April 10, 2025 • 18 mins
Google reviews have quietly become one of the most powerful ranking factors for local businesses seeking to appear in the coveted Google Maps results. For plumbers, electricians, retail shops, and other community-focused businesses, these customer testimonials function as free advertising targeting people actively searching for your specific services.
The rules of the game have changed dramatically with Google's recent deployment of their advanced Gemini AI system. This sophisticated technology now scrutinizes reviews with unprecedented precision, examining everything from the natural language patterns within the text to the reviewer's account activity, IP address, and geographical relevance. Businesses attempting to shortcut their way to prominence through purchased or fabricated reviews now face serious consequences – public warning labels displayed directly on their listings, removal of both fake and legitimate reviews, suppressed rankings, and potentially complete profile suspension.
Our extensive data analysis at Local Biz Domination reveals several critical insights that contradict conventional wisdom about reviews. First, recency trumps quantity – reviews posted within the last 90 days carry significantly more ranking weight than older feedback. Second, perfect isn't actually perfect – businesses maintaining 4.7-4.9 star averages often rank better than those with flawless 5.0 ratings, likely because they appear more authentic to both Google and potential customers. Third, and perhaps most actionable, the specific words within reviews dramatically impact ranking relevance. When customers mention particular services and locations in their feedback, it directly enhances your visibility for those search terms.
The businesses consistently attracting these valuable, keyword-rich reviews aren't just lucky – they've systematized the review collection process. By training all customer-facing staff to request feedback, making those requests within 24-48 hours of service completion, and providing friction-free submission methods like direct links via text message, these companies transform everyday customer interactions into powerful ranking signals. Implementing these strategies consistently will not only keep you on Google's good side but build the kind of authentic online reputation that turns searches into sales without constant advertising expenditure.
Discover how Local Biz Domination can revolutionize your business operations. Our AI-driven CRM is designed to crush inefficiencies, automate tasks, and empower entrepreneurs to focus on growth and innovation. Visit https://LocalBizDominance.com to learn more and unlock the full potential of your business today.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome.
Let's get straight to it.
If you're a local businessowner, maybe running a home
service like plumbing orelectrical, or you've got a
brick and mortar shop, you'realways looking for ways to get
more customers withoutconstantly, you know, paying for
ads.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Absolutely.
That's the goal for so many.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
So today we're really focusing in on one of the best
ways to do that Google reviews,and well, how they actually
impact your Google ranking.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
That's right For businesses like yours showing up
high in those local Google Mapsresults when people search for
what you offer.
That's gold.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Right.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
It's basically free advertising and it targets
people who are actively lookingfor your services, like right
now, and while there are lots offactors in ranking Google
reviews, they've becomeincredibly powerful.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
And it feels like Google's really stepped up its
game recently, making sure thosereviews are well legit.
Oh, definitely it's not as easyas it maybe used to be to try
and game the system, is it?
Speaker 2 (00:59):
No, definitely not.
Google's rolled out a prettysignificant upgrade with their
new AI system, Gemini.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Gemini right.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, and it's actively working to identify and
weed out the fake stuff.
You know spammy reviews policy,violating reviews from Google
business profiles, your GBP.
It's a much, much moresophisticated system than
anything they've had before.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
So OK, someone's tempted then to take shortcuts,
maybe buy a bunch of fake fivestar reviews.
They could be facing somepretty serious consequences.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
If Gemini flags your profile for like suspicious
review activity, therepercussions can be significant
.
You might actually see publicwarning labels pop up right on
your listing.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yeah, telling potential customers that Google
suspects the authenticity ofyour reviews, that can really
really on your listing.
Wow yeah, telling potentialcustomers that Google suspects
the authenticity of your reviews, that can really really damage
your credibility.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Wow, a public warning label right there on your
Google listing.
That's a huge red flag foranyone searching what else?
What else could happen if youget got?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Well, the fake reviews themselves.
They'll almost certainly beremoved.
That's kind of a given.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
But sometimes Google might even remove legitimate
recent reviews as part of theircleanup.
Yeah, and even more concerningis they can suppress your
ranking in the local map pack.
I mean.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
So you just drop lower.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
You could suddenly find yourself much lower in the
search results.
Yeah yeah, with no clear reasonwhy and, worst case scenario,
they could even temporarily, orsometimes permanently, suspend
your entire Google businessprofile.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Gone, just like that.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Essentially making your online presence just vanish
.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Yeah, so trying to boost your ranking with fake
reviews sounds like a really,really risky move.
