Review Velocity: Why Consistency Matters More Than Quantity

Google doesn't just count your reviews—it looks at how consistently you're getting them. Learn why review velocity matters for local SEO.

Most business owners focus on their total review count. But there's another metric that's just as important—and often overlooked: review velocity.

What Is Review Velocity?

Review velocity is the rate at which your business receives new reviews. It's typically measured as reviews per week or reviews per month.

A business with 200 reviews that gets 2 new reviews per month has low velocity. A business with 100 reviews that gets 20 new reviews per month has high velocity.

Why Google Cares About Velocity

Google wants to show users businesses that are currently active and providing good service. Review velocity signals:

• Activity: The business is actively serving customers
• Relevance: The reviews reflect current service quality
• Trust: A steady stream of reviews is harder to fake than a one-time burst

Google's algorithm weighs recent reviews more heavily than older ones. A 5-star review from last week matters more than a 5-star review from three years ago.

The Danger of Stagnant Reviews

Imagine you're a customer comparing two businesses:

Which one feels more trustworthy? Business B, right? Even though they have fewer reviews, they appear more active and current.

Google thinks the same way. A business with stagnant reviews—even if there are many of them—looks inactive or potentially closed.

What's a Good Review Velocity?

This varies by industry and business size, but here are general benchmarks:

• Small local business: 4-8 reviews per month
• Growing service business: 10-20 reviews per month
• High-volume business: 30+ reviews per month

The key isn't hitting a specific number—it's maintaining consistency. 10 reviews every month is better than 50 reviews one month and zero the next.

The Compounding Effect

Consistent review velocity creates a compounding advantage:

1. More recent reviews boost your rankings
2. Higher rankings mean more visibility
3. More visibility brings more customers
4. More customers means more reviews
5. Repeat

Businesses that maintain high velocity create a flywheel that's hard for competitors to catch.

How to Maintain High Velocity

1. Ask Every Customer

The only way to maintain consistent velocity is to ask every single customer for a review. Sporadic asking leads to sporadic reviews.

2. Automate the Process

Manual review requests are inconsistent by nature. Some weeks you remember, some weeks you don't. Automation ensures every customer gets asked, every time.

3. Use Follow-Ups

Not every customer responds to the first request. Automated follow-ups can double your response rate, helping maintain velocity even during slow periods.

4. Run Reactivation Campaigns

During slow seasons, reach out to past customers who haven't left reviews. This keeps your velocity steady even when new customer volume dips.

Stop Counting. Start Flowing.

Instead of obsessing over your total review count, focus on building a consistent flow of new reviews. Think of reviews like a river, not a reservoir.

Review Monster helps businesses maintain high review velocity automatically. Our clients don't just build their review count—they build momentum that compounds over time.