Updated on 21/05/24
If you’ve ever looked up a business, you likely already know the importance of Google reviews, as they offer a simple and quick way for customers to provide feedback. But are Google reviews important for SEO?
The simple answer is – yes! Google reviews play a significant role in influencing a business’s online visibility and ranking in search engine results. And if you’re looking to increase exposure locally, Google reviews are especially important.
It is crucial that you know just how important Google reviews are for your business and industry, and we’re here to help you understand.
Google reviews are important for SEO because:
1. They Increase Your Exposure On Google Maps
By getting more Google reviews, you’re going to increase your ranking and rank higher in Google Maps, thereby impacting your SEO.
When you consider that Google maps has over 2 billion active monthly users around the world, the potential that increasing your exposure offers is evident.
As such, for a business serving local customers, this can be just as important (if not more) than ranking better on standard search results, helping you to reach more and more prospective customers.
2. They Improve The Quality Of Your Local SEO
Another reason why Google reviews are important For SEO is that they improve the quality of your local SEO.
Of course local SEO is great if you’re a local bar, restaurant, café etc., as it is excellent for generating a local base of customers.
That said, it can actually be a massive opportunity if you’ve been selling online through e-commerce around the world. This comes down to the fact it can raise awareness of your business in your local area and create a community of local customers, positively impacting your local SEO.
3. They Increase Your Click-Through-Rate On Google Search
The next reason why Google reviews are essential for SEO is that they increase your click-through-rate on Google Search.
The more reviews you have, indicates to more people that they can trust your service and what your business has to offer. To put it simply, more reviews = more clicks.
Think about it, when you’re browsing Google Maps, your eyes naturally gravitate towards businesses between 4 and 5 stars on their Google My Business.
4. They Increase Your Exposure Via Voice Search
Last, but by no means least, Google reviews are important for SEO in that they increase your exposure via voice search.
It was reported in 2020 that over half of UK adults use voice search to find something online. This means it’s more important than ever to ensure your business is optimised for voice search and a great way to get your business selected when people make one is through your Google reviews.
Google’s assistant is going to favour businesses that it trusts and Google reviews are an essential indication of how much people trust and look for your business online.
5. They Increase Engagement and Dwell Time
Another reason Google reviews are so important for SEO is that they can lead to higher engagement from users who read and interact with the content, especially from positive reviews.
Longer dwell times on a business’s profile or website can positively impact SEO rankings as it indicates user satisfaction and relevance. Also, the longer time spent on a website typically correlates with lower bounce rates (the percentage of visitors who leave the site after viewing only one page), and a low bounce rate indicates to Google that users are finding the content useful, which is a positive signal to search engines.
6. They Enhance Your Credibility and Trust
Last but certainly not least, Google reviews contribute to your business’s credibility and trustworthiness, which is something Google prioritises now, due to its recently updated E-E-A-T guidelines. Discover everything you need to know about what E-E-A-T is in SEO here.
Search engines aim to provide users with the most reliable and authoritative results, and positive reviews can signal that a business is reputable, boosting its rankings on search.
As touched on previously, Google reviews are prominently displayed on a business’s Google My Business (GMB) profile, and high ratings and numerous reviews can make a business more visible and appear more established and credible.
How To Get More Google Reviews On Your Google My Business Profile
- Firstly, sign into your Google My Business account. If you haven’t got one, you can create an account here.
- Once you’re in, head to the dashboard and click ‘share my Google review form’. You can share this link via your social media, newsletter, email etc., and it will send people straight through to a review form where they can send a review to you within a couple of minutes.
- You can also add a review link to your website to simplify the process and make it easier for your customers to give feedback on your Google My Business profile.
For more information on the importance of Google reviews for SEO, check out our recent YouTube video:
If you’re interested in our transparent and affordable SEO services, contact us here or drop us a message on Instagram or LinkedIn and we will get back to you the very same day.
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Written by Kate Jones, for Lumen SEO.
