Short answer: Yes, but mostly indirectly. In Whitespark's 2026 Local Search Ranking Factors survey of 47 local SEO experts, "presence of owner responses to most reviews" ranks only #122 of 187 factors for the local pack. It ranks #17 for conversion. Replies matter more because they help you earn more and fresher reviews (ranked #9 and #11) and turn profile views into calls and visits. Keywords in replies do very little (#182).

What Google says

Google says local results are "mainly based on relevance, distance, and popularity". It defines prominence as "how well-known a business is", adding that "more reviews and positive ratings can help your business's local ranking" (Google). On that same "Tips to improve your local ranking" page, Google lists "Respond to reviews": "When you reply to customer reviews, it shows that you value their feedback. Positive reviews and helpful replies can help your business stand out." Google lists replying as a tip but never calls replies a ranking factor.

What the ranking-factor data shows

Whitespark's 2026 report (Darren Shaw, published 6 Nov 2025) asked 47 local search experts to score 187 factors from 0 to 5. These are expert opinions, not Google-confirmed signals.

Review factorLocal pack/Maps rank (score)Conversion rank (score)
Quantity of native Google reviews (with text)#9 (170)#5 (173)
Recency of reviews#11 (164)#7 (165)
Keywords in native Google reviews#36 (117)—
Presence of owner responses to most reviews#122 (70)#17 (136)
Keywords in owner responses to reviews#182 (28)—

Source: Whitespark 2026 Local Search Ranking Factors

The takeaway: what your guests write moves rankings far more than what you write back. Replies earn their keep through conversion and through what they encourage guests to do.

Four ways replies help

  1. More reviews. In a Marketing Science study of TripAdvisor hotels, properties received 12% more reviews after management began responding (Proserpio & Zervas; INFORMS). That's hotel data, but review count is the #9 local pack factor.
  2. Fresher reviews. 74% of consumers look for reviews from the last three months (BrightLocal 2026), and experts rank recency #11.
  3. A better rating. The same study found ratings rose by an average of 0.12 stars once replies started, because unhappy guests posted fewer baseless complaints. Google says positive ratings can help local ranking.
  4. More calls and visits from the same ranking. 80% of consumers are likely to use a business that responds to all its reviews (BrightLocal 2026). SOCi's State of Google Reviews (2022), which analysed 31,326 Google profiles of multi-location brands, found that responding to 100% of reviews vs none was associated with a 16.4% higher profile conversion rate (calls, website clicks and directions). That's a correlation across industries, not a restaurant-specific guarantee.

What replies won't do

  • Replace review volume. Replies on a 40-review profile won't outrank a competitor with 900 reviews.
  • Rank you for keywords you stuff in. Keywords in owner responses rank #182 of 187, and stuffed replies read as spam to guests.
  • Fix a weak profile. Primary category (#1), being open at the time of search (#5) and hours still come first.

How to write replies that help both SEO and guests

  • Reply to most reviews, quickly. The factor is "owner responses to most reviews", so coverage is what counts.
  • Mention the dish or detail the guest mentioned, in plain words. Natural relevance, no stuffing.
  • Make the reply useful to the next reader: a new dish, how you fixed a problem.
  • Ask happy guests for reviews offline (receipt QR code, table card), without incentives. Google prohibits incentives for reviews. More reviews is the strongest lever.

Doing this every day

The benefit comes from consistency, which is where most independents fall behind: single-location restaurants reply to about 15% of their reviews, vs 56% for chains of 10–30 locations (RightResponse AI, 2024). Wimi (getwimi.ai) replies to new Google reviews daily, in your restaurant's voice, mentioning menu items and neighbourhood context naturally. The free plan covers 7 replies a week. Pro is $20 a month per location for unlimited replies. Related: Should restaurants reply to every review? · How reviews affect Google Maps ranking

FAQ

Is responding to Google reviews a ranking factor?
At most a minor one. Google doesn't call it a ranking factor. In Whitespark's 2026 expert survey, "presence of owner responses to most reviews" ranks #122 of 187 for the local pack but #17 for conversion.

Should I put keywords in my review replies?
Only naturally. In Whitespark's 2026 survey, keywords in owner responses rank #182 of 187, while keywords in guests' reviews rank #36.

Do negative reviews hurt local SEO?
They can lower your average rating, and Google says positive ratings help local ranking. A good reply also limits the damage with the people reading.

Does replying help me show up in AI search like Google AI Overviews?
Not much directly, according to Whitespark's 2026 survey. Experts ranked owner responses #149 of 187 for AI search visibility, well below review-site authority, ratings and "best of" list mentions. Replies help more indirectly, by keeping reviews coming and accurate details on your profile.

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