businesses are advertising the same service, the one with five stars and glowing testimonials usually gets the attention.
To enable this, we use ad extensions such as seller ratings and callouts that showcase your review score and highlight specific client feedback. This helps your ad occupy more space and present a more complete profile to searchers.
Our team at DM Design Studio sets up and manages these elements to give tradie ads every competitive advantage possible.
Reviews influence local pack visibility
In addition to Google Ads, your reviews influence your appearance in the local pack - the map section shown above organic results for location-based searches.
While this sits outside paid advertising, the overlap matters. A strong review profile boosts both your paid and organic presence. If someone sees your ad and then sees your business again in the local pack with great reviews, they’re far more likely to convert.
We offer reputation management services alongside Google Ads to help Melbourne businesses strengthen their entire online presence.
Building a review strategy for tradies
Most tradies don’t have time to manually chase every customer for a review. That’s why we set up systems that automate the process and increase review volume without extra admin.
Tactics we implement include:
Automated follow-up emails or SMS after job completion
Direct review links with pre-filled instructions
Reminders built into your invoicing or job management systems
In-person QR codes for quick access to your Google review page
This consistent effort leads to a steady flow of reviews, improving both visibility and credibility in the long term.
Handling negative reviews the right way
No business is perfect, and negative reviews can happen. What matters is how you respond. Ignoring bad feedback or replying defensively can damage your brand. A professional, calm response shows potential customers that you take issues seriously and are willing to resolve them.
At DM Design Studio, we help clients craft appropriate responses to all reviews, good or bad, and provide strategies to dilute the impact of occasional poor feedback with more positive ones.
Syncing reviews with landing pages
Once someone clicks on your ad, they land on your website or a specific landing page. If the messaging on that page matches the ad but lacks any social proof, you may still lose the lead.
We recommend displaying your best reviews directly on your landing pages. Whether it’s through embedded Google reviews, testimonials or star ratings, adding this layer of reassurance can dramatically increase enquiry rates.
We build fully optimised landing pages for Google Ads campaigns that include trust elements such as reviews, certifications and service guarantees to improve conversion.
Why Melbourne tradies need both ads and reputation
In cities like Melbourne, where competition is high in every trade, combining Google Ads with reputation management isn’t optional. People have more choices than ever, and trust plays a key role in their decision.
When someone sees your ad and recognises your business as top-rated with recent customer praise, it builds confidence. That’s how we help tradies turn ad clicks into booked jobs.
Why DM Design Studio is your trusted digital partner
We’re not just another digital marketing company near you. We specialise in helping trades and service businesses get more from their online marketing. With tailored Google Ads campaigns and built-in reputation strategies, we support long-term growth.
Whether you’re an established team or a sole trader in Melbourne, our team builds campaigns that deliver results. From the first click to the final review, we ensure your digital presence reflects the quality of your work.
Visit www.dmdesignstudio.au to learn how we can help you grow your trade business with expert digital strategies that combine paid advertising and customer reputation.
