A dial-up modem, floppy disk, cassette player, disposable camera, wired landline phone...

Some technology was completely normal not that long ago but would probably need an explanation today.

Which old device would be the funniest one to demonstrate to someone who grew up with smartphones?

A couple of nearby businesses now show above us on Google maps, and they seem to get new google reviews every week. Calls from our listing have slowed down just as we’re heading into our busiest season. I’m at the business every day, so I notice when the phone stays quiet, even if I can’t tell exactly how many customers we’re losing.

We ask happy customers to leave a review, and most say they will. I’ve started checking our listing in the mornings to see if anyone followed through, but weeks go by with nothing new. Seeing the other businesses keep adding reviews makes me wonder if they’re buying google reviews, though I have no way of knowing.

With our busiest season coming up, I’m wondering if it makes sense to buy Google reviews. Our regulars know what we’re like, but someone finding us for the first time only sees the listing. I just don’t know whether more reviews would bring back calls and walk ins or create a bigger problem for us.

If you’ve paid for reviews on Google, I’d appreciate hearing whether your Maps ranking position changed, whether you got more calls, and whether the reviews stayed up on your GMB profile. I’m especially curious if you’d make the same decision again. 

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