The short answer
A competitor with more Google reviews can look more established, but a raw review count rarely tells the whole story. Useful competitor analysis compares businesses in the same market and asks what their customer feedback reveals.
- Compare like-for-like businesses in the same area and category.
- Look at recency and themes, not just totals.
- Turn findings into a steady, compliant review process.
01Start with the right competitors
Choose three to seven businesses that compete for the same customers and search terms. Include a mix of established operators and realistic peers. A single national chain is rarely a fair benchmark for an independent local business.
Define the search area and query before collecting data. “Dentist Dublin” and “emergency dentist Rathmines” can return different competitors.
Related guideHow to Respond to a Negative Google Review02The seven metrics worth comparing
Total review count
A useful measure of accumulated feedback, not a direct proxy for quality or ranking entitlement.
Average rating
Compare ratings alongside volume. A five-star rating from two reviews carries a different amount of evidence from 4.7 stars across several hundred reviews.
Recent review activity
Record how many reviews appeared in the past 30 or 90 days, where dates are available. Use the same window for each business.
Review themes
Look for repeated mentions of communication, punctuality, cleanliness, value, aftercare or product quality. Don't infer a widespread issue from one unusual review.
Owner response behaviour
Are businesses acknowledging feedback, resolving concerns and responding professionally? A reply rate is informative, but quality matters more than a mechanical percentage.
Location and category fit
A competitor may appear more often because it is closer or categorised more appropriately, regardless of review count.
Customer decision factors
Identify what matters to buyers in that market. For a plumber, emergency availability may be more decisive than interior décor. For a hotel, cleanliness and service consistency may dominate.
03A practical comparison worksheet
| Business | Reviews | Rating | Recent reviews | Recurring themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your business | Enter actual | Enter actual | Enter actual | Enter actual |
| Competitor A | Enter actual | Enter actual | Enter actual | Enter actual |
| Competitor B | Enter actual | Enter actual | Enter actual | Enter actual |
Avoid mixing data captured on different dates. Record the source and timestamp for each observation.
04What should you do with the findings?
If competitors have more reviews, improve the consistency of your review invitation process. If they receive better feedback about communication, examine your response times and customer updates. If they appear more prominently for a specific service, check your category, service pages and local relevance before assuming review count is responsible.
05What competitor analysis cannot prove
A snapshot cannot reveal Google's complete ranking algorithm, your competitors' private conversion rates or whether reviews caused a ranking movement. Avoid using automated tools to make unsupported claims about exact Maps positions or competitors' revenue.
You can start with Ranknua's local competitor checker, then explore reputation reporting for your own business.
06How to find the competitors that actually matter
- 1
Search like a customer
On your phone, from your premises, search the two or three phrases customers use, such as "emergency plumber near me" or "dentist Rathmines".
- 2
Note the map results
Write down the businesses that appear in the map pack for each search.
- 3
Repeat from another area
Search again from a few kilometres away, since results change with location.
- 4
Keep the repeat names
The businesses that appear in most searches are your real local competitors, even if you'd never think of them as rivals.
Big brands aren't always your rival
A national chain may rank everywhere but compete differently. Focus first on similar independent businesses within your service area.
07A worked example: three dental practices
These figures are illustrative, for a practice in a South Dublin suburb comparing itself with two nearby practices.
| Metric | Your practice | Rival A | Rival B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total reviews | 48 | 190 | 112 |
| Average rating | 4.9 | 4.6 | 4.7 |
| New reviews last 90 days | 3 | 21 | 14 |
| Replies to reviews | 20% | 95% | 60% |
| Services mentioned in reviews | Check-ups | Implants, Invisalign, check-ups | Emergency, children |
The practice has the best rating but is falling behind on recency and volume, and almost never replies. The clearest gaps are a regular asking routine and a reply habit, not a change in service.
08Turning findings into a 90-day plan
| Finding | Action | Measure after 90 days |
|---|---|---|
| Few recent reviews | Ask every customer after their visit | New reviews per month |
| Low reply rate | Reply to every review within a week | Reply percentage |
| Rivals' reviews mention services you offer but customers don't mention | Ask about specific services naturally in your request | Mentions in new reviews |
| Rivals have more photos | Add real, recent photos to your profile | Photo count and views |
Don't script what customers say
You can mention the service the customer had in your request ("thanks for your implant consultation"), but don't tell them which keywords to use or what to write.
09Repeat it quarterly
- Re-run the same searches from the same places.
- Update the comparison table with fresh numbers.
- Check whether new competitors have appeared.
- Record what you changed and what moved.
10Bottom line
Competitor analysis should lead to better customer experiences and clearer business decisions, not a race to manufacture review volume.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see a competitor's Google reviews?+
Publicly displayed reviews can generally be read on the relevant Google listing. Collection, storage and reuse by software are subject to applicable platform terms.
Is review count a ranking factor?+
Google says more reviews and positive ratings can help local ranking, but relevance, distance and other prominence signals also matter.
How often should I review competitors?+
Monthly or quarterly is a reasonable operational cadence for many businesses. Choose a schedule that leads to decisions rather than constant checking.
Should I copy competitors' review requests?+
You can learn from their customer experience, but use your own compliant, unbiased process.
How do I see how many reviews my competitors have?+
Search for each competitor on Google or Google Maps and open their Business Profile. The total review count and average rating are shown beside their name. Note the date of their most recent reviews too, since recency often says more than the total.
Can I see my competitors' Google Business Profile insights?+
No. Performance data such as calls and direction requests is private to each profile's managers. You can compare public information: reviews, ratings, replies, photos, categories, opening hours and posts. That's usually enough to find practical gaps.
Is it worth beating competitors on review count?+
Review count is one of several signals people and Google consider. Having more recent, detailed reviews and replying to them helps customers trust you, but it doesn't guarantee a higher ranking. Use competitor counts as a realistic target, not as the only goal.
How many competitors should I track?+
Two or three is usually enough: the businesses that most often appear alongside you in the map results for your main searches. Tracking more than five tends to create noise without changing what you'd actually do.
Sources
- Google: Improve your local ranking
- Google: Tips to get more reviews
- Google: Prohibited and restricted content
- Google Business Profile Help
General guidance, not legal advice. Google’s features and rules change; check the linked pages.