It could backfire spectacularlyand just tank your visibility.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Precisely.
And look, this isn't just usguessing At Local Biz Domination
.
We've been well digging deepinto the data.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Right.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
We're talking about analyzing millions, literally
millions, of data points tied toreviews across thousands of
Google business profiles thatour own AI has helped optimize,
and what we found is, it'scrystal clear Authentic reviews
are absolutely vital for rankingwell, and trying to use fake
ones is just a fast track tolower visibility and, frankly, a
damaged reputation.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
OK.
So yeah, steering clear of fakereviews is a total no-brainer,
but what does this stronger AIfrom Google, this Gemini thing?
What does it mean for the localbusinesses who are playing by
the rules, you know, trying toget genuine feedback from their
actual customers?
Speaker 2 (03:28):
It means Google is just getting much, much smarter
at detecting anything that seemsinauthentic.
Gemini isn't just looking forlike obvious keyword stuffing or
spam anymore.
It uses really advancedtechniques understanding the
natural language people use inreviews, recognizing patterns in
review activity, even analyzingthe behavior of the users,
(03:48):
leaving the reviews to spotthings that just don't seem
right.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
So it's not just the words in the review itself.
It's looking at like where itcame from, how active the
reviewer is, other sort ofbehind the scenes factors.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Exactly.
Gemini takes into accountthings like the IP address, the
overall activity of thereviewer's Google account.
It checks if their locationkind of lines up with your
actual customer base, right,makes sense.
It also looks at how manyreviews one person has left in a
really short time.
And, yes, the language, theactual words in the reviews is
crucial.
If the wording sounds, you know, unnatural, maybe too
(04:24):
enthusiastic or just supergeneric across multiple reviews,
that can raise a red flag forthe AI.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
That makes total sense.
Yeah, If you suddenly get likea flood of five-star reviews
that all sound suspiciouslysimilar or they're all coming
from people who live hundreds ofmiles away from your service
area, Google's going to besuspicious.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Absolutely.
And one of the biggestgiveaways a sudden, totally
unexplained spike in five-starreviews.
If you've been getting, say, acouple of reviews a month,
pretty steady, and then boom, 15perfect reviews land, all from
accounts that seem to have noreal connection to your business
, that's a major, major red flagfor Gemini.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
All right, okay, so we get what Google's looking for
now and the dangers of tryingto cheat the system.
Let's pivot then.
How do genuine reviews actuallyimpact your Google business
profile ranking?
What did your analysis, allthat data at Local Biz
Domination what did it revealabout what really moves the
needle?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yeah, this is where our work analyzing all that data
at Local Biz Domination hasreally uncovered some valuable
insights.
Stuff that goes beyond just theusual advice of oh, just get
more reviews, insights, stuff.
That goes beyond just the usualadvice of oh, just get more
reviews.
Ok, Our analysis points to somereally specific factors within
your reviews that have asignificant impact on where you
actually show up in Google Maps.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
OK, I'm all ears.
What are the key things thatlocal businesses should be
focusing on when it comes tothese reviews and their ranking?
Speaker 2 (05:41):
OK, the first big one is freshness recency.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Freshness.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yeah, our data clearly shows that Google places
a much, much higher value onrecent reviews, specifically
reviews left within the last,say, 90 days.
They appear to carry asignificantly more weight in the
ranking algorithm.
90 days, yeah, businesses thatconsistently get new reviews
tend to rank higher than thosethat might have a ton of older
(06:06):
reviews, even if those olderones are, like, overwhelmingly
positive.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
That makes sense Intuitively, I guess A steady
stream of recent positivefeedback.
It signals to Google that thebusiness is still active, right,
still providing good servicenow.
The business.
Getting a few new reviews everyweek probably looks more
trustworthy than one that hasn'thad a new review in like six
months, even if they havehundreds from years ago.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Precisely Review recency and also frequency how
often they come in.
Those are strong indicators oftrust for Google, and trust is a
direct factor in how they ranklocal businesses Right.
So if it's been a while sinceyour last review, you're likely
losing ground To yourcompetitors, who are getting
more recent feedback.
Making review requests aregular part of your process
(06:52):
ideally weekly, maybe even daily, depending on volume is just
crucial.
