Local SEO

Articles in Local SEO.

How To Ask For More Google Reviews For Your Australian Business

Most happy customers won't leave a Google review unless you ask. This guide provides Australian businesses with a repeatable, friction-free system to increase review volume. Learn how to time your requests, use direct links and QR codes, and craft professional responses to build trust and improve local SEO while maintaining compliance with Google’s guidelines.

Jul 10, 2026•110 views•Chris Patterson

How Review Sentiment Affects Local SEO (And How to Optimize for It)

Most local businesses optimize for star ratings and ignore the one signal that actually moves the needle in Google's local algorithm: the language inside your reviews. This guide breaks down how Google's NLP engine reads review sentiment, why descriptive feedback outranks generic five-star reviews, and five advanced strategies to turn your review profile into a compounding local SEO asset.

Jun 18, 2026•185 views•Chris Patterson

How to Change Your Business Name on Google My Business (Without Getting Suspended)

Log into the Google account tied to your listing, search your exact business name on Google to pull up your profile, then: Open Edit Profile. Click the Edit profile icon (the pencil icon) inside the merchant menu on the search results page. Go to Business Info. Select the Business info tab, find the Business name field, and click the pencil icon next to it. Type the new name. Enter your updated name exactly as it appears on your signage, website, and legal documents. Save. Click Save and give it time to process.

Jun 16, 2026•199 views•Chris Patterson

Google Review Points: What They Mean and How to Earn Them

Google review points are a scoring metric inside the Google Local Guides program. Every time you contribute content to Google Maps, whether that is writing a review, uploading a photo, or answering a question, Google awards you points based on the type and quality of that contribution.

Jun 11, 2026•319 views•Chris Patterson

The Importance of Google Reviews for Small Businesses

Google reviews help small businesses rank higher in local search, build trust, increase clicks, and attract more customers through social proof and stronger visibility on Google Maps

Jun 3, 2026•291 views•Rebecca Stone

How to Share and Create a Google Review Link in 2026 (Step-by-Step Guide)

If you run a local business, getting Google reviews consistently is no longer optional. Reviews shape your Google Maps ranking, build customer trust, and directly influence whether someone chooses you over a competitor. The single biggest barrier to getting more reviews is friction. Most customers are willing to leave a review, but they won't go hunting for your business profile on their own. A direct Google review link removes that friction entirely. One click, and they land straight on the review form, ready to write.

May 19, 2026•258 views•Chris Patterson

Do Google Reviews Influence Branded Search Rankings?

Google reviews influence branded search rankings both indirectly through trust and engagement signals, and sometimes directly through local SEO algorithms. Reviews shape how Google perceives your brand as an entity, how users interact with your listing, and how prominently your business appears when someone searches for you by name.

May 7, 2026•279 views•Rebecca Stone

Do Google Reviews Help SEO? Local Ranking Factors Explained

Long story short: yes, Google reviews help SEO. They influence your visibility in local search, help you rank in the Google Map Pack, and make people more likely to click on your business when they see it. 

Mar 26, 2026•664 views•Chris Patterson

How Many Google Reviews Do You Need to Rank in a Local Pack?

There is no universal number of Google reviews required to rank in the Local Pack. However, data from large local SEO studies shows that businesses appearing in the top three Google Maps results usually have around 40 to 50 reviews on average, along with strong ratings and consistent new reviews.

Mar 10, 2026•1,106 views•Chris Patterson