Do Google Reviews Help with SEO in 2024?

Business websites want to know whether the reviews impact their website’s SEO. We know that these reviews shape customer perception and add value to SEO by proving an authentic business authority. From this point, many people asked us a question, ‘Do Google Reviews help SEO of local businesses as well as globally ranked webpages?’ 

Backlinco’s observation on search ranking factors sheds light on reviews as a reference of proof. So, it seems like Google reviews are hot topics in 2024. How did it become so important to Google and its local SEO? We will discuss that now in this reader-friendly article! If you feel curious about Google reviews and business SEO, welcome aboard.

We are not an academy, but we can give you the best overview of Google Review in concise words. Before knowing its effectiveness, learn what Google review means. The introduction to Google Review, who can write it, and how it's connected to SEO are the notes for you. Without any more ado, let’s break down the details.

What is Google Review?

Google Review is a user-generated rating for businesses, products, or services. Typically, it appears on a business's Google Business Profile, formerly known as ‘Google My Business.’ These reviews include star ratings from one to five and written comments that provide additional insights into customer experiences. 

Users can view Google Reviews in search results and on Google Maps. The company review will be under the company name on the knowledge panel corner on the right side of the SERP. But for local pack results, the reviews will be seen under the company name on the left side of the SERP.

Who Writes Reviews on Google?

Google allowed reviews from a range of people, including customers, local guides, business owners, loyalty program members, newsletter receivers, and past reviewers. 

• Customers: Individuals who have purchased a product or service and wish to share their experiences.
• Local Guides: Active contributors to Google Maps who write reviews, add photos, and answer questions about places they visit.
• Business Owners: Occasionally, business owners may respond to reviews to thank customers or address concerns.

The Connection Between Google Reviews and Local SEO

Local SEO is the most effective strategy for a showroom or outlet-oriented business. When someone searches for any products and services, Google determines the proximity, relevance, and prominence of the keyword in that area to show the most nearby addresses. The users can visit that place and make purchases. 

In this process, businesses with maximum good reviews may appear on top of the overall results. That’s how Google reviews and SEO connects people with the most satisfactory businesses.

In one sentence, Google Review actively enriches the local search rankings and CTR and passively enriches the keyword efficiency. It makes an authoritative presence of the credible business.

• Local Search Ranking: Google Reviews are critical to Google's local search ranking factors. Businesses with a higher volume of positive reviews are more likely to appear at the top of local search results.
• Click-Through Rates (CTR): Positive reviews can enhance a business's appeal in search results, leading to higher CTRs. A higher CTR signals to Google that the business is relevant and valuable, potentially improving its ranking.
• Keywords in Reviews: When customers use relevant keywords in their reviews, it can help search engines understand the business's offerings and relevance. For example, if anyone types in “I got the best software development service from VISER X,” it will greatly add the keyword efficiency.
• Trust and Credibility: A business with numerous positive reviews is perceived as trustworthy and credible, which can attract more customers and improve its online reputation. Negative reviews also help by proving that it is a man-made company, which is improving day by day.

Google Review Qualities that Matters in SEO

As with every other feature, Google reviews need some quality to be maintained. Google will observe the frequency of the reviews, quantity, positive sentiment, quality, fake reviews, etc. Google wants us to provide original data so that their audience has correct links and they have faith in Google. If your business profile does not meet the quality, sorry to say, the SEO rankings will be uncertain.

The Elements in Google Review to Help Local SEO

1. Google introduced a star rating system to know the service quality. The scale starts from 1 star to 5 star at present. People of all ages and literacy can understand this common rating system. 
2. When customers insert your service keyword organically in their review, Google takes it as a positive sign that you are providing a popular service across the locality. 
3. Review responses are proof of your instant communication and problem-solving expertise. This action will add value to your service as Google prioritizes forum-like discussion on SERP.

Wiser Notify reported in a Google review statistics that 58% of customers claimed they increased physical visits to a store after seeing the positive reviews. The Google Review can help businesses get more visitors. Therefore, they get benefits such as visibility, trust, customer sentiment, CTR, and rich snippets.

