Review velocity

Review velocity is the rate at which new reviews come in over time — typically measured in reviews per week or per month per location. It's one of the most underrated levers in local reputation management.

Why it matters. Google's local-pack algorithm weights recent reviews more than old ones. A business getting five new reviews a week ranks higher than one with the same total but no recent activity. Consumers also read the most recent few reviews far more than older ones, so a steady stream protects your perceived quality even if you have a few old negatives.

Practical target. At minimum, one new public review per week for a single-location business. Multi-location businesses should target 3–10 per week per location depending on volume. The goal isn't the number — it's the consistency. A burst of 50 reviews in one week followed by silence looks artificial to both Google and shoppers.

How to build velocity. Automate review requests at the right trigger (24–72 hours after the experience), use SMS as the primary channel (8–12× the open rate of email), and route happy customers to the platforms that matter most for your category. The Vouch Score includes review velocity as one of its components precisely because it's an actionable, fast-moving signal.

Common mistake: running a one-off review-request campaign and then stopping. Velocity comes from an always-on automated program, not a quarterly push.