The role of review velocity and sentiment
Reviews account for over 15% of Google's local ranking algorithm. Two similar businesses side by side: the one with steady genuine reviews usually wins.
Google looks at four metrics: review velocity (new reviews regularly), average star rating, total count, and keywords in the review text.
Ethical review workflows vs penalty risks
Buying fake reviews or gating unhappy clients breaks Google's policies and risks permanent suspension. Build a compliant, automated WhatsApp request system instead.
Respond to every review. Thanking happy customers builds loyalty, and calm replies to critical feedback show integrity to future buyers.
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