Local SEO
Review signal
A Review signal is an explicitly defined field derived from authentic review records and used in a documented analysis or operational rule.
What it means
Possible fields include review count, rating distribution, recency, response status or a coded service theme, each with a source, window and formula. The term does not reveal how Google ranks results, and a field association cannot prove causal weight; fake, incentivized or selectively solicited reviews also corrupt the underlying evidence.
Why it matters
Field-level definitions let teams audit data quality and act on real customer issues without turning a platform rating or text classifier into an unexplained authority score.
Example
A monthly report counts verified new reviews, separates unanswered items older than seven days and records the exact window rather than producing one opaque reputation index.
Common mistakes
Do not call a review field a Google ranking factor, combine incomparable platforms, ignore deleted records, buy sentiment, infer service quality from stars alone or hide the calculation window.
How AYSA handles this
Signals reviewed
platform, review ID, created time, rating, reply state, calculation window, formula, data gap
Problem AYSA can identify
AYSA can flag undefined formulas, mixed platform scales, missing windows, deleted-record gaps and review metrics mislabeled as causal ranking factors.
Recommendation prepared
AYSA defines the field and source, preserves missing data and maps the result only to an accountable review or service workflow.
Approval preview
The user sees raw fields, formula, window, exclusions, uncertainty, intended use and any generated classification requiring review.
Execution
AYSA can calculate approved reporting fields and route operational items; it does not fabricate reviews or alter platform ranking systems.
Verification
AYSA recomputes the field from retained source states and checks that reported values, windows and missing-data treatment match the approved definition.
Limits
The evidence remains business-, market-, location-, platform- and time-bound; signals, recommendations, generated drafts, approvals and monitoring do not automatically certify AI Act or legal compliance, and applicable Article 50 transparency duties require a separate role-and-use assessment from 2 August 2026.
Sources and further reading
- Google Business Profile APIs — Reviews resource — Official Google Business Profile API documentation
- Google Maps — Detecting fake reviews with AI — Official Google Maps product documentation
- Google Business Profile APIs — Policies — Official Google Business Profile API policy
- Schema.org — Review — Schema.org vocabulary
- W3C — PROV Overview — W3C provenance standard
- European Commission — AI Act Article 50 transparency guidelines — Official European Commission guidance
Written by Marius Dosinescu. Reviewed by AYSA SEO Editorial Team · 2026-07-28 00:00:00.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
Is a Review signal an official Google ranking factor?
No. This definition covers analyst fields and does not claim access to Google's undisclosed weighting.
Can stars alone prove service quality?
No. Ratings require source, sample, timing and operational context and can omit important customer details.
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