Web Design & Marketing Blog

Practical guides on local SEO, Google Business Profile, and digital marketing — written for business owners who want more customers.

April 1, 2026

Does Your Google Star Rating Affect Local SEO Rankings?

Your star rating affects local SEO in ways beyond the obvious. Here's how rating signals interact with ranking, click-through rates, and what thresholds actually matter.

March 31, 2026

Competitor Leaving Fake Negative Reviews on Your Google Business Profile? Do This

Fake negative reviews from a competitor are a real and growing problem for local businesses. Here's the exact action plan, starting with what to do in the first 24 hours.

March 30, 2026

What Is Review Gating and Why Does Google Prohibit It?

Review gating is the practice of screening customers before asking for a Google review — only sending happy ones to leave feedback. Google prohibits it, and here's why that matters for your business.

March 29, 2026

Should You Respond to Every Google Review? The Real Answer Might Surprise You

Most business owners treat positive review responses as optional. That's a mistake — and the reason why starts with how Google reads engagement signals.

March 28, 2026

Do Yelp and Facebook Reviews Help Your Google Local SEO?

Yelp and Facebook reviews don't directly feed into Google's local rankings — but writing them off entirely misunderstands how local authority actually gets built.

March 27, 2026

How Many Google Reviews Do You Actually Need for Local SEO?

There's no magic review count that guarantees local rankings. The relationship between review volume, velocity, and local pack position is more nuanced than most guides admit.

March 26, 2026

Can You Remove a Fake Google Review? What Business Owners Can Actually Do

Whether a fake Google review can be removed depends entirely on whether it violates Google's policies. Here's how to evaluate what you're dealing with and what steps to take.

March 25, 2026

How to Respond to Negative Google Reviews: A Checklist for Service Businesses

A negative review responded to well can do more for your reputation than a positive review ignored. Use this checklist to respond professionally every time.

March 24, 2026

How to Get More Google Reviews: A Repeatable System for Service Businesses

Getting more Google reviews consistently comes down to one thing: a simple, frictionless ask at the right moment. Here's the six-step system that actually works.

March 23, 2026

Do Google Reviews Affect Local SEO Rankings? Yes — Here's How

Google reviews directly influence local search rankings through three measurable signals. Here's exactly how they work and what most business owners get wrong.