How reviews affect ranking
| Metric | Effect |
|---|---|
| Average star rating | Higher is better. Ratings below 3.0 are significantly penalised. |
| Review count | More reviews = more reliable signal. A 4.5 with 200 reviews ranks more confidently than 4.8 with 8 reviews. |
| Review recency | Recent reviews carry more weight. A restaurant that has dropped off is penalised. |
The persona calibration layer
NaijaTaste does not treat all ratings equally across personas. The review signals are filtered through the requesting user’s taste profile:- A Street Food Enthusiast weights value-for-money reviews more than ambiance reviews
- A Lagos Professional weights service speed and consistency higher
- The Aunty weights ingredient quality and portion size signals most heavily
What the WhatsApp channel reads
When a user asks NaijaTaste for a recommendation on WhatsApp — in any language — the engine runs the same ranking model. Reviews you’ve accumulated on Google are surfaced in WhatsApp responses just as they are on web. There is no separate WhatsApp listing.Negative reviews
A pattern of reviews mentioning