7 Key Google review metrics every business must track

Tracking the right Google review metrics is essential for every business owner who wants to grow online.

Reviews on your Google business profile don’t just shape a business’s online presence; they also influence local SEO, search results, and how many potential customers choose your business.

By looking at key performance data like average rating, customer feedback, and customer engagement, you can gain valuable insights into what people like and where you need to improve.

In this blog, we’ll go through the seven most important metrics to track. Each one will help you measure your Google Business Profile performance, understand your customers, and guide your marketing strategies for better growth.

Let’s get started!

Why these Google review metrics matter

For any business owner, looking at reviews is not enough. What really matters is tracking the right Google review metrics that show how a Google business profile is performing.

These metrics reveal how reviews affect local SEO, search results, and a business’s online presence.

Here’s why they matter:

• 81% of consumers use Google reviews to evaluate local businesses, so your reviews are often seen.
• They show how your average rating and customer feedback influence consumer decisions.
• They provide valuable insights into customer engagement and service quality.
• They highlight areas where marketing efforts can improve.
• They help a local business build a stronger online reputation and gain a competitive edge.

By following these key metrics, businesses can move beyond counting reviews and use real performance data to attract potential customers and achieve long-term growth.

Grow With better Google reviews

WiserReview makes it simple to collect, track, and display reviews that build trust.

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7 Key Google review metrics

Below are the seven most important metrics every local business should follow to attract potential customers and boost local visibility.

1. Total number of reviews

The total number of reviews shows how many customers shared feedback on your Google business profile. For a local business, a higher count builds trust, improves local SEO, and makes the business stand out in search results.

• Shows how active and trusted your business profile is
• Tracks if review requests bring in more reviews
• Strengthens online reputation and visibility

2. Average rating (star rating)

The average rating shows the overall score from all your Google reviews.

A strong rating signals good service quality and builds trust with potential customers who check your business profile on Google Search or Google Maps.

• Reflects overall customer satisfaction
• Acts as quick social proof in search results
• Helps a local business gain a competitive edge

3. Review velocity

Review velocity shows how quickly your Google reviews are coming in over time.

For a local business, this metric proves whether customers are leaving more reviews regularly or if feedback has slowed down.

Steady growth helps a business profile look active and improves visibility in search results.

• Tracks how often customers interact and leave feedback
• Shows if review requests are working as part of your marketing efforts
• Highlights trends that impact local SEO and a business’s online presence

4. Owner response rate/response quality

The way a business owner replies to Google reviews is just as important as the reviews themselves.

A steady response rate and clear, respectful replies show that the business values customer feedback and cares about customer satisfaction.

• Builds trust with potential customers who read both positive reviews and negative reviews
• Improves customer engagement by showing the business listens and responds
• Supports a stronger online reputation and makes the business profile look active

5. Negative review percentage/sentiment

The share of negative reviews compared to total reviews shows how customers feel about your local business.

Tracking this percentage provides a clear view of customer opinions and highlights areas where service quality can be improved.

Looking at review sentiment also helps spot common issues that affect customer satisfaction and your online reputation.

• Highlights weak points from real customer feedback
• Shows patterns in customer opinions that may hurt online reputation
• Helps guide fixes in customer interactions and marketing strategies
• Balances with positive reviews to give a clear picture of the overall sentiment

6. Review content/keyword relevance

The words customers use in their Google reviews give a business owner direct clues about what matters most.

By checking review text for standard terms, you can see how people describe service quality, products, or experiences, and how this connects to search queries on Google.

• Reveals real customer opinions and expectations
• Shows if reviews mention your main business listing details or services
• Supports local SEO by matching review text with search terms

7. Impact metrics (actions driven by reviews/profile)

Beyond star ratings, it’s important to track how reviews on your Google business profile lead to real actions.

These impact metrics show what potential customers do after reading reviews, giving a clear view of how feedback supports local business growth.

• Tracks clicks on the website link or call button
• Measures direction requests from Google Maps
• Shows visits to the landing page and website traffic
• Connects reviews with leads, sales, and more customers

3 Strategies to improve key metrics

Here are three practical strategies to improve your key Google review metrics.

Improving star rating & review quantity

A higher average rating and steady flow of more reviews give a local business stronger trust and better visibility in search results.

Both numbers show how well customers value the business and directly support local SEO and overall online reputation.

Ways to improve:

• Give consistent service quality that leads to positive reviews
• Share a simple Google review link so that leaving feedback is quick and easy
• Send polite review requests after a purchase or visit
• Keep track of customer feedback to see what drives good ratings

How WiserReview helps:

WiserReview makes it easy to gather more reviews and increase the average rating. You can send automated review invites, share direct links, and manage all reviews in one place.

This helps turn happy customers into visible positive reviews, which build trust and attract new buyers.

Reducing negative reviews / mitigating damage

Every local business will receive some negative reviews, but the key is how they are handled.

A quick, polite reply can turn bad feedback into a chance to show that the business owner listens and cares about customer satisfaction.

It also protects the online reputation of the business and keeps the Google business profile looking active.

Ways to manage negative reviews:

• Respond quickly with respect and a clear solution
• Track common issues in customer feedback to improve service quality
• Balance out the effect of negative reviews by encouraging more reviews from happy customers
• Use the feedback as valuable insights to guide better customer interactions

How WiserReview helps:

WiserReview makes it easier to manage and moderate Google reviews. You can monitor all reviews in one place, respond quickly, and track sentiment trends.

The platform also helps highlight both positive feedback and areas where improvements are needed, giving you control over your business’s reputation.

Optimizing engagement metrics

Engagement metrics show how customers interact with a Google business profile after reading reviews.

Tracking actions like clicks on the website link, call button, or direction requests helps a business owner see how reviews support local visibility and bring in more customers.

Ways to optimize:

• Keep the business profile updated with correct details, photos, and menu items
• Share reviews on social media platforms to build more customer engagement
• Use positive reviews as social proof across different platforms
• Make it easy for customers to take the next step with clear links and calls to action

How WiserReview helps:

WiserReview connects reviews with engagement by letting businesses display positive feedback on websites, landing pages, and social media profiles.

By showing real reviews where prospective customers are most active, WiserReview helps increase clicks, calls, and visits driven directly by your Google reviews.

Grow With better Google reviews

WiserReview makes it simple to collect, track, and display reviews that build trust.

Start Free

Wrap up

Tracking the right Google review metrics helps a business owner understand how a Google business profile is performing.

These numbers highlight customer feedback, show impact on local SEO, and guide better decisions.

By focusing on metrics like total reviews, average rating, and engagement, a local business can improve trust, strengthen its online reputation, and attract more customers.

With WiserReview, it’s easy to track reviews, respond quickly, and use insights to grow.

Article by

Krunal

Krunal Vaghasia is the founder of WiserReview and an eCommerce expert in review management and social proof. He helps brands build trust through fair, flexible, and customer-driven review systems. Read more.