It is hard to overstate how important Google reviews really are.

If you doubt that, all you have to do is look at the data. The statistics consistently point to the same conclusion. Businesses that are active with Google reviews perform better.

One data point is especially important, review recency. That simply means how recent a review is.

Nearly 75 percent of consumers say they want to see reviews that were left within the last three months. That alone should get your attention.

But here is what has become even clearer recently. It is not just consumers who care about fresh reviews. Google cares too.

Google actively rewards business profiles that receive new reviews with improved rankings. In my own testing with clients, I have seen a clear correlation between new reviews and higher placement in search results.

The takeaway is straightforward.

Getting Google reviews cannot be a one-time effort. It needs to be an ongoing, consistent habit.

If you want better visibility, stronger trust, and higher rankings, collecting new Google reviews has to become part of your daily operating rhythm.