![Do Google Reviews Help SEO? [2025]](https://respona.com/wp-content/uploads/do-google-reviews-help-seo-1024x683.jpg)
Absolutely!
Google reviews help SEO massively – and allow you to build credibility with potential customers as well.
In this article, we’ll discuss:
- How exactly Google reviews affect SEO
- How to set up your GMB and what to include in your profile
- How to encourage users to leave reviews
- How to get listed on local directories (other than Google)
Let’s begin.
Link building cheat sheet
4 Benefits of Google Reviews
Build Trust
Google reviews are social proof that your business is legit.
Openly displaying reviews, both positive and negative (and responding to them), demonstrates transparency and builds trust.
It shows you’re not hiding anything and are willing to engage with customer feedback.
Reviews are also the first thing anybody checks when they’re considering a purchase, so you have to make that first impression count.
Backlinks
Backlinks from Google reviews have the “nofollow” tag.
However, Google can also pull reviews from third party sites (like Yelp, G2, etc.) that might allow for dofollow links.
Direct Targeted Traffic
Anyone that is reading through your company reviews is already way past the awareness stage of the funnel.
Showcasing good reviews is one of the most powerful ways to push them closer towards purchase.
Strong Online Reputation Management Tool
Reviews aren’t just for getting new customers – they also offer the most direct insights into your current customer satisfaction with your product or service.
If someone leaves a bad review, don’t immediately disregard it – maybe there is an issue that needs to be addressed so you can provide better service.
Responding to their review publicly and resolving the issue shows other potential customers that you’re the real deal.
Set Up Your Google Business Profile
Getting Google reviews starts with your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business).
This profile is key for showing up in local Google searches and on Google Maps.
When someone searches for a local business, Google uses information from these profiles to display relevant search results.
The closer your business is to the searcher, the higher you’ll rank, especially with an optimized profile.
If you don’t have a Google Business Profile set up, you’re unlikely to appear on local search.
Your Business Profile is also where customers leave reviews.
What should your profile include?
The essentials are your NAP: Name, Address, and Phone number.
This information should be consistent across your website and other online directories.
Also include your business hours, website URL, relevant business categories, and good-quality images of your storefront, products, menu, etc.
A well-crafted profile helps you appear in local searches, simplifies the Google review process for customers, and provides potential customers with key information.
Encourage Users to Leave Reviews
Once you’ve set up your Google Business Profile, the next step is to actually get those reviews.
Simply having a profile isn’t enough; you need to actively encourage customers to share their experiences.
Ask (Politely)
The most straightforward way to get reviews is to simply ask.
Don’t be shy!
After a positive interaction with a customer, whether it’s a purchase, a service call, or a consultation, politely request a review.
You can do this in person, over the phone, or via email. Timing is key; ask while the experience is still fresh in their minds.
Make it Easy
Make the customer review process as frictionless as possible.
Provide a direct link to your Google Business Profile review section. You can include this link in follow-up emails, on receipts, or even on your website.
The fewer clicks required, the more likely people are to leave a review.
Creating a short, memorable link using a URL shortener or using physical QR codes (if it’s a walk-in business) also works great.
Offer an Incentive
Offering incentives for online reviews can be a bit of a gray area.
While some businesses offer small discounts or entry into a raffle for leaving a review, it’s important to be transparent and avoid anything that could be perceived as buying positive Google reviews.
Google’s guidelines discourage incentivizing customer reviews in a way that could lead to biased feedback.
If you choose to offer an incentive, make sure to do so to all customers who leave a review, regardless of whether it’s positive or negative.
Get Listed on Local Directories
Beyond Google, getting listed on other relevant online directories is a valuable part of a comprehensive local SEO strategy.
As you remember, Google sometimes pulls reviews from third-party websites, so it’s well worth it to get listings.
While resource page link building might not carry the same weight it once did for SEO performance, it can still be effective in specific niche situations, especially for local businesses.
This is where tools like Respona can be helpful.
Respona streamlines the process of finding and contacting relevant directories.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how to use it to get more listings:
As the first step, create a new campaign using the “Resource pages” template.
In addition to local directories, this template will help you find – you guessed it – resource pages that are often used similarly to directories.
You’ll need to provide some basic information:
- The URL of your website.
- Keywords related to your business and location.
- A brief description of your business.
- Any incentives you might offer (though for local directories, simply offering to keep the directory updated with your information is often sufficient).
To broaden the search and find more directories, we recommend using AI keyword suggestions for the second field.
When everything is filled out, hit “Use this template” to get into the campaign editor.
Respona provides email sequence templates, but you should always personalize them with specific details about each directory at the very least.
We recommend working out a formula that works for you specifically and treat our templates as more of an inspiration.
Adding AI-generated “icebreakers” that mention something specific about the directory can further enhance personalization.
Respona automates the search for relevant directories based on your keywords, using Google search engine operators to find pages that list resources.
You can preview the search results and filter by metrics like domain authority to prioritize high-quality directories.
Respona’s email finder locates contact information for directory owners or managers on auto-pilot.
You can also set guidelines for AI personalization to make the emails sound more natural.
Enabling “recurring search” allows Respona to automatically find new directories over time.
After you click “Run automation”, the tool will start looking for relevant directories and resource pages to feature your business on, along with any related contact information.
Results will appear your screen as they are found.
Before launching, review all the generated emails and make any necessary manual edits to increase your chances of getting a reply.
Respona also checks for duplicates and other potential issues before sending.
Once you’re satisfied, launch the campaign – Respona will handle the rest.
Link building cheat sheet
Now Over to You
In conclusion, Google reviews have a massive impact on SEO, and you should have an established process in place to get as many positive reviews as possible – on every platform you can.
Need help reaching local directories?
Don’t hesitate to start your 14-day free trial with Respona to see how we can help.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do Google reviews directly impact my website’s ranking in organic search results?
While Google reviews aren’t a direct ranking factor like backlinks or content relevance, they significantly influence local SEO.
Positive reviews can improve your visibility in local pack results (the map listings) and increase click-through rates from search results, which indirectly impacts local search ranking.
How many Google reviews do I need to see a search engine optimization benefit?
There’s no magic number, but more reviews generally signal trustworthiness to both users and Google.
Focus on consistently acquiring reviews over time rather than aiming for a specific quantity. A good starting goal is to have more reviews than your local competitors.
Do negative Google reviews hurt my SEO?
A few negative reviews won’t necessarily hurt your SEO efforts, but consistently negative feedback can deter potential customers and negatively impact your online reputation.
Responding professionally to negative reviews and addressing customer concerns is crucial for mitigating any negative impact.
Are Google reviews from fake accounts harmful to my SEO?
Yes, fake reviews can be detrimental.
Google actively works to detect and remove fake reviews, and if your business is caught using them, it can lead to penalties, including lower rankings and suspension of your Google Business Profile.
Do replies to Google reviews impact SEO?
Replying to reviews, both positive and negative, shows engagement and customer service, which can indirectly benefit your SEO.
Responding also allows you to address concerns, provide context, and demonstrate that you value customer feedback.
This can improve click-through rates and customer trust.
