The Awais Consulting Review Velocity Band

The Review Velocity Band is a three-band reading from Awais Consulting that compares how quickly a local business gains new reviews with how quickly its top local competitor does. Velocity means new reviews per month, not the total count. The band is one of three plain words, below, level or above, so the comparison can be stated in a sentence.

What it is

A business with a large total can be gaining reviews slowly, and a small one can be gaining them quickly. The band looks only at the recent pace. It uses the number of new reviews that each business received in the same month and places the business in a band against its top local competitor.

The levels

• Below: the business gained fewer new reviews per month than the top local competitor.
• Level: the business gained about the same number of new reviews per month.
• Above: the business gained more new reviews per month than the top local competitor.

How to use it

Choose the top local competitor from the map pack for the search that matters. Count the new reviews each business received in the last full month, using the dates shown on the listings. Compare the two counts and place the business in the matching band. Repeat monthly so the bands form a record over time.

Count over the same dates for both businesses. Note any month in which a campaign or an event changed the pace. Record the competitor's name each time.

Limits

The band depends on the month chosen and on which competitor is called the top one. A single month can be unusual. The band does not say whether the reviews are good, and it does not measure review quality or customer satisfaction. It is a comparison of pace.