We've seen businesses get anoticeable lift in their local
rankings simply by focusing ongetting more recent reviews.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Okay, got it.
Fresh reviews are vital.
What's another key insight yourdata showed?
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Okay, this one might be a bit surprising to some
people.
You don't actually need aperfect 5.0 star rating to rank
well.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Really Not a perfect 5.0?
.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Nope, in fact, our analysis often showed that
businesses with an averagerating somewhere around, say,
4.8, 4.9,.
They frequently rank just aswell, sometimes even better,
than those with a Flawlish 5.0.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Huh, that's interesting.
Why would that be?
Why would a slightly loweraverage rating sometimes be
better for ranking?
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Well, because a perfect 5.0 can sometimes look a
little less believable to bothGoogle and potential customers.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Oh, okay.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
I mean think about it .
Is it really realistic for anybusiness to have absolutely zero
, less than perfect experiences?
Ever A few three or four starreviews, mixed in with mostly
five stars, can actually makeyour business seem more
authentic, more trustworthy morereal.
Exactly.
People might be naturallyskeptical if they see a business
(08:01):
with hundreds of perfectreviews and not a single
slightly negative bit offeedback.
There's even researchsuggesting that profiles with
that mix of ratings cansometimes lead to higher
conversion rates, because theyjust come across as more genuine
.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
So, okay, a less than perfect review here and there
isn't the end of the world,maybe even helpful in a way.
It's better to focus on gettingconsistent, honest feedback,
even if it's not always fivestars.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Precisely.
Don't sweat the odd four star.
Now the third major insightfrom our data.
This is where you can reallyactively influence your ranking
the content of your reviews,specifically keyword rich
reviews.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Keyword rich reviews.
Tell me more about that.
How can what a customeractually writes in their review
help me rank higher?
Speaker 2 (08:48):
OK.
So when your customers usespecific words and phrases in
their reviews words relevant toyour services, or maybe they
mention their location itsignificantly boosts the
likelihood of your profileshowing up in searches for those
exact terms.
For example right, a genericreview like great service,
that's nice, it's appreciated.
But a review that sayssomething like the electrician
(09:08):
from your company name indowntown Seattle quickly fixed
my faulty wiring this morning,that is incredibly valuable.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Yeah, ok, I see.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
That second review directly helps you rank for
searches like electriciandowntown Seattle or faulty
wiring repair Seattle.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
So Google's algorithm is actually reading and like
understanding what people aresaying in these reviews and
using that information to figureout how relevant my business is
for specific searches.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Absolutely.
It's analyzing that text.
When multiple customersorganically use the same
keywords to describe yourservices, and they mention your
service area, google connectsthat language directly to your
business's relevance for thosesearches.
It's like having your customerstell Google exactly what you do
and where you do it, but intheir own words.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
That's a really powerful way to think about it.
So just encouraging customersto be maybe a little more
detailed in their reviews, thatcould have a real impact on who
finds my business on Google.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Exactly Now.
You don't need to tell themexactly what to write.
Of course that's against therules and looks fake.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
But a simple prompt like if you have a moment, could
you maybe tell us what specificservice we helped you with
today?
That can often lead to muchmore valuable keyword-rich
feedback.
And here's another littlenugget from our data Reviews
that include photos.
They tend to generate moreengagement from other searchers,
which can also signal to Googlethat your profile is active and
(10:32):
helpful.
Plus, those images show up inyour GBP media section, giving
you more visual punch in thesearch results.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
This is all incredibly helpful stuff.
So just to summarize quickly weneed a consistent flow of
recent reviews.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Yep Last 90 days, ideally.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
We don't need a perfect five-star average, maybe
4.8, 4.9 is even better fortrust.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Exactly, seems more real.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
And encouraging customers to mention specific
keywords about our services andlocation can give us a real
ranking advantage.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Huge advantage.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Okay, now the big question for everyone listening
how do we actually get more ofthese high-quality, genuine
reviews without, you know,running into trouble with
Google's AI?
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Right.
The key is to make asking forand then receiving these real
detailed reviews just afundamental part of your daily
operations.
It has to be systemic.
The highest performingbusinesses we've worked with at
Local Biz Domination.
They don't just sort of hopefor reviews.
They've built a system, aprocess for insistently
requesting feedback after prettymuch every customer interaction
(11:35):
.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
So it's about having a process in place, not just,
you know, crossing your fingersand hoping people remember to
leave a review later.
