How many Google reviews do you need?

Google’s own page on how local ranking works says prominence is based partly on “how many reviews you have”, and that “more reviews and positive ratings can help your business’s local ranking”.

Two things to keep in mind:

• Reviews are one signal among many. Your category, distance from the searcher and the rest of your profile matter too.
• Google also says there’s no way to pay for a better local ranking. Buying reviews breaks its rules and the Australian Consumer Law.

Customers don’t judge your 32 reviews in isolation. They compare you with the other two or three businesses on screen. So your target is set by your local competition:

1. Search for your main service and suburb, like “electrician Joondalup”.
2. Note the rating and review count of the top 3 businesses in the map results.
3. Aim to match the middle one within 6 to 12 months, then keep going.

For a quick benchmark, see our Australian Google Maps benchmarks: the typical review count of the top 3 for 16 trades in 10 cities. Our free Google Maps rank check shows the top 3 near you, and the free weekly report tracks your reviews against theirs.

• Below 4.0 puts many customers off before they read a word.
• 4.5 to 4.9 is the sweet spot. A perfect 5.0 with many reviews can look too good to be true.
• With few reviews, one bad one hurts. A single 1-star review drops a 5.0 profile with 9 reviews to 4.6.

Work out exactly how many 5-star reviews you need to reach your target with our Google reviews calculator.

A profile with 200 reviews but none in the last year looks like a business that’s slowed down. Customers read the newest reviews first. Aim for a steady flow, like a few every month, rather than a burst once a year.

1. Ask every customer, straight after the job, with your direct review link.
2. Make it easy in person with a printable review card on your counter or in your van.
3. Reply to every review using our reply templates.
4. Never offer rewards or only ask happy customers. See fake reviews and the ACCC.