How do Google reviews impact a business’s local ranking? 🤔

Your online reputation is everything!

Think about it. When you’re looking for a new restaurant or a plumber, what’s the first thing you do? You go to Google and check their star rating and read what people are saying. A study from BrightLocal found that about 98% of people read online reviews for local businesses. And here’s a stat that very few people talk about: a study from Podium found that almost 90% of consumers have made a buying decision based on an online review.

So, you know how important reviews are. But what you might not know is that reviews are not just for show. They are a powerful signal that tells Google you are a good, trustworthy business. The Moz Local Search Ranking Factors Survey found that online reviews make up about 10% of how Google decides to rank a business. So, if you’re not getting good reviews, you’re missing out on a huge part of what Google looks for.

In today’s “zero-click” world, where Google’s new AI Overviews often give a direct answer at the top of the search page, reviews are more important than ever. The AI looks at your reviews to see if you’re a real, trusted business. Your reputation is a key part of your E-E-A-T (Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness), which is what Google looks for now. So, a great reputation can not only get you more customers directly, but it can also help you show up higher in search results.

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Why are fresh, recent reviews the most important ranking factor for my business? 📈

You might think that having a lot of good reviews is enough. But Google’s algorithm is much smarter than that. It doesn’t just look at how many reviews you have; it looks at how recent they are.

Think about it from a customer’s point of view. Would you rather go to a restaurant that has 100 great reviews from five years ago, or a restaurant that has 20 great reviews from the last month? You’d probably trust the reviews from the last month more. Google’s algorithm thinks the same way.

A study from BrightLocal found that 73% of consumers only trust reviews that have been left within the last month. And almost 40% of consumers say that reviews older than three months are no longer relevant. This is a huge stat that very few people are talking about. It means that if you’re not getting a steady stream of fresh, recent reviews, your older reviews are losing their power.

Getting recent reviews is a direct signal to Google that your business is active and providing great service right now. This is a powerful factor in getting your business chosen in local searches and in those new AI Overviews.

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How do I get more fresh reviews for my business? 🌟

So, you know fresh reviews are important. But how do you get more of them? Most business owners hope that a good job will lead to good reviews, but that’s not always the case. In fact, a study by GatherUp found that 32% of consumers would write more reviews if a business would just ask them to. That’s a huge number of people who are ready to help you, and all you have to do is ask!

Here are some of the best ways we’ve found to help our clients get more fresh, positive reviews:

1. Just Ask! It sounds simple, but it works. We’ve found that asking customers directly, either in person or with a follow-up email, is one of the most effective ways to get reviews. You can even include a little note on their receipt or invoice that says, “We’d love to hear how we did! Leave us a review on Google!”
2. Make it Easy. People are busy. If it’s hard to leave a review, they won’t do it. You need to make it super simple. This is exactly what our AI Review Builder does. It sends a text or email with a special link that takes your customer right to your Google review page. No searching, no hassle. It’s a proven method to get more reviews in less time. You can learn more about it here: https://businesssolutionsmarketinggroup.com/review-builder/
3. Respond to Every Review. Responding to a review, both good and bad, shows customers and Google that you care. A study from the Harvard Business Review found that if you respond to a customer’s complaint in less than five minutes, they will be more likely to spend more money in the future.
4. Show Off Your Best Reviews. When you get a great review, share it! Put it on your website, post it on social media, and even put it in your email newsletter. This not only shows people that you’re a great business, but it also reminds other happy customers to leave a review, too.

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What’s the real impact of your online reputation? 💡

A single bad review on Google isn’t just a review—it’s a piece of digital graffiti on your business’s front door. You know it’s a lie. It’s hurting your reputation. And you’ve probably tried to remove it, only to be told ‘no.’ But what if there was another way?

A little-known fact is that a good reputation can also help your SEO. When Google’s AI Overviews and other AI-powered tools look for a business to recommend, they don’t just look at keywords on your website. They look at your reviews to see if you’re a real, trusted business. Your reputation is a key part of your E-E-A-T (Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness), which is what Google looks for now. So, a great reputation can not only get you more customers directly, but it can also help you show up higher in search results.

You can read more about these trends on a trusted site like the ReviewTrackers Blog.

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Key Takeaways

Your online reputation is more important than ever. It’s a key part of how you get new customers and build a successful business. Here are the most important things to remember:

1. Don’t wait: A bad review can hurt your business every single day it’s online.
2. Recency is everything: Getting a steady stream of fresh reviews is more important than having a lot of old ones.
3. Ask for reviews: Most people are happy to leave a review if you just ask them to. Our AI Review Builder can help you do this.
4. Your reputation is part of your SEO: A great reputation helps you show up higher in search results and gets your business featured in AI Overviews.
5. Act now: The businesses that get on this trend now will be the ones that win in the long run.

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5 Most Asked Questions & Answers About Online Reputation

Q: Can a Google review be removed? A: Yes, it is possible for a Google review to be removed. Google will only remove reviews that violate its strict content policies, such as being fake, defamatory, or from a competitor.

Q: How do I get more reviews for my business? A: The best way to get more reviews is to simply ask your customers. You should make the process easy for them by sending a direct link to your Google review page via email or text message after a service is complete.

Q: What is a good star rating for a business? A: A study from GatherUp found that most people won’t even consider a business that has a star rating lower than a 3.3. So you should try to keep your star rating as high as you can.

Q: Why do I need to pay a professional to remove a review? A: Paying a professional saves you time and stress. We have the expertise to prove to Google that a review violates their policies, and we know exactly what to say and how to say it to get the best chance of success.

Q: How can a good reputation help my SEO? A: Google uses reviews as a key factor in deciding if your business is trustworthy. A great reputation helps you show up higher in local search results and gets your business featured in AI Overviews.

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