What are some concrete steps,things our listeners can do
right now to start getting moreof these valuable reviews?
Speaker 2 (11:50):
OK, first and foremost, train your team,
everyone who interacts withcustomers.
Train them to ask every singlecustomer for a review, every
single one, every one.
It doesn't have to be pushy oraggressive, but it should just
be a standard part of yourcustomer service wrap-up and
timing is also crucial.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
When should they ask?
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Ask within, say, 24 to 48 hours of completing the
service, While the experience isstill fresh in their mind.
Personalize the request, if youcan maybe mention the specific
service you provided and this isabsolutely key Always, always,
include a direct link to yourGoogle review page.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Make it easy.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Make it as easy as humanly possible for them to
leave feedback.
Don't make them hunt for yourprofile.
One click is ideal.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
That makes perfect sense.
Yeah, Timely, relevant andincredibly easy.
What are some practical ways todeliver that request with the
link?
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Well, train your frontline staff or technicians
to verbally ask right after theservice is done.
A simple phrase like hey, we'dreally appreciate it if you'd
share your experience online.
We can send you a quick textwith a direct link to our Google
review page.
It only takes a minute.
That can be very effective.
Okay, and definitely leveragetechnology.
Qr codes are great.
Put them on your invoices,maybe receipts.
(13:02):
They take customers directly toyour review page.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Automated text messages sent after a job is
marked, complete with thatreview link Another really
powerful tool.
You can also use emailfollow-ups, again with a
one-click review link, or eventhose NFC-enabled review cards
Customers just tap them withtheir phones.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
Oh yeah, I've seen those.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
The goal is just to eliminate any friction, any
obstacles in the review process.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
These are all really actionable ideas.
Okay, what about encouragingthose keyword-rich descriptions
we talked about, withoutsounding like we're telling
people exactly what to write,which we know is bad?
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Right.
So when you ask for the review,you can gently guide them, say
something like we'd love to hearabout your experience with the
specific service you provided.
Or maybe, if you have a moment,could you please tell us what
you appreciated most about ourwork service.
Ah, subtle prompts Exactly.
It just encourages them to thinkabout the details rather than
just leaving stars.
(13:58):
You could also subtly suggestincluding the neighborhood or
city they're in, if appropriate,and definitely encourage them
to include photos if it'srelevant to the service you
provided, like a finishedproject.
Visuals can be incrediblyimpactful for other potential
customers looking at yourprofile.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
So it's about nudging them in the right direction
without being too pushy orprescriptive, and the real key,
it sounds like, is making this aconsistent habit for the
business.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Absolutely.
Consistency is everything.
The businesses that areconsistently getting those
valuable reviews.
They aren't just lucky.
They've made review collectiona core part of their customer
service strategy.
It's baked into their process.
Whether you're a plumber whojust fixed a leak, a dentist who
completed a cleaning, or maybea restaurant server who provided
(14:44):
great service, those are allperfect opportunities to request
a review.
You just need a reliable systemin place to trigger that
request every single time.
Automation can be a total gamechanger here.
It lets you manage and requestreviews efficiently, especially
as you scale up.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
This has been incredibly valuable information,
really practical stuff.
So just to quickly recap forour listeners what are the
absolute most important thingsthey should take away from our
discussion today.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Okay.
Key takeaways are Google's AIGemini is now very, very
effective at spotting fakereviews, so genuine customer
feedback is more critical thanever.
Recent reviews think within thelast three months or 90 days
have the biggest impact on yourranking.
Freshness matters.
You don't need a perfect 5.0rating to rank well.
In fact, a slightly loweraverage maybe 4.7, 4.9, can
(15:33):
actually build more trust, moreauthentic, exactly and,
crucially, reviews that containspecific keywords about the
services you offer in yourlocation.
Those will significantlyimprove your visibility in
relevant local searches.
Get people talking about whatyou did and where you did it.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
And when it comes to actually getting those valuable
authentic reviews.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Ask every customer.
Do it in a timely manner, soonafter the service, personalize
it if possible and make it superconvenient by always providing
that direct link to your Googlereview page.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Make it easy.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Explore using tools like QR codes, text message
automation, email follow-ups andNFC cards Whatever makes the
process seamless for thecustomer.
Encourage them to be specificin their feedback, maybe mention
the service, the location andconsider including photos.
And finally, the big one.
