Google reviews are more than just customer feedback—they’re a powerful tool to help your business grow online. After all, online reputation management matters these days.
If you’ve ever wondered do Google reviews help SEO (search engine optimization), the answer is a big yes.
In this article, we’ll explore how reviews on Google impact your search rankings, build trust, and even drive more customers through your doors.
Plus, we’ll show you how to get a QR code for Google reviews so it’s easier for your customers to leave feedback. Let’s get started.
Why Google reviews are important for local businesses
If you’re a local business owner, Google reviews can make a huge difference in how customers find and choose your business. Ranking websites are likely to get more website traffic as well as new customers.
When people search for businesses near them, they often turn to Google Maps or Google Search. What do they see first?
Your business name, star rating, and a few customer reviews. That first impression can be the difference between someone choosing you or your competitor.
Think of it this way: when you look for a restaurant or service provider, do you click on the one with 50 five-star reviews, or the one with 3 reviews and no comments?
Chances are, you trust the one with more reviews and higher ratings. Even negative reviews provide insight into the business and responding to reviews help potential customers.
Google uses this review data to decide which businesses are most relevant and trustworthy.
A strong presence of positive reviews shows potential customers that others trust your business. It also sends signals to Google that your business is active, reliable, and serving real customers. It’s a powerful ranking factor.
This can help boost your visibility in search results, especially for local searches like “plumber near me” or “best coffee in town.” How many reviews also matters in this regard.
How do Google reviews help SEO?
Google reviews influence SEO in several ways. It’s not just about having reviews: it’s about how many you have, how recent they are, how positive they are, and how you respond to them.
Let’s look at each factor more closely.
1. Overall review rating
Your average star rating is the first thing most people notice and a key factor in persuading potential customers. Google also takes this into account when ranking local businesses.
A higher average rating often means better visibility for your business listing in local search results.
For example, a dental clinic with a 4.9-star rating and 150 reviews will likely appear higher in the search results than a competitor with a 3.5-star rating and only 20 reviews.
Google wants to show users the best, most reliable options in their search results. A high rating signals that your customers are satisfied and provides valuable insights not only to the customer but also to Google.
Keep in mind that when potential customers take a look at online reviews, if they see a large amount of negative reviews, they’re likely to look at those first.
To maintain a strong rating, focus on delivering excellent service and following up with customers to ask for honest feedback. Customer satisfaction is key in obtaining genuine reviews that boost your SEO strategy.
2. Volume of reviews
The number of reviews you have also plays a role in your local SEO performance. Google views businesses with more reviews as more credible and established.
It’s not enough to have just a few reviews—consistent, ongoing feedback from customers helps build trust and appear in local search results.
Imagine two pizza restaurants in the same area: one has 300 reviews and the other has 25. Even if the star ratings are similar, the business with more reviews will likely show up higher in search results.
You can see this illustrated below in a local search of hiking trails on Google maps.
Tip: Set a goal to collect reviews regularly. Ask every satisfied customer to leave a review and make it easy for them to do so. This can encourage customers to leave reviews, helping in the local search queries.
3. Recency of reviews
Google favors businesses that are active. If you haven’t had a new review in a year, it could make your business look like it’s no longer open or not getting customers.
Fresh reviews show that you’re still doing business and that people are still talking about you.
In fact, in a recent study, 73% of customers said they only trust customer reviews that were left within the last month. Recency has a huge Google reviews impact!
A steady stream of recent reviews can also help you rank higher in local searches and reach your target audience. Google rewards businesses that show consistent engagement with their customers.
To keep reviews coming in, ask for them shortly after a sale, appointment, or service. User engagement is key. This is when the experience is still fresh in the customer’s mind and they’re more likely to write something positive.
4. Responding to reviews
Engaging with your reviews, whether they’re positive or negative, is an important local SEO signal.
Google notices when businesses reply to reviews. It shows that you care about customer feedback and are active in managing your reputation.
Responding to Google reviews also helps build trust with potential customers. It shows that you take feedback seriously and are willing to make improvements. For example:
- Positive review response: “Thank you for your kind words, John! We’re thrilled you had a great experience and look forward to seeing you again.”
- Negative review response: “Hi Sarah, we’re sorry to hear about your experience. We take your feedback seriously and would love the chance to make things right. Please reach out to us at [your contact info].”
Even a short, friendly reply can make a big difference in the Google ranks.
5. Quality of reviews
What people say in their reviews matters too. Reviews that mention specific services, products, or keywords can help your SEO.
Google uses natural language processing to understand what customers are saying and connect those keywords with your business information.
For example, if a customer writes, “Best Thai food in downtown Dallas,” that helps Google associate your restaurant with “Thai food” and “downtown Dallas.” These relevant keywords will boost your business profile and improve search rankings for those terms.
Encourage customers to be detailed in their reviews. You can do this by saying, “If you could mention what you liked or the service you received, it really helps us out!” Again, user engagement is key in getting the positive Google reviews that you need.
