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Reviewed by customers, rewarded by Google: The impact of reviews on Google rankings
February 27, 2025
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5 min read
Pascal Sollberger
Co-Founder & Marketing Expert, hypt
Nowadays, customers are making less and less spontaneous decisions about a business or service. Instead, they do their research online, read reviews, and compare offers. In fact, searches such as “bank near me” have increased by more than 60% increased.
And this is exactly where Google reviews play a major role: They not only influence the trust of potential customers, but also the visibility of a company in search results on Google.
Inhalt
Google reviews — Why they are important for ranking
Google reviews have a direct impact on local search engine rankings and can give a company a real advantage. But why is that?
“According to Semrush, pages that appear on the first page of search results get over 99% of all clicks.” Demandsage
Google Core updates
Google regularly carries out core updates, which adjust the search algorithm to improve the relevance and quality of search results. These updates are a key part of Google's continued efforts to provide users with the most relevant and trustworthy information. Reviews, particularly positive and current ones, play a decisive role as they act as a strong indicator of a company's trustworthiness and quality.
In the past, reviews and user feedback have been increasingly included in the evaluation of websites in several Google Core updates. Google explained that “high-quality pages” are characterized by trust and authenticity, and that reviews make a significant contribution to conveying that trust.
Google regularly adjusts its algorithm. Evaluations remain a continuous and crucial part of these adjustments. This means that companies that actively invest in and maintain their valuations have a better chance of ranking well in the long term.
Factors to get a better ranking
The Google Local Pack shows the three most important local companies for a search query directly in the search results. Whoever appears here gets more visibility and website visitors — a real advantage!
In particular, the following factors play a significant role:
- Lots of reviews: More high-quality reviews increase the chance of being listed in the Local Pack.
- High star rating: The better the rating average, the better the ranking.
- Timeliness of reviews: Recent reviews show that a company is active and relevant.
- Interacting with reviews: Responses to feedback signal customer orientation and can have a positive effect on the ranking. Constructive responses to criticism even have the potential to win back dissatisfied customers.
Actively managing Google reviews also results in a higher click-through rate (CTR), as companies with better reviews generate more clicks, which in turn has a positive effect on their ranking in search results.
Why the number of reviews counts
The number and quality of Google reviews significantly influence visibility in local search results.
- Already from 10 reviews Your local ranking can improve.
- companies with average 47 reviews Do particularly well.
- Regular new reviews are more important than a one-time flood of reviews
According to users, what makes for a good rating?
According to the BrightLocal Consumer Review Survey 2025 These factors are particularly important for users:
- 53% of users want to read a detailed, positive experience
- 51% pay attention to a high star rating.
- 47% value current reviews.
- 46% rate it positively when companies respond to reviews.
- 41% prefer reviews from real, named people.
How a company gets more (and better) Google Reviews
1. Actively ask customers for reviews
- After a successful purchase or a good experience, ask for a review.
- Place QR codes on business cards, invoices, parcels or at the entrance.
- Get reviews via email or social media.
2. Respond to all reviews
- Reply to positive reviews with a thank you and a brief personalization.
- Treat negative reviews objectively and in a solution-oriented manner.
3. Integrate Google reviews into marketing
- Highlight positive reviews on social media or your own website.
- Include good reviews in ads to increase click-through rate (CTR).
And above all, actively include the management of Google reviews in the strategy - it's worth it. ⭐
Long story short
If a company wants to be found on Google, Google reviews are an absolute must. They not only improve the ranking, but also make the company more attractive to new customers. Positive reviews lead to cheaper, easier and more sales, strengthen trust and increase visibility — which leads to more website visits. Clever review management therefore not only means more visibility and more trust, but ultimately also more turnover! In other words: Actively ask for reviews, respond to feedback and use Google Reviews as a strategic tool.
