Review Signals
Review signals are the collection of ratings and reviews Google reads to gauge a business's reputation, including the average star rating, total review count, how recently reviews arrive, keywords inside them, and whether the owner responds. Together they feed the prominence side of local ranking.
Why It Matters
Reviews influence both where a business ranks and whether searchers choose it. A steady stream of recent, detailed, well-answered reviews signals an active, trusted business and lifts both visibility and conversion.
Common Mistake
Buying or gating reviews to inflate the star rating. Fake and incentivized reviews violate Google policy, risk removal or suspension, and erode the trust that genuine reviews are meant to build.