How-to guide
How Many Google Reviews Does a Local Business Need?
Written by the Web Design Lab NYC team · Published
Owners often ask for a number: 50 reviews, 100, 200? There isn't one that works everywhere. What matters is how you compare with the businesses you compete with in your town, and whether your reviews keep coming. Here is how to work out your target.
Find your number in five minutes
Search your main service and town on your phone, like "electrician Hackensack". Look at the three businesses on the map.
- Write down how many reviews each one has
- Check how recent their latest reviews are
- Look at their average rating
- Compare with your own profile
Why recent reviews matter more than the total
A customer sees 120 reviews, but the newest one is from two years ago. Another business has 60, with several from the last month. Many people trust the second one more, because it looks active. Steady reviews also show Google that the business is real and busy.
A simple routine that keeps reviews coming
The businesses with the most reviews usually aren't lucky. They ask every time.
- Make a short review link and a QR code
- Ask in person when the job is done and the customer is happy
- Send the link by text the same day
- Put the QR code on invoices, receipts or your counter
- Reply to every review within a few days
What not to do
Don't buy reviews, don't write them for customers and don't offer discounts or gifts for them. It breaks Google's rules and can get reviews removed or the profile suspended. Asking only happy customers to review while steering unhappy ones away is also against the rules.
Bad reviews are not the end
A few honest low reviews, with calm and helpful replies, make your profile look real. What hurts more is a bad review with no reply, or a reply that argues.