Make review collection aconsistent, routine part of your
(16:24):
business operations, not anafterthought.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
So it really boils down to building a genuine and
active review profile.
Over time Seems like there areno real shortcuts anymore,
especially not ones that willwork in the long run with
Google's increasinglysophisticated AI watching.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Exactly right.
By focusing on deliveringexcellent customer service first
, and then consistentlyencouraging that honest feedback
, you'll not only stay onGoogle's good side, but you'll
also build trust with potentialcustomers and ultimately achieve
that sustainable growth foryour local business, without
having to rely solely on paidadvertising.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
That's fantastic advice for any local business,
any home service pro, any shopowner looking to boost their
local presence on Google.
Really something to think about.
Maybe consider the currentsystems you have in place right
now for gathering customerfeedback.
How can you adapt them, ormaybe build them, to
consistently generate thosefresh, detailed reviews that
really highlight the specificvalue you provide to your local
(17:20):
customers?
That's maybe the final thoughtfor today.
Thanks for tuning in.
Welcome.
Let's get straight to it.
If you're a local businessowner, maybe running a home
service like plumbing orelectrical, or you've got a
brick and mortar shop, you'realways looking for ways to get
more customers withoutconstantly, you know, paying for
ads.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Absolutely.
That's the goal for so many.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
So today we're really focusing in on one of the best
ways to do that Google reviews,and well, how they actually
impact your Google ranking.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
That's right For businesses like yours showing up
high in those local Google Mapsresults when people search for
what you offer.
That's gold.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Right.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
It's basically free advertising and it targets
people who are actively lookingfor your services, like right
now, and while there are lots offactors in ranking Google
reviews, they've becomeincredibly powerful.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
And it feels like Google's really stepped up its
game recently, making sure thosereviews are well legit.
Oh, definitely it's not as easyas it maybe used to be to try
and game the system, is it?
Speaker 2 (00:59):
No, definitely not.
Google's rolled out a prettysignificant upgrade with their
new AI system, Gemini.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Gemini right.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, and it's actively working to identify and
weed out the fake stuff.
You know spammy reviews policy,violating reviews from Google
business profiles, your GBP.
It's a much, much moresophisticated system than
anything they've had before.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
So OK, someone's tempted then to take shortcuts,
maybe buy a bunch of fake fivestar reviews.
They could be facing somepretty serious consequences.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
If Gemini flags your profile for like suspicious
review activity, therepercussions can be significant
.
You might actually see publicwarning labels pop up right on
your listing.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yeah, telling potential customers that Google
suspects the authenticity ofyour reviews, that can really
really on your listing.
Wow yeah, telling potentialcustomers that Google suspects
the authenticity of your reviews, that can really really damage
your credibility.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Wow, a public warning label right there on your
Google listing.
That's a huge red flag foranyone searching what else?
What else could happen if youget got?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Well, the fake reviews themselves.
They'll almost certainly beremoved.
That's kind of a given.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
But sometimes Google might even remove legitimate
recent reviews as part of theircleanup.
Yeah, and even more concerningis they can suppress your
ranking in the local map pack.
I mean.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
So you just drop lower.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
You could suddenly find yourself much lower in the
search results.
Yeah yeah, with no clear reasonwhy and, worst case scenario,
they could even temporarily, orsometimes permanently, suspend
your entire Google businessprofile.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Gone, just like that.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Essentially making your online presence just vanish
.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Yeah, so trying to boost your ranking with fake
reviews sounds like a really,really risky move.
It could backfire spectacularlyand just tank your visibility.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Precisely.
And look, this isn't just usguessing At Local Biz Domination
.
We've been well digging deepinto the data.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Right.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
We're talking about analyzing millions, literally
millions, of data points tied toreviews across thousands of
Google business profiles thatour own AI has helped optimize,
and what we found is, it'scrystal clear Authentic reviews
are absolutely vital for rankingwell, and trying to use fake
ones is just a fast track tolower visibility and, frankly, a
damaged reputation.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
OK.
So yeah, steering clear of fakereviews is a total no-brainer,
but what does this stronger AIfrom Google, this Gemini thing?
What does it mean for the localbusinesses who are playing by
the rules, you know, trying toget genuine feedback from their
actual customers?
Speaker 2 (03:28):
It means Google is just getting much, much smarter
at detecting anything that seemsinauthentic.
