As a researcher, we use Google Reviews extensively. we find that reviewing and analyzing the reviews posted on websites is a reliable way of conducting qualitative data analysis. One of my research projects was to conduct an in-depth analysis of the Google Reviews for a local business based in Washington DC.
Working with a team of Local SEOs, we gathered all negative and positive reviews from Yelp and Google Maps for one business and other related businesses in the same search result where we aspired to study customer feedback. Our purpose for conducting this project was to gain insight into our customers’ feelings about the service provided by this business which could help us make changes in future services provided by these restaurants.
We wrote about our methodology, how we analyzed information from Yelp and Google Maps, how many reviews were needed to establish a pattern, what conclusions we made, and the overall results. In this article, we are going to share with you the main findings and recommendations based on our findings.
Are Google Reviews Important for a Business on Google Maps?
Did you know that 84% of consumers trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendations? This is why it is important that your business receives as many positive reviews as possible.
A report was released in 2017 that stated that nearly every Google Review resulted in a conversion (with an average ROI of $6.70 per review). This is why constantly working towards positive Google Reviews is so important for local businesses.
There are many things that influence a local ranking, including signals like reviews, organic and paid search presence, citations, social activity, and more. The reviews themselves are an independent indicator of a business’s overall rating and popularity, which Google uses to determine a ranking for individual businesses. In addition, Google considers the volume and quality of reviews as a signal of a business’ quality.
This begs the question: How many Google reviews should your business have? Read on to find out the ideal number of reviews you should have to bring more customers through your door.
You can also read our detailed article about the importance of Google Reviews for business ranking.
How Many Reviews Should Your Business Get?
The ideal number of Google Reviews for a business differs based on the business category. Google does not show any set number for reviews, but rather gives local business owners a barometer to gauge how their business is performing in the eyes of previous customers. The more reviews your business has, the better your chances will be of getting a high position on SERPs and Google Maps search results.
The majority of businesses have between 1 and 4 star-rated Google Reviews, with a business that has 1 or 2 stars considered subpar. The higher-rated reviews have more weight in the eyes of Google and lead to a higher Local Search ranking, so your business should strive to get as many good Google reviews as possible.
Reviews can come from local customers and reviewers as well as people located outside of your area. Google will discount reviews that are written by people who do not fit in either category. These reviews are less likely to influence your ranking on Maps, but they can still be helpful to you.
The number of reviews also depends upon the competition in your business. One simple trick to check the competition is to check the number of reviews on your competitors’ profiles.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many Google Reviews do I need?
An ideal number of reviews depends on the local competition and variables like the category of your business. Your business may need more than one review to stand out among your competitors. If you are in a competitive industry, you may need to get a lot of reviews and also spend enough time and money to build your local reputation. Still, if you need a particular number then we would say that you must have 15-20 reviews if your business is in a less competitive industry and 80-100 reviews would be enough in the average competitive business industry.
How long can a Google Review be?
Google allows customers to write long reviews, unlike most of the other review sites and directories. This makes it easier for customers to mention all their experiences in the review. Also, customers can write a long review if they received exceptional service from your business. But, there is a limit to words that can be used in your review. You can write your review under 600 words and if you write a review longer than 600 words then you will get an error, “character limit exceeded”.
Do Google Reviews affect local rankings?
Yes. A positive Google Review can help increase your local ranking by 30%. There are many sources that claim that Google uses Google Reviews as an important local ranking factor, but also it is clear that not every positive review will result in a higher ranking position. Local search results have become more competitive over time and maintaining a high ranking is not easy with so many businesses around the world competing for attention.
How many Google Reviews per day or per week?
There is no specific number that is allowed by Google when it comes to the Google Reviews published in a day or a week. You do not need to be worried about the number of reviews because Google has a very strong AI spam detection system which can be useful if there is spam happening out there. For a new business, 2 reviews in a week is a good number to build the reputation fast and in a genuine way.
Final Thoughts
The data shows that potential customers trust Google Reviews as much as personal recommendations. This is why it is important for businesses to try and get the highest number of positive reviews possible both from local clients and people outside of their area.
The more reviews your business has, the higher your chances will be of getting a higher ranking in Local Search results and also on Maps.
Moreover, there is no secret formula to follow when it comes to the Google Reviews number. Check around your competitor and follow their behavior.
If you have any questions about Google My Business, don’t hesitate to contact our team! I hope this article was helpful for you! Cheers 🙂
