Reviews and Local Ranking Factors

Google uses three main factors to decide which businesses appear in local results: relevance (does the business match what was searched), distance (how close the business is to the searcher or the location specified) and prominence (how well-known and reputable the business is online).

Reviews directly affect prominence. The number of reviews, the average rating, how recent the reviews are, and whether the business responds to them all contribute to how Google assesses a business’s reputation. A steady flow of new genuine reviews consistently outperforms a one-time burst.

The best way to get more reviews is to ask. A simple follow-up message to customers after a purchase or appointment, with a direct link to your Google review page, works better than any tactic. Never pay for reviews or incentivize them, as Google can detect patterns and remove them.