Gemini isn't just looking forlike obvious keyword stuffing or
spam anymore.
It uses really advancedtechniques understanding the
natural language people use inreviews, recognizing patterns in
review activity, even analyzingthe behavior of the users,
(03:48):
leaving the reviews to spotthings that just don't seem
right.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
So it's not just the words in the review itself.
It's looking at like where itcame from, how active the
reviewer is, other sort ofbehind the scenes factors.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Exactly.
Gemini takes into accountthings like the IP address, the
overall activity of thereviewer's Google account.
It checks if their locationkind of lines up with your
actual customer base, right,makes sense.
It also looks at how manyreviews one person has left in a
really short time.
And, yes, the language, theactual words in the reviews is
crucial.
If the wording sounds, you know, unnatural, maybe too
(04:24):
enthusiastic or just supergeneric across multiple reviews,
that can raise a red flag forthe AI.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
That makes total sense.
Yeah, If you suddenly get likea flood of five-star reviews
that all sound suspiciouslysimilar or they're all coming
from people who live hundreds ofmiles away from your service
area, Google's going to besuspicious.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Absolutely.
And one of the biggestgiveaways a sudden, totally
unexplained spike in five-starreviews.
If you've been getting, say, acouple of reviews a month,
pretty steady, and then boom, 15perfect reviews land, all from
accounts that seem to have noreal connection to your business
, that's a major, major red flagfor Gemini.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
All right, okay, so we get what Google's looking for
now and the dangers of tryingto cheat the system.
Let's pivot then.
How do genuine reviews actuallyimpact your Google business
profile ranking?
What did your analysis, allthat data at Local Biz
Domination what did it revealabout what really moves the
needle?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yeah, this is where our work analyzing all that data
at Local Biz Domination hasreally uncovered some valuable
insights.
Stuff that goes beyond just theusual advice of oh, just get
more reviews, insights, stuff.
That goes beyond just the usualadvice of oh, just get more
reviews.
Ok, Our analysis points to somereally specific factors within
your reviews that have asignificant impact on where you
actually show up in Google Maps.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
OK, I'm all ears.
What are the key things thatlocal businesses should be
focusing on when it comes tothese reviews and their ranking?
Speaker 2 (05:41):
OK, the first big one is freshness recency.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Freshness.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yeah, our data clearly shows that Google places
a much, much higher value onrecent reviews, specifically
reviews left within the last,say, 90 days.
They appear to carry asignificantly more weight in the
ranking algorithm.
90 days, yeah, businesses thatconsistently get new reviews
tend to rank higher than thosethat might have a ton of older
(06:06):
reviews, even if those olderones are, like, overwhelmingly
positive.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
That makes sense Intuitively, I guess A steady
stream of recent positivefeedback.
It signals to Google that thebusiness is still active, right,
still providing good servicenow.
The business.
Getting a few new reviews everyweek probably looks more
trustworthy than one that hasn'thad a new review in like six
months, even if they havehundreds from years ago.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Precisely Review recency and also frequency how
often they come in.
Those are strong indicators oftrust for Google, and trust is a
direct factor in how they ranklocal businesses Right.
So if it's been a while sinceyour last review, you're likely
losing ground To yourcompetitors, who are getting
more recent feedback.
Making review requests aregular part of your process
(06:52):
ideally weekly, maybe even daily, depending on volume is just
crucial.
We've seen businesses get anoticeable lift in their local
rankings simply by focusing ongetting more recent reviews.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Okay, got it.
Fresh reviews are vital.
What's another key insight yourdata showed?
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Okay, this one might be a bit surprising to some
people.
You don't actually need aperfect 5.0 star rating to rank
well.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Really Not a perfect 5.0?
.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Nope, in fact, our analysis often showed that
businesses with an averagerating somewhere around, say,
4.8, 4.9,.
They frequently rank just aswell, sometimes even better,
than those with a Flawlish 5.0.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Huh, that's interesting.
Why would that be?
Why would a slightly loweraverage rating sometimes be
better for ranking?
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Well, because a perfect 5.0 can sometimes look a
little less believable to bothGoogle and potential customers.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Oh, okay.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
I mean think about it .
Is it really realistic for anybusiness to have absolutely zero
, less than perfect experiences?
Ever A few three or four starreviews, mixed in with mostly
five stars, can actually makeyour business seem more
authentic, more trustworthy morereal.
Exactly.