In 2022, Forbes reported statistics that organic clicks were 45% of the total clicks, and less than 1% of users go to a second page to find a good outlet. That means the business reviews on a larger scale convinced them. That’s why they do not have to go all the way to the second page.

Let’s have a look at the benefits in detail—

Increase Your Visibility

Google Reviews enlarges the amount of a business's visibility in local search results. When a business has a high number of positive reviews, it is more likely to appear in the coveted "Local Pack." For those who do not know, local packs are the top three listings that appear in a local search.

Enhanced Trustworthiness

Reviews provide social proof of reassurance that others have had positive experiences with the business. This trust can lead to higher engagement and conversion rates. Right now, Google has 73% of online reviews for any business. In the past, backlinks were the only medium to find the authority of any business. But Google reviews made it easier with more user-generated responses as reviews.

Better Understand the Customer Sentiment

Analyzing reviews helps businesses understand customer sentiment. The customer's expectations and feelings can influence any change in decision. When businesses identify strengths and weaknesses, they can proceed to make data-driven improvements to products or services.

Improved Click-Through Rates

A business with high ratings and positive reviews is more likely to attract clicks in search results, driving more traffic to its website. Obviously, more traffic will turn into more leads, and the converted leads will play active roles in business revenue. You can also earn revenue by showing the returning visitors ads on your web page.

Create Rich Snippets

Google often displays star ratings and review snippets in search results, making listings more attractive and informative. These rich snippets can enhance a business's visibility and click-through rate.

Get Content Opportunities

The positive feedback highlights the aspects people love. For instance, if a review mentions confusion about choosing the right product, you can create an article comparing options and guiding decisions. Similarly, if a customer struggles with a particular feature, consider making a step-by-step tutorial to address their concerns.

We have witnessed the uprising of a restaurant and a home service on behalf of the Google Review. We cannot disclose the names for some privacy, but we will share with you how the resulting funnel went.

Case Study 1: Local Restaurant

A local restaurant in Bangladesh implemented a strategy to encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on Google. Over six months, their Google Review count increased by 150%. As a result, their local search ranking improved significantly, leading to a 40% increase in website traffic and a 25% increase in reservations.

Case Study 2: Home Services Provider

A home services provider focused on improving their online reputation by addressing negative reviews and encouraging positive feedback. Their average rating increased from 3.5 to 4.7 stars. Consequently, their organic search traffic grew by 30%, and their conversion rate improved by 20%.

The best practice for getting positive reviews is to provide quality service and attract visitors. In some cases, I repeat, in most emergency cases, you can hire specialists to add reviews. But we never advise you to do any fraudulent activity through fake reviews that will defame your business profile on Google. 

How to Get More Google Reviews?

Follow the recommendations below—

1. Provide uncompromised service for your customer base. If they find everything on track, they will write positive reviews. Train your staff and teach them how to handle unpleasant situations with positive attire. If you can impress returning customers emotionally, there is are possibility they will also show gratitude with reviews.
2. Activate frequent offers and coupons. Attract visitors and offer discounts. They will give you good reviews. If you find any criticism regarding your service, fix that ASAP, and do not try to defend it. Remember, the review will stay for sometimes on Google. So you must add new reviews with good comments. 

How to Create Genuine Google Reviews?

Ask your customers politely to leave a review for their purchase. These reviews will become genuine. Sometimes, users do not leave reviews for some unknown reasons. In this type of situation, contact a proficient content-writing service to provide natural reviews from the user's perspective.

Expert web users can use Google’s review guidelines for review management. They can write their own review and share the links on social media for more reviews. But there are automation systems to make this process hassle-free. Simply use AI-powered review managing tools like DemandHub and make review management effortless. 

Here are some other options for review management—

Google My Business

Google My Business is the primary tool for managing your Google Reviews. It allows you to monitor, respond to, and analyze reviews and update your business information.

Review Management Software

Several review management tools, such as BirdEye, Podium, and Yext, help streamline the process of collecting, monitoring, and responding to reviews.

