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Notes on reviews, ratings, and local markets.

Practical guides and analysis from the team that reads every public review in a market — on what reviews say, how ratings move, and what owners can do about both.

A close-up of a smartphone showing a list of review cards with a sort menu open and a finger about to tap an option.

Local SEO

How Does Google Determine Which Reviews Show First?

Google shows reviews by Most relevant unless the reader changes it, and it does not publish the formula. What we can see, what our data on half a million reviews suggests, and what it means for your…

6 min read

A bakery owner hands a paper bag to a customer across the counter, with a phone showing a map listing with star ratings beside the card reader.

Reviews and revenue

Do Google Reviews Really Bring in More Sales?

Yes, but not in the way most owners expect. Reviews raise sales by getting you found, getting you chosen and letting customers trust you enough to pay. Here is the evidence, and where it stops.

6 min read

A practice manager at a dental reception desk choosing from a dropdown list on a laptop.

Getting found

How to choose Google Business Profile categories

Which profile fields affect whether you are found, and which are for customers only? The evidence for categories, services, attributes, hours, and posts.

7 min read

A wall calendar in a small shop's back office with weeks crossed off, a smartphone propped against it showing a rising line chart beside a mug of tea.

Reviews and revenue

How Long Does It Take to See Results From Google Reviews?

A review appears in minutes, but the results come in layers: weeks for customers to notice, months for rankings and revenue. Here is a realistic timeline and what speeds it up.

6 min read

The owner of a newly opened independent florist arranges buckets of fresh flowers outside the shop in morning light.

Getting reviews

What's a Realistic Review Goal for a New Business?

Five genuine reviews first, then the typical count for your trade: under ten for many trades, over a hundred for vets and venues. Benchmarks from 46,800 businesses.

6 min read

A smartphone held up in a city street showing a map with several location pins and a list of local business results with star ratings.

Local SEO

How Many Google Reviews Do You Need to Rank Higher?

Google has no magic number of reviews, but your local market does. Here are review benchmarks for 20 trades from 46,800 businesses, the review signals that matter for map rankings, and a ten-minute w…

6 min read

A hand holds a smartphone in a high street showing a business listing with a large star rating and a row of review cards, shop fronts blurred behind.

Reviews and revenue

What's a Good Google Review Rating and Does It Actually Matter?

For most local businesses a good Google rating now starts at 4.5, because three in four competitors already have one. Here is what good looks like in your category, and why review count changes every…

6 min read

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From the blog to your market

See what customers say about your market.

Each Rate My Ratings report reads every public review of every comparable business in one category and one location, and turns them into a five-part document you can act on.

Browse the reports Request a report
  • What you getOne password-protected web document in five parts: Overview, Experience, Persona, Benchmark, Strategy.
  • Where the data comes fromPublic reviews on Google Maps, attributed to the business that received them and presented in aggregate.
  • How it's pricedA one-time purchase per market. No account, no card on file, nothing to cancel.