People might be naturallyskeptical if they see a business
(08:01):
with hundreds of perfectreviews and not a single
slightly negative bit offeedback.
There's even researchsuggesting that profiles with
that mix of ratings cansometimes lead to higher
conversion rates, because theyjust come across as more genuine
.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
So, okay, a less than perfect review here and there
isn't the end of the world,maybe even helpful in a way.
It's better to focus on gettingconsistent, honest feedback,
even if it's not always fivestars.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Precisely.
Don't sweat the odd four star.
Now the third major insightfrom our data.
This is where you can reallyactively influence your ranking
the content of your reviews,specifically keyword rich
reviews.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Keyword rich reviews.
Tell me more about that.
How can what a customeractually writes in their review
help me rank higher?
Speaker 2 (08:48):
OK.
So when your customers usespecific words and phrases in
their reviews words relevant toyour services, or maybe they
mention their location itsignificantly boosts the
likelihood of your profileshowing up in searches for those
exact terms.
For example right, a genericreview like great service,
that's nice, it's appreciated.
But a review that sayssomething like the electrician
(09:08):
from your company name indowntown Seattle quickly fixed
my faulty wiring this morning,that is incredibly valuable.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Yeah, ok, I see.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
That second review directly helps you rank for
searches like electriciandowntown Seattle or faulty
wiring repair Seattle.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
So Google's algorithm is actually reading and like
understanding what people aresaying in these reviews and
using that information to figureout how relevant my business is
for specific searches.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Absolutely.
It's analyzing that text.
When multiple customersorganically use the same
keywords to describe yourservices, and they mention your
service area, google connectsthat language directly to your
business's relevance for thosesearches.
It's like having your customerstell Google exactly what you do
and where you do it, but intheir own words.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
That's a really powerful way to think about it.
So just encouraging customersto be maybe a little more
detailed in their reviews, thatcould have a real impact on who
finds my business on Google.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Exactly Now.
You don't need to tell themexactly what to write.
Of course that's against therules and looks fake.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
But a simple prompt like if you have a moment, could
you maybe tell us what specificservice we helped you with
today?
That can often lead to muchmore valuable keyword-rich
feedback.
And here's another littlenugget from our data Reviews
that include photos.
They tend to generate moreengagement from other searchers,
which can also signal to Googlethat your profile is active and
(10:32):
helpful.
Plus, those images show up inyour GBP media section, giving
you more visual punch in thesearch results.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
This is all incredibly helpful stuff.
So just to summarize quickly weneed a consistent flow of
recent reviews.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Yep Last 90 days, ideally.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
We don't need a perfect five-star average, maybe
4.8, 4.9 is even better fortrust.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Exactly, seems more real.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
And encouraging customers to mention specific
keywords about our services andlocation can give us a real
ranking advantage.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Huge advantage.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Okay, now the big question for everyone listening
how do we actually get more ofthese high-quality, genuine
reviews without, you know,running into trouble with
Google's AI?
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Right.
The key is to make asking forand then receiving these real
detailed reviews just afundamental part of your daily
operations.
It has to be systemic.
The highest performingbusinesses we've worked with at
Local Biz Domination.
They don't just sort of hopefor reviews.
They've built a system, aprocess for insistently
requesting feedback after prettymuch every customer interaction
(11:35):
.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
So it's about having a process in place, not just,
you know, crossing your fingersand hoping people remember to
leave a review later.
What are some concrete steps,things our listeners can do
right now to start getting moreof these valuable reviews?
Speaker 2 (11:50):
OK, first and foremost, train your team,
everyone who interacts withcustomers.
Train them to ask every singlecustomer for a review, every
single one, every one.
It doesn't have to be pushy oraggressive, but it should just
be a standard part of yourcustomer service wrap-up and
timing is also crucial.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
When should they ask?
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Ask within, say, 24 to 48 hours of completing the
service, While the experience isstill fresh in their mind.
Personalize the request, if youcan maybe mention the specific
service you provided and this isabsolutely key Always, always,
include a direct link to yourGoogle review page.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Make it easy.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Make it as easy as humanly possible for them to
leave feedback.
Don't make them hunt for yourprofile.
One click is ideal.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
That makes perfect sense.
Yeah, Timely, relevant andincredibly easy.
What are some practical ways todeliver that request with the
link?
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Well, train your frontline staff or technicians
to verbally ask right after theservice is done.
