Do Google Reviews Help SEO?

Google reviews are online ratings that appear near your company’s profile in Google Search and Google Maps. In 2021, over 70% of all customer ratings came from Google, so there’s no question this feature is important for your business. Do Google reviews help with search engine optimization, too?

How Do Google Reviews Help SEO Results?

Positive Google reviews can substantially impact organic search results across the web and local search engine optimization (SEO) for customers in your area.

Excellent Google Reviews Boost Your Organic Search

When ranking web pages, Google looks for E-E-A-T. This acronym stands for:

• Experience
• Expertise
• Authoritativeness
• Trustworthiness

Which of these four qualities relate to good Google reviews? All of them!

When you have a great reputation, search engines interpret it as proof of your experience and excellent service. You have a business that users can — and do — trust.

How To Embed Google Reviews on Your Website

You can use Google reviews for SEO on your website, too. Great spots are your home page, contact page or landing pages. Follow these steps:

1. Log into your Google Business Profile.
2. Tap the “Reviews” tab.
3. Select a review and tap the three dots on the right side.
4. Tap “Embed.”
5. Copy the embed link and paste it onto the desired web page.
6. Follow this process for as many Google reviews as you want to display.

Reviews count as content for the page, so they also contribute to keyword ranking efforts. Of course, blog content is even more important for on-page SEO.

Why You Need Google Reviews for SEO Locally

Four- and five-star reviews really make your company shine when it comes to local SEO. Google reviews boost SEO locally by making your company stand out when:

• Clients search for directions to your store
• Users type “best cleaning businesses near me”
• Nearby homeowners ask, “Is 123 Tax Preparers a good company?”
• Shoppers search for local businesses carrying a certain product
• Families browse Google Maps for restaurant ideas

A high average rating proves your company is prominent and helpful to nearby users.

Does Responding to Google Reviews Help SEO?

Responding to reviews can improve your business’s online reputation. Interacting with satisfied customers drives loyalty and encourages other good reviews.

If you react to negative reviews positively, you can often turn a person’s frown upside down. Resolving problems may motivate the reviewer to change the initial review, boosting your average score and your SEO.

How Do Google Reviews Affect Your Search Ranking?

Sites with the highest average review score (usually over 4.5) consistently rank in the top three search results for local SEO. That said, the total number of reviews is a more significant factor for reaching position number one.

Don’t be content with a few five-star ratings. Keep requesting reviews from happy customers so you have the numbers, too.

Google Reviews Help Your SEO Over Time

Smart SEO efforts are like fine wine. A growing collection of high-quality blog articles and honest Google reviews help SEO results get even sweeter with time. That’s worth investing in. Get started right away.