What are Review Signals?
Review signals refer to the online reviews and ratings a business receives on platforms like Google, Yelp, Facebook, TripAdvisor, and industry-specific directories. These signals include the quantity, quality, recency, and diversity of reviews, as well as how a business responds to them.
Review signals are an important ranking factor in local SEO and play a key role in shaping consumer trust and decision-making.
Why Review Signals Matter
Reviews influence both search engine algorithms and human behaviour. Search engines use them to help assess a business’s credibility and relevance, while customers rely on them for social proof.
Key benefits of strong review signals include:
- Higher local search rankings
- Increased visibility in the Local Pack
- Enhanced trust and click-through rates
- Greater influence on consumer purchasing decisions
- Signals of business engagement and responsiveness
Negative or fake reviews, on the other hand, can damage reputation and visibility if not properly managed.
Example in Use
A local service company receives 50 five-star reviews on Google within a few months and regularly responds to each one. The high volume and recency of positive feedback help the business appear more prominently in local search results, while also increasing customer confidence.
Actively managing reviews across platforms helps build strong review signals over time.
Related Terms
- Local SEO
- Google Business Profile
- Local Pack
- Reputation Management
- Customer Feedback