A simple phrase like hey, we'dreally appreciate it if you'd
share your experience online.
We can send you a quick textwith a direct link to our Google
review page.
It only takes a minute.
That can be very effective.
Okay, and definitely leveragetechnology.
Qr codes are great.
Put them on your invoices,maybe receipts.
(13:02):
They take customers directly toyour review page.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Automated text messages sent after a job is
marked, complete with thatreview link Another really
powerful tool.
You can also use emailfollow-ups, again with a
one-click review link, or eventhose NFC-enabled review cards
Customers just tap them withtheir phones.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
Oh yeah, I've seen those.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
The goal is just to eliminate any friction, any
obstacles in the review process.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
These are all really actionable ideas.
Okay, what about encouragingthose keyword-rich descriptions
we talked about, withoutsounding like we're telling
people exactly what to write,which we know is bad?
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Right.
So when you ask for the review,you can gently guide them, say
something like we'd love to hearabout your experience with the
specific service you provided.
Or maybe, if you have a moment,could you please tell us what
you appreciated most about ourwork service.
Ah, subtle prompts Exactly.
It just encourages them to thinkabout the details rather than
just leaving stars.
(13:58):
You could also subtly suggestincluding the neighborhood or
city they're in, if appropriate,and definitely encourage them
to include photos if it'srelevant to the service you
provided, like a finishedproject.
Visuals can be incrediblyimpactful for other potential
customers looking at yourprofile.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
So it's about nudging them in the right direction
without being too pushy orprescriptive, and the real key,
it sounds like, is making this aconsistent habit for the
business.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Absolutely.
Consistency is everything.
The businesses that areconsistently getting those
valuable reviews.
They aren't just lucky.
They've made review collectiona core part of their customer
service strategy.
It's baked into their process.
Whether you're a plumber whojust fixed a leak, a dentist who
completed a cleaning, or maybea restaurant server who provided
(14:44):
great service, those are allperfect opportunities to request
a review.
You just need a reliable systemin place to trigger that
request every single time.
Automation can be a total gamechanger here.
It lets you manage and requestreviews efficiently, especially
as you scale up.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
This has been incredibly valuable information,
really practical stuff.
So just to quickly recap forour listeners what are the
absolute most important thingsthey should take away from our
discussion today.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Okay.
Key takeaways are Google's AIGemini is now very, very
effective at spotting fakereviews, so genuine customer
feedback is more critical thanever.
Recent reviews think within thelast three months or 90 days
have the biggest impact on yourranking.
Freshness matters.
You don't need a perfect 5.0rating to rank well.
In fact, a slightly loweraverage maybe 4.7, 4.9, can
(15:33):
actually build more trust, moreauthentic, exactly and,
crucially, reviews that containspecific keywords about the
services you offer in yourlocation.
Those will significantlyimprove your visibility in
relevant local searches.
Get people talking about whatyou did and where you did it.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
And when it comes to actually getting those valuable
authentic reviews.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Ask every customer.
Do it in a timely manner, soonafter the service, personalize
it if possible and make it superconvenient by always providing
that direct link to your Googlereview page.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Make it easy.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Explore using tools like QR codes, text message
automation, email follow-ups andNFC cards Whatever makes the
process seamless for thecustomer.
Encourage them to be specificin their feedback, maybe mention
the service, the location andconsider including photos.
And finally, the big one.
Make review collection aconsistent, routine part of your
(16:24):
business operations, not anafterthought.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
So it really boils down to building a genuine and
active review profile.
Over time Seems like there areno real shortcuts anymore,
especially not ones that willwork in the long run with
Google's increasinglysophisticated AI watching.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Exactly right.
By focusing on deliveringexcellent customer service first
, and then consistentlyencouraging that honest feedback
, you'll not only stay onGoogle's good side, but you'll
also build trust with potentialcustomers and ultimately achieve
that sustainable growth foryour local business, without
having to rely solely on paidadvertising.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
That's fantastic advice for any local business,
any home service pro, any shopowner looking to boost their
local presence on Google.
Really something to think about.
Maybe consider the currentsystems you have in place right
now for gathering customerfeedback.
How can you adapt them, ormaybe build them, to
consistently generate thosefresh, detailed reviews that
really highlight the specificvalue you provide to your local
(17:20):
customers?
That's maybe the final thoughtfor today.
Thanks for tuning in.
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