What is Google reviews?
SEO Definition and Examples
Google reviews are ratings and comments customers leave on a Google Business Profile. Positive reviews build trust and local traffic; negatives hurt.
Full Definition: What is Google reviews
Google reviews (star rating + text) are customer feedback publicly visible on the Business Profile and in local search. 5 stars = excellent, 1 star = terrible. Reviews are weighted: 100 reviews at 4.5 stars is more credible than 2 reviews at 5 stars. Google weights freshness: recent reviews > old ones. Negative reviews stay visible (Google does not delete them) but you can respond professionally. A good response to a negative review builds trust ("we heard your concern, we fixed it"). Users can vote reviews "Helpful" — helpful reviews rank higher.
Why Does Google Reviews Matter for SEO?
The review rating is displayed in local search: 4.5/5 stars appears above the profile description. Businesses with positive reviews get 30% more traffic. Negative reviews = potential customers go to a competitor with 4.8 stars.
Source: Google My Business — ReviewsFrequently Asked Questions about Google Reviews
Related Terms
Local SEO
IntermediateLocal SEO optimizes your site and business profile to appear in Google Maps and local search results for location keywords ("hair salon London").
Google Business Profile (GMB)
BeginnerGoogle Business Profile is a free Google tool where you manage how your business appears in Google Maps and local search results — key for physical locations.
Local SEO
BeginnerLocal SEO is the practice of optimizing a business's online presence to appear in geographic search results — "dentist near me" or "restaurant London".
NAP Consistency
BeginnerNAP consistency means a business's Name, Address and Phone are identical across the whole web (site, GBP, directories). Inconsistency hurts local ranking.
Put Google Reviews into practice
Explore how to apply this concept to your industry and city.
