In traditional SEO (keyword-based ranking not specific to one geographic area), reviews have a relatively modest impact on ranking. Source: Local SEO Guide Reviews Dominate Local SEO “The prominence of reviews isn’t particularly shocking, as it’s a way for Google to crowdsource ranking factors, it’s hard to spam, and the most problematic type of abuse is illegal.”

Even worse, they are less likely to find your business in the first place.

If your business doesn’t have many reviews, potential customers will have less information to help them make a decision about where to shop. That means businesses with higher ratings get a boost. It's in Google’s best interest to show searchers the results that are most likely to offer a great experience, as proven by past customer reviews. While this is frustrating for businesses rated 3.9 or lower, it makes sense. For example, if a searcher adds the modifier “best” to the search Google automatically hides any business with a rating <4.0. That's because there are certain search situations in which Google only displays businesses with ratings above 4.0. This last statistic is especially important to keep in mind.

Not only does it have more reviews, but it also has better reviews.Ĭonsumers read an average of 10 reviews before they feel they can trust a local business ( Brightlocal).ĥ7% of consumers will only consider a business if it is rated 4 stars or higher. You head to Google, type in a few keywords, and are faced with the following two options.Ĭlearly, you’re going to choose #1. Let’s say that you’re a consumer searching for a local car dealership. In fact, 85% of customers trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendations. In today’s marketplace, customers rely upon both good and bad reviews to vet local businesses. Why Are Reviews Important? Consider Your Future Customer

Rating review