Google reviews have an impact on SEO ranking
Let’s talk more specifically about how reviews help your SEO rankings. Google reviews influence where you appear in search results, how many people click your link, and how much trust your business earns over time.
Google reviews increase trust
People trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. When potential customers search for your business or a service you offer, seeing lots of positive reviews gives them confidence in your brand.
It creates a desirable online reputation for your business profile, and this trust factor directly influences whether people decide to do business with you.
If your competitors have fewer or lower-rated reviews, your strong review profile gives you a clear edge because customer reviews build credibility.
More trust also translates to more clicks and conversions—which are good signals for Google to keep including you in relevant search results.
Google reviews improve click-through rates and organic traffic
Google reviews can show up as part of your Google Business Profile in search results.
This means people can see your star rating, the number of reviews, and sometimes even a review snippet without having to click through to your website.
This extra visibility can help increase your click-through rate (CTR). When people see that other customers had a great experience with you, they’re more likely to click your listing over others.
Higher CTR tells Google that your listing is relevant, which can push you even higher in the rankings. More traffic, more clicks, and more engagement lead to a stronger online presence overall.
Even if you have negative reviews, it may not deter local customers if you are responding to Google reviews effectively.
You may even get some people to change their review and highlight their customer satisfaction after fixing whatever complaint they had.
Generate more Google reviews to rank higher
Getting more Google reviews can be one of the most impactful ways to improve your local SEO. They are a form of social proof and they have SEO value. Not only that, top ranking businesses on Google average 47 reviews at least.
But how do you increase review quantity and get more reviews consistently? The key is to make it simple and fast for your customers to leave them.
One great method is to create a QR code for Google reviews. A QR code lets customers use their phone to scan and go directly to your Google review page. This removes the hassle of searching for your business.
Here’s how to get a QR code for Google reviews:
- Log into your Google Business Profile account.
- Click the “Ask for Reviews” button (you’ll see a link you can share).
- Copy the QR code provided by Google.
If you want to customize the QR code or generate your own, you can:
- Visit a free QR code generator like QR Code Monkey or QR Code Generator.
- Paste your review link from the “Ask for Reviews” page and generate a QR code.
- Download the QR code and use it in your business.
To encourage reviews, you can print your QR code on:
- Table tents
- Receipts
- Business cards
- Posters
- Menus
- Email signatures
Example: A hair salon puts a QR code on a mirror at each styling station with the message, “Love your new look? Leave us a quick review!” Asking satisfied customers to leave positive reviews can only help you in Google search performance.
Other ideas to encourage customers to review:
- Send a thank-you text or email after service with your review link
- Add the link to appointment confirmation or follow-up emails
- Include a “Leave us a review” button on your website
Make sure to always ask politely and explain how much positive reviews help your small business. Most happy customers are glad to help; they just need a little nudge.
Don’t miss any opportunity to secure high quality reviews that can rise you in the Google ranks.
FAQs about how Google reviews help ranking and SEO
Q: Do Google reviews affect my position in local search results?
A: Yes! Reviews are one of the key local SEO ranking factors. Google uses them to help determine which businesses to show in the “Local Pack” and Maps.
Businesses with more reviews, higher ratings, and active engagement tend to rank higher. Positive reviews are best, but any Google reviews impact search engines and local SEO.
Q: How many Google reviews do I need to see SEO benefits?
A: There’s no set number, but quality and consistency are more important than quantity alone. Even getting a few new reviews every month can help improve your local ranking over time.
User generated content such as photos or detailed descriptions also help, so encourage customers to include those elements when you collect Google reviews.
Q: Can I ask customers to leave reviews?
A: Yes, you should! Just make sure you’re not offering any rewards or incentives in exchange for reviews since that is against Google’s policies.
A friendly request, especially with a QR code or direct link, works best. The goal is to increase your review volume so that your Google business profile will appear on the search engine results pages and boost local SEO.
Q: What if I get a bad review?
A: It happens to every business at some point. The key is how you respond. Stay calm, be professional, and try to resolve the issue.
Responding to reviews shows others that you care and are willing to improve. Even negative reviews can be quality reviews and help your local search rankings if you respond in the right way. Don’t let them kill your online reputation or get you discouraged.
Q: Can I delete fake reviews?
A: You can’t delete them yourself, but you can report fake reviews or inappropriate ones to Google. If they violate Google’s policies (like spam or offensive content), Google may remove them after review.
Final Thoughts: Google Reviews and Local SEO Efforts
Building a strong Google review profile takes time, but it’s one of the smartest investments you can make in your local SEO strategy. A business’s local ranking is definitely impacted by customer reviews and relevant keywords they include.
You will have a better chance of topping local search engines, increase the prosperity of your Google business profile, and hopefully reach more local customers.
Stay consistent, respond thoughtfully, and make it easy for happy customers to leave their thoughts. Your ranking—and your reputation—will thank you!
