4 min read
Why Google reviews matter for local search
How review count, rating and recency influence what customers see when they search for a service near them.
The map pack is the shop window
Most local searches end with one of the first few map results. Getting into that group is worth more than any amount of website polish.
Google weighs relevance, distance and prominence. Reviews are one of the clearest prominence signals a small business can influence directly.
Recency counts
A profile with fifty reviews from three years ago looks abandoned next to one with a steady trickle from the last few months.
A consistent asking habit — even a handful a month — keeps your profile looking alive.
Ratings shape the click
Once you're visible, the rating decides whether the customer taps you or the business below you. Volume also matters: a 4.7 from 120 people reads as safer than a 5.0 from three.
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