Social Media Monitoring Tools

Tools like Hootsuite and Sprout Social can help you monitor reviews and mentions across various platforms, ensuring you stay on top of customer feedback.

CRM Systems

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems like Salesforce and HubSpot can integrate with review management tools to comprehensively view customer interactions and feedback.

Yes, you heard it right! There are horrible myths in the SEO industry about Google Reviews! Nonreputed agencies and individuals think Google only indexes business profiles with positive reviews, so they could provide a bunch of reviews to rank them on top. But that was just a daydream! Google is smart, and it will always measure the ranking factors. 

Myth 1: Positive Reviews

A large amount of people think only positive reviews matter! But it is unrealistic! Negative reviews also play a role in SEO. They provide a more balanced view of your business and demonstrate that you actively engage with customer feedback.

Myth 2: Quantity Over Quality

Both the quantity and quality of reviews matter. A large number of low-quality or irrelevant reviews won't be as beneficial as fewer high-quality reviews that provide detailed and helpful information. The reviewer's profile and history also matter in SEO. If the reviewer is a public figure, it beings more weight.

Myth 3: Reviews are the Only Factor

While important, reviews are just one factor in local SEO. Other elements, such as website optimization, local citations, and backlinks, also play significant roles. So you have to make everything even, then the review will work better for you. Otherwise, Google will not feature you with a non-optimized page.

Myth 4: Fake Reviews Boost SEO

Fake reviews can harm your business's reputation and violate Google's policies. Authentic reviews are the key to building trust and improving SEO. We have received a ton of requests from companies for fake review supplies. But, reviews from spam accounts will bring results in revers.

We guess you have a business and Google Business Profile. Now contact your recent customers and request them for review. Once they are done, post the reviews on your website and social media. If you need extra reviews, SEO providers can use their manpower as your customer and provide technically genuine reviews from unique web addresses and browsers. 

We changed the business profile details of Padma Bank from Farmers Bank some years ago (which is currently merged with Exim Bank). Our digital marketing team added new information and positive reviews for Padma Bank to clean up its negative reputation on the local search results and knowledge panel.

Do you need any assistance similar to that experience? Feel free to contact us and have a cup of coffee together! We have a proactive local SEO service, including review, reputation, and content management. Mail us at hello@viserx.com and send your queries.

Most SEO providers offer services to ensure your SEO benchmarks, but we would say your business profile and reviews are great opportunities in this game. In particular, Google Reviews are a powerful tool for improving the SEO of local businesses in 2024. 

Partnering with experts like VISER X can further amplify these efforts. Let’s hop onto some frequently asked questions and end this discussion. We hope you enjoyed this article.

Does Google review improve SEO performance for mobile visitors?

Yes. Google review is important for Google pack optimization, and Google packs are more visible on mobile devices. Visitors can easily find directions on Google Maps after reading the reviews. 

Do Google Reviews Directly Affect SEO Rankings?

Yes. Google reviews directly affect SEO rankings, especially for local SEO. But it also adds trust to your business, so your website gets more credibility and authority among your competitors. 

How Many Google Reviews Do I Need to Improve My SEO?

You do not need any specific amount of reviews for your business website. Google does not want you to pull reviews in excessive amounts. Instead, you need genuine reviews from visitors. If the reviews have business keywords in them, it will help your SEO. Plus, positive reviews build the trustworthiness of your business.

Can Negative Reviews Hurt My SEO?

Negative reviews will not hurt your SEO directly if you take the necessary actions and fix the problems. The positive reviews will cover your reputation, hiding the negative reviews. If your reviews are responsive, Google will continue to feature you, and you will get traffic.

Do Fake Reviews Help or Harm My SEO?

Purchasing fake reviews will impact your search engine ranking negatively. Google could flag your website or drink you for having fake reviews from fake accounts and unnatural comments. Google reviews are for local search. If Google finds your reviews are manipulated, they will not trust your service anymore. 

How Can I Encourage Customers to Leave Google Reviews?

Request customers to leave a review after the purchase. Besides, you can apply a discount system for reviewers. Customers will provide you reviews when they have a good response from your sales agents.