Glossary

Google Reviews and Business Profile Glossary

Every term a local business owner runs into on Google, explained in plain English: reviews, Business Profile settings, local rankings and AI search.

A

AI Mode: Google's conversational search experience, where people can ask follow-up questions. It can recommend local businesses. Read what Google AI Mode is.
AI Overview: An AI-written summary at the top of some Google searches. For local searches it can mention businesses and draw on their reviews.
Attributes: Labels on your profile that describe features such as "Wheelchair-accessible entrance" or "Women-owned". Some you set yourself; others come from customer feedback.

B

Booking button: A button on your profile that lets customers book an appointment through a linked booking page or supported provider.
Business group: A way to manage several profiles together in Google Business Profile, useful for brands and agencies with many locations.
Business Redressal Complaint Form: A Google form for reporting businesses that break Business Profile rules, such as fake listings or keyword-stuffed names.

C

CID number: Another numeric identifier for a Google Maps listing, used in some map links and by local SEO tools.
Citation: Any mention of your business name, address and phone number on another website, such as a directory. Consistent citations support local rankings.

G

Google Business Profile: The free listing that shows your business on Google Search and Google Maps: name, address, hours, photos, reviews and more. It was called Google My Business until 2021. A complete profile is the base of Google Business Profile optimization.
Google Customer Reviews: A free Google program for online stores that collects reviews from buyers after checkout. These reviews can feed seller ratings.
Google Guaranteed: A badge shown on some Local Services Ads after the business passes Google's screening checks.
Google Maps listing: How your Business Profile appears inside Google Maps. It is the same profile as on Search, so reviews and details are shared.
Google Posts: Short updates, offers or events you publish on your profile. They show recent activity and can link to your website.

I

Incentivized review: A review given in return for a discount, gift or prize entry. Google's policies don't allow incentives for reviews. Read why incentives risk your profile.

K

Knowledge panel: The information box about a business or brand that appears on the right of Google Search on desktop. For local businesses it is usually your Business Profile. See how knowledge panels work.

L

Local Finder: The full list of local results that opens when someone taps "More places" under the Local Pack.
Local Guide: A member of Google's community program who contributes reviews, photos and edits to Google Maps. See how the Local Guides program works.
Local Pack: The block of three businesses with a map that Google shows for local searches such as "dentist near me". Ranking here brings most calls and visits. See our Local Pack strategies.
Local Services Ads: Pay-per-lead ads for service businesses shown at the top of some Google searches. They have their own reviews and screening process.

M

Manager: A person who can edit the profile and reply to reviews but cannot remove owners or transfer the profile.

N

NAP: Short for name, address and phone number. Keeping these the same on your profile, website and directories helps Google trust your details.

O

Owner: A person with full control of a Business Profile, including adding or removing managers. A profile can have more than one owner, and one is the primary owner.
Owner response: Your public reply to a review, shown under it with "Response from the owner". Replies show customers you listen. Learn how to respond to Google reviews.

P

Performance report: The section of your Business Profile that shows views, searches, calls, website clicks and direction requests over time.
Place ID: A unique code Google uses to identify a place on Google Maps. Review tools and widgets often ask for it.
Primary category: The one category that best describes your main business, such as "Plumber". It is one of the strongest signals for which searches you appear in.
Products: Items you add to your profile with photos, descriptions and optional prices, so customers can see what you sell before they visit.
Prominence: How well known and trusted Google thinks a business is, based on reviews, links, mentions and more. Reviews are a big part of it, which is why we focus on Google review generation.
Proximity: How close a business is to the person searching or to the location in the search. It is one of the three main local ranking factors.

R

Reinstatement: Getting a suspended profile restored by sending Google an appeal with evidence that the business follows the guidelines.
Relevance: How well your profile matches what someone searched for, based on your categories, services, description and reviews. Clear, accurate replies help too, see review response management.
Review filter: Google's automatic system that holds back or removes reviews it suspects are fake or break its policies. Sometimes genuine reviews are caught too. See how Google filters reviews.
Review gating: Asking only happy customers for reviews, or screening customers before sending them to Google. Google does not allow it. See why to stop review gating.
Review link: A short link that opens the review form for your business directly, so customers can rate you in one tap. Learn how to collect reviews with a direct link.
Review recency: How recent your newest reviews are. Customers trust fresh reviews more than old ones. See our review recency benchmarks.
Review summary: A short AI-generated summary of what customers say in your reviews, shown on some Business Profiles.
Review velocity: How quickly you receive new reviews, for example eight a month. A steady pace looks natural and keeps your profile fresh. Read more on Google review velocity.

S

Search terms report: Part of the performance report that shows the words people searched before finding your profile.
Secondary category: Extra categories for other things you offer. Add only those that truly apply; too many unrelated ones can confuse Google and customers.
Seller ratings: Star ratings that can appear in Google Ads for online stores, based on reviews collected through approved review partners.
Service area business: A business that visits customers instead of serving them at an address, like cleaners or electricians. It can hide its address and show the areas it serves.
Services: The list of services on your profile, with optional descriptions and prices. It helps Google match you to more specific searches.
Star rating: The average of all your reviews' stars, shown on your profile from 1.0 to 5.0. Customers often filter results by rating.
Suggested edit: A change to your profile proposed by a member of the public or by Google itself. Check your profile regularly, because suggested edits can go live if you don't act.
Suspension: When Google restricts or removes a profile it believes breaks its guidelines. A suspended profile may disappear from Maps until it is reinstated.

V

Verification: Proving to Google that you run the business, usually by video, phone, email or postcard. Only verified profiles can be fully managed. See how to verify your profile.
Video verification: A verification method where you record a short, unedited video showing your location, signage and proof that you manage the business.

RevyuRank is an independent service and is not affiliated with Google. Google changes features from time to time, so check Google's own help pages for the latest details.