Why Google reviews matter, and how your score is calculated
Updated: October 2026
Reviews decide who calls you and, according to Google, they help your ranking. Here is how the star score really works.
Customers read them before they call
When someone searches for a shop near them, Google shows the star score and the number of reviews right next to your name, before the customer visits your website or calls. For many customers, that is the first and sometimes the only thing they compare.
Google says reviews help your ranking
Google explains that local results are based mainly on three things: relevance (how well your profile matches what the person searches for), distance (how far you are from the person) and prominence (how well known you are). Google states that more reviews and positive ratings can help your business's local ranking, and that positive reviews and helpful replies can help your business stand out.
Google does not say how much weight reviews have compared with distance or relevance, so nobody outside Google can promise you a number-one position. What we do know is that reviews are one of the things you can work on.
How the star score is calculated
Google's help page says the review score is the average of all ratings published on Google for your business, on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. So it is a running total: every new rating is added to all the old ones.
A new review can take a while to show up in the score; Google says it may take up to 2 weeks.
Google's page does not say that old reviews expire. Treat every review as something that stays on your profile.
What this means in numbers
- A shop with 10 reviews averaging 4.5 stars gets one 1-star review. The new average is 46 ÷ 11 = 4.2. One bad review moved the score a lot.
- A shop with 100 reviews averaging 4.5 stars gets the same 1-star review. The new average is 451 ÷ 101 = about 4.47, which still shows as 4.5. More reviews protect you.
- A shop with 20 reviews averaging 4.0 stars gets five new 5-star reviews: (80 + 25) ÷ 25 = 4.2.
So what should you do?
- Ask every customer for a review, with a QR code or a link at the counter. Do not choose only the happy ones, and do not offer gifts for reviews.
- Reply to every review, good or bad. Google says helpful replies help your business stand out.
- Keep going. A steady flow of new reviews matters more than one big push.
Sources
Google Business Profile Help: How to improve your local ranking on Google and Review scores.
Want someone to do this for you every day?
BzadPro replies to your Google reviews, posts about every 2 days and keeps your profile up to date, in Chinese or English. We also check your Google page for free: call or text (281) 696-2269, or WeChat bzadpro.
This is general information, not legal advice. Google changes its rules from time to time; Google's own help pages are always the final word.
More guides
为什么 Google 评论这么重要？评分是怎么算的
更新: 2026年10月
评论决定客人选不选你，Google 也说评论会影响本地排名。这里讲清楚星级分数到底怎么算。
客人先看评论，才决定要不要联系你
客人在附近搜索店家时，Google 会把星级分数和评论数量直接显示在你的店名旁边，客人还没有看你的网站或打电话，就已经看到了。对很多客人来说，这是第一个、有时也是唯一的比较依据。
Google 官方说：评论会影响排名
Google 说明，本地搜索结果主要看三件事：相关性（你的资料和搜索内容有多符合）、距离（你离搜索的人有多远）和知名度（你有多出名）。Google 明确写到：更多的评论和好评，有助于提升你的本地排名；好评和有帮助的回复，能让你的店更突出。
Google 没有说评论和距离、相关性各占多少比重，所以外人不能保证你排第一。但可以确定的是：评论是你自己可以持续努力的因素之一。
星级分数是怎么算的
Google 帮助页面说明：评论分数是你的店在 Google 上所有已发布评分的平均值，满分 5 星。所以它是累积的：每一条新评分，都会加进之前所有的评分里一起算。
新评论可能要过一段时间才反映在分数里，Google 说最多可能需要 2 周。
Google 的页面没有说旧评论会过期，所以请把每一条评论都当作会长期留在你页面上的东西。
用数字看一看
- 一家有 10 条评论、平均 4.5 星的店，来了一条 1 星评论，新的平均是 46 ÷ 11 = 4.2。一条差评就拉低了很多。
- 一家有 100 条评论、平均 4.5 星的店，来了同样一条 1 星，新的平均是 451 ÷ 101，约 4.47，页面上仍显示 4.5。评论多，就是一层保护。
- 一家有 20 条评论、平均 4.0 星的店，新增五条 5 星：(80 + 25) ÷ 25 = 4.2。
那该怎么做？
- 请每一位客人写评论，在柜台放二维码或链接。不要只挑满意的客人，也不要用礼物换评论。
- 每条评论都回复，好评差评都一样。Google 说有帮助的回复，能让你的店更突出。
- 持续做。每个月稳定地有新评论，比一次突击更有用。
资料来源
Google 商家资料帮助：如何提升本地排名（How to improve your local ranking on Google）和评论分数（Review scores）。
想让专业团队每天帮你做吗？
BzadPro 帮你回复 Google 评论，大约每 2 天发布一条动态，并保持商家资料最新，可用中文沟通。我们也可以免费帮你检查 Google 页面：电话或短信 (281) 696-2269，微信 bzadpro。
本文是一般性介绍，不是法律意见。Google 的规定会不时调整，请以 Google 官方说明为准。
更多文章
Why Google reviews matter, and how your score is calculated
Updated: October 2026
Reviews decide who calls you and, according to Google, they help your ranking. Here is how the star score really works.
