Review Velocity

Review velocity adds recency to the lifetime review count. A steady flow of new reviews indicates current customer activity. Specific reviews that mention the service, neighborhood, and situation ("burst pipe at 2am, here by 3") also give readers and assistants more useful evidence than a generic rating.

Ask for reviews through a consistent process instead of short campaigns. A sudden burst after a long inactive period may trigger platform review filters, especially if other signals appear unusual. The appropriate rate depends on customer volume, so compare the business with similar competitors instead of applying one monthly target.

A five-star review saying "great service" contributes to the average but provides little detail. A review explaining that the crew arrived the same day, worked around a tile roof, and handled insurance paperwork gives an assistant specific evidence it may cite or paraphrase. Do not script customer language; ask for an accurate description of the service and experience.

Business responses also become part of the profile text. A reply that naturally names the service and neighborhood provides more context than "thanks!" Respond to negative reviews plainly and without defensiveness because readers and machines may use the response to assess how the business handles problems.

Never offer incentives that violate the platform's review policy, and do not ask only customers expected to leave positive feedback.

Build review requests into the customer process: ask after the work is complete, send a direct link, and respond promptly. This maintains current review evidence for the local pack and AI recommendation systems.