How Much Do Google Reviews Help SEO Rankings?

There’s no doubt that user reviews are important. After all, they’re one of the most visible ways for customers to share their thoughts about your business. But do these Google reviews help your SEO rankings? According to recent studies, the answer is yes, and it’s a significant impact.

So if you still need to collect Google reviews, now’s the time to start!

1. What impact do Google Reviews have on businesses?

In today’s online world, online reviews are more important than ever. Google reviews are particularly influential, as they appear prominently in search results. These reviews can also help boost your brand’s local SEO, with some studies estimating an impact of 20%. 

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A bad review can damage a business’s reputation, while a good review can help to attract new customers. As a result, businesses often go to great lengths to encourage customers to leave positive reviews. However, not all online reviews are created equal.

Some customers take the time to write detailed, well-thought-out reviews, while others leave a rating and move on. As a result, businesses need to be careful about which online reviews they believe in.

A few bad reviews should not be cause for alarm, but if the majority of reviews are negative, it may be time to reassess your customer satisfaction levels.

“Google Reviews can help boost your brand’s local SEO by 20%.“

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2. How does Google use reviews for SEO rankings?

While Google keeps its algorithms under wraps, certain aspects of its search engine results pages (SERPs) are widely known. One such aspect is the influence of reviews on business rankings. 

To determine a business’s position in SERPs, Google takes into account several factors. These include the number of reviews, the average rating received, the relevance, and the recency of the reviews.

  • Number of reviews: Businesses with more reviews are considered more helpful, popular and valuable by the algorithm. These will rank higher on Google’s SERPs than businesses with negative and low ratings. 
  • Relevance: Relevancy largely depends on geographical proximity, recency of information and query match. For example, if you search for “birthday cake shops”, Google will prioritise results from highly rated local stores over those in other cities. 
  • Average ratings: Google features businesses with higher ratings more prominently, as it aims to provide the most useful answers for users. On the other hand, businesses with lower ratings will be less visible. For instance, businesses that consistently get 4.5+ stars indicate greater trust and popularity, and will receive more consideration from Google. 

This is good news for businesses that have worked hard to earn positive customer reviews. It’s also good news for companies trying to ensure their customers are satisfied with their products and services.

After all, happy customers are more likely to leave positive Google reviews, which can help lead to better SEO rankings.

3. What can you do to get more positive online reviews for your business?

Anyone who has ever run a business knows that customer reviews are essential. Good reviews can attract new customers and help improve your bottom line. Bad reviews, on the other hand, can be detrimental to your business. 

In today’s digital age, reviews are more important than ever. Potential customers can see what others have said about your business with a few clicks. 

In fact, recent studies show that 81% of consumers check Google reviews before engaging with a brand – whether it is online or in-person. That’s why it’s important to ensure you’re doing everything you can to get positive online reviews. 

Here are a few tips:

  1. Prioritise customer satisfaction: The happier your customers are, the more likely they will be to leave a positive review. Satisfied customers can also boost your business with word-of-mouth promotions, enhancing the benefits of positive online reviews. 
  1. Make it easy for customers to leave a review: Add links to your Google Business page or other review sites on your website and in your email signatures. 
  1. Respond professionally to positive and negative reviews: Acknowledging their experience enhances customer engagement and shows potential buyers that you’re invested in their satisfaction. 

By following these tips, you can increase your business’s positive Google reviews and use them to help improve your SEO rankings. 

“Recent studies show that 81% of consumers check Google reviews before engaging with a brand.”

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4. How should you respond to negative online reviews?

Negative reviews are inevitable, especially if you’re doing business online. And while negative feedback is never fun, there are ways you can respond to cushion the damage and even turn it into a positive! 

  1. Stay calm and don’t lash out: It’s important to remember that the person writing the review is a customer. Even if their experience wasn’t positive, it’s still valuable insight into areas for improvement to enhance your competitiveness and long term success
  1. Take ownership and avoid defending yourself: Take accountability and be sincere. In fact, recent studies have shown that 44.6% of customers are still willing to engage with your business if you respond to their negative review. 
  1. Every setback is a learning opportunity: Customer dissatisfactions can highlight the blindspots in your business strategy. Use their concerns as a chance to understand how you can better meet expectations, and make changes to enhance their experience.
  1. Show your commitment to customer satisfaction: Replying empathetically shows customers that you are engaged. Acknowledging their concerns and offering solutions, can help you build trust, improve brand image and even turn a dissatisfied person into a loyal customer. In fact, surveys have found that 83% of customers felt more loyal to brands that responded and resolved their concerns. 

Remember, your reaction and response is just as important as the complaint itself. Take negative reviews as a chance to learn and demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction. 

Being open to feedback and thoughtfully addressing concerns can help improve your overall quality and brand reputation. This approach not only addresses the immediate problem but can also benefit your business in the long term. 

If you really think about it, negative reviews are actually valuable opportunities for businesses to shine! 

“83% of customers felt more loyal to brands that responded and resolved their concerns.” 

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Final thoughts on Google Reviews and SEO.

SEO can be a bit of a mystery. There are endless articles touting the latest and greatest SEO strategies, but how do you know which one is worth your time? Luckily there is one strategy that is always worth investing in: Google Reviews.

In today’s age of online hoaxes and fake news, customer satisfaction is more important than ever. Google reviews can help you build trust with potential customers and show them that you’re a reliable business.

In addition, they can be a valuable tool in crisis management. If your business ever finds itself in trouble, Google reviews can help your SEO rankings and dilute the negativity. 

At First Page, we can implement Google Reviews as part of your SEO campaign. We apply successfully-proven reputation management strategies on a case-by-case basis to best optimise your brand. 
Need help with Google Reviews? Get a FREE quote from First Page today.

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What else can you do to improve your digital marketing besides Google Reviews?

As you know, keeping ahead of the competition requires constant investment. Using Google Reviews is a great digital tactic to boost your authority on search (and drive web traffic). 

What more can you do to improve your marketing ROI? We have some great marketing blogs that can guide you to marketing success:

You probably have a lot on your plate if you are a busy small entrepreneur. If this is the case, we encourage you to review some of our strategic marketing services to drive more sales and keep you ahead of the competition:

FAQ

Why do Google reviews help SEO? 

Google scans the internet to deliver the most relevant and reliable information quickly. Just as customers rely on reviews to make purchase decisions, search engines evaluate the quantity and quality of reviews to determine SERPs. 

What is the best length for a Google Review? 

Longer and more detailed reviews (200+ characters)  tend to perform better, as they are deemed more “relevant” by Google. Other factors that impact the quality of Google reviews include the addition of photos, content specificity, and whether it was written by a local guide. 

How many Google reviews do I need to help increase my SEO ranking?

This largely depends on your industry and competitors. Most often, you will want a greater number of high ratings than your competitors. 

Can Google detect fake Google reviews?

Yes. Google uses an automated system to detect suspicious activity. This may include large volumes of reviews left by the same account in a short period of time, suspiciously similar word patterns, and overlaid images.