Customers read them before they call
When someone searches for a shop near them, Google shows the star score and the number of reviews right next to your name, before the customer visits your website or calls. For many customers, that is the first and sometimes the only thing they compare.
Google says reviews help your ranking
Google explains that local results are based mainly on three things: relevance (how well your profile matches what the person searches for), distance (how far you are from the person) and prominence (how well known you are). Google states that more reviews and positive ratings can help your business's local ranking, and that positive reviews and helpful replies can help your business stand out.
Google does not say how much weight reviews have compared with distance or relevance, so nobody outside Google can promise you a number-one position. What we do know is that reviews are one of the things you can work on.
How the star score is calculated
Google's help page says the review score is the average of all ratings published on Google for your business, on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. So it is a running total: every new rating is added to all the old ones.
A new review can take a while to show up in the score; Google says it may take up to 2 weeks.
Google's page does not say that old reviews expire. Treat every review as something that stays on your profile.
What this means in numbers
- A shop with 10 reviews averaging 4.5 stars gets one 1-star review. The new average is 46 ÷ 11 = 4.2. One bad review moved the score a lot.
- A shop with 100 reviews averaging 4.5 stars gets the same 1-star review. The new average is 451 ÷ 101 = about 4.47, which still shows as 4.5. More reviews protect you.
- A shop with 20 reviews averaging 4.0 stars gets five new 5-star reviews: (80 + 25) ÷ 25 = 4.2.
So what should you do?
- Ask every customer for a review, with a QR code or a link at the counter. Do not choose only the happy ones, and do not offer gifts for reviews.
- Reply to every review, good or bad. Google says helpful replies help your business stand out.
- Keep going. A steady flow of new reviews matters more than one big push.
Sources
Google Business Profile Help: How to improve your local ranking on Google and Review scores.
Want someone to do this for you every day?
BzadPro replies to your Google reviews, posts about every 2 days and keeps your profile up to date, in Chinese or English. We also check your Google page for free: call or text (281) 696-2269, or WeChat bzadpro.
This is general information, not legal advice. Google changes its rules from time to time; Google's own help pages are always the final word.
More guides
Know a shop owner who needs this? Share it.认识需要的店主朋友吗？分享给他们。Biết chủ cửa hàng nào cần điều này? Hãy chia sẻ.
QR code二维码Mã QR
On a computer? Scan this with your phone, then share it in WeChat.在电脑上？用手机扫这个二维码，再到微信里分享。Đang dùng máy tính? Quét mã này bằng điện thoại rồi chia sẻ trong WeChat.You are in WeChat: tap the ··· at the top right, then Send to Chat or Share to Moments.你正在微信里：点右上角“···”，选“发送给朋友”或“分享到朋友圈”。Bạn đang ở trong WeChat: nhấn ··· ở góc trên bên phải, rồi chọn Gửi cho bạn bè hoặc Chia sẻ lên Khoảnh khắc.
Or send this picture: press and hold it, then choose Send to Chat or Save Image.或者发这张图：长按图片，选“发送给朋友”或“保存图片”。Hoặc gửi ảnh này: nhấn giữ ảnh rồi chọn Gửi cho bạn bè hoặc Lưu ảnh.
