Customer Reviews and Ratings
Explore how customer reviews and ratings influence local SEO rankings and attract potential customers. Learn practical ways to encourage reviews, respond effectively to feedback, and use platforms like Google My Business and third-party sites to enhance your business's online reputation and visibility.
Customers want to know what other customers think about our business. A survey by BrightLocal revealed that 77% of people always read reviews when looking for local businesses [65]. If several people can vouch for positive experiences with our business, potential customers will be more willing to choose our business over our competitors.
According to Google, positive reviews increase the chances of our website showing up in search results. At the same time, it also makes it more likely that a potential customer will visit our business [66].
Where to get reviews
Positive reviews and ratings that customers leave on our GMB profile are a direct ranking factor for local search results. Google’s algorithms take into account the number and quality of ratings and reviews to quantify our ranking in searches. The complex algorithms identify the location and certain keywords used by reviewers to judge our reputation in the community. Correspondingly, Google will increase or decrease our visibility in search results.
Moreover, potential customers will easily find these reviews and ratings on our GMB profile, helping them make an informed buying decision.
GMB profile isn’t the only place we want reviews. If we’re following other best practices for local SEO, our business should also be listed on third-party review sites such as Yelp, Angie’s List, and Trip Advisor. Reviews on these sites also send signals to Google, impacting our visibility in SERPs.
Besides, people will often look up our profile on popular review sites before purchasing our product or service. For example, if we run a hotel, potential customers are likely to ...