A 2025 Search Atlas study (covered by Search Engine Journal) broke down what actually decides the top ten local results: review count accounts for roughly 26% of ranking decisions and review keyword relevance another 22% — while proximity's influence drops...
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A 2025 Search Atlas study (covered by Search Engine Journal) broke down what actually decides the top ten local results: review count accounts for roughly 26% of ranking decisions and review keyword relevance another 22% — while proximity's influence drops to 36%. In other words, once you're in the running locally, the businesses with the best reviews win.
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And consumers have already told us how they use them:
???? 97% read reviews of local businesses
???? 65% have rejected a business for a review-related reason
???? 54% visit a company's website after reading positive reviews
The winning review system for contractors is simple and ethical:
✅ Ask at the walkthrough — the moment of peak satisfaction
✅ Make it one tap — a direct text link, never "search for us"
✅ Ask them to mention the service and city (that's the keyword relevance)
✅ Respond to every review, positive or negative
✅ Never buy, incentivize, or fake reviews
Then build the local link plan: suppliers' direct
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