How Online Reviews Impact Google Results

In today's digital age, online reviews are a powerful tool for consumers to make informed decisions before spending their hard-earned cash. In addition, online reviews significantly impact a business's online presence and position on search engine results pages (SERPs).

When searching for content on Google, 95% of people don't scroll to the second page, making it vital for your business to rank high enough to appear as close to the top of the SERP on the first page as possible.

Online reviews are one of the ways that your business can increase its search engine ranking. Let's see how.

How Do Online Reviews Impact Google Results? 

Google places a high value on the user experience and aims to deliver the most relevant and trustworthy information possible. That's why Google considers reviews when determining search rankings. Surprisingly, reviews contribute to a whopping 10% of Google's algorithm!

Here are some ways online reviews can positively impact Google results.

Trust and Credibility

Reviews signal trustworthiness and credibility to both consumers and search engines alike. Not only do 91% of customers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, but Google also includes these qualities when ranking a business.   

Simply, businesses with higher volumes of reviews are more likely to come out on top of the result page, which ultimately generates increased leads and sales.

Click-Through Rates (CTR)

This is the number of people who click to view a site once it comes up on the SERP. Websites containing online reviews attract higher CTR, letting Google know the content is relevant and popular, positively affecting the ranking.

Local Search Rankings 

Google's organic search algorithms use positive online reviews to boost local search rankings for businesses with a physical presence. When ranking companies, Google uses relevance, distance, and prominence and can even further prioritise results that are physically close to the searcher's location. Online reviews with the location of the business named drive these rankings up. 

Review Snippets

Google displays short, eye-catching excerpts of online reviews and other content on its search results pages. These snippets can improve a business's visibility and entice users to click on their listing, particularly when a business's star rating is displayed. Review snippets on the SERP can increase CTR by up to 35%, driving traffic to your business page.

Leverage Social Proof

By displaying positive reviews, star ratings and testimonials on your website, you instil confidence in potential customers and improve your conversion rates. 

How Can My Businesses Rank Higher on Google Using Reviews?

Now that we understand the relationship between online reviews and Google results, here are a few strategies that your business can implement to leverage reviews and improve its search engine rankings.

1. Encourage Reviews

Boost your search rankings by appealing to your customers to leave reviews on platforms like Hellopeter. 62% of people are happy to leave a review if asked, so send those emails and SMSes or use social media to request reviews. We've made it easy with our review collection tools.

2. Post Authentic Reviews Only

Google can spot fake reviews from a mile, so focus on generating genuine reviews from real customers by providing excellent products, services, and customer support. 

3. Leverage Social Proof

By displaying positive reviews, star ratings and testimonials on your website, you instil confidence in potential customers and improve your conversion rates. 

4. Monitor and Respond to Reviews

Regularly monitor and analyse your customers' feedback across different platforms to organically collect vital content and keywords for your business to rank higher. 

Furthermore, respond to positive and negative reviews while addressing negative reviews constructively. 53% of consumers expect feedback on their negative reviews within a week. It's essential to show you're committed to resolving issues and improving customer satisfaction.

Claim the Top Spot with Hellopeter

Enhance your business's online presence and reputation by proudly showcasing reviews and ratings from multiple platforms. With Hellopeter, you'll gain access to customisable widgets that are fully optimised, maximising your business's visibility on Google and boosting your rating. 

Hellopeter goes above and beyond by automatically sending your business's reviews to Google, ensuring that your star ratings shine brightly, setting you apart from your competition. 

Don't miss out on this opportunity to hike your online presence and attract more customers.

Sign up with Hellopeter to unlock the true potential of online reviews for your business's success.