Review Velocity
The rate at which a care service receives new reviews. High velocity signals active quality to Google and directories.
Review velocity is the speed at which your care service or agency acquires new reviews over a specific period. It is a critical prominence signal for both Google and specialist care directories. Google and directories track the recency and frequency of reviews instead of focusing only on the total quantity.
For local SEO, high review velocity signals to Google that your business is active, reliable, and currently meeting user needs. A care home that has fifty reviews from three years ago but remains without feedback in the last six months appears less relevant to Google than a home with fifteen reviews, five of which arrived in the last month. The home with fifteen reviews shows 'momentum', which Google rewards with higher prominence in the Map Pack.
In the specialist care sector, review velocity is often the deciding factor in directory rankings. If two homes are in the same subscription tier with the same review score, the one with the higher review velocity, meaning the one receiving feedback more consistently, will typically take the higher position.
Maintaining review velocity requires a systematic process rather than a one-off campaign. We recommend a 'drip' approach to reviews, ensuring at least two or three new reviews arrive every month, rather than a 'burst' approach where you seek twenty reviews in a week and then stop for a year. A consistent, steady stream of fresh feedback is the most effective way to protect and improve ranking positions.