Online reviews have become the Achilles heel of local businesses. What people say about your business matters. I’ve seen clients lose 40 percent of their organic traffic, after a customer left a 1-star review, and tanked their average rating. I’ve even seen negative reviews force local businesses to close their doors for good. It isn’t fair, but it’s the harsh reality of owning a business in the digital age. The good news is that there’s plenty that business owners can do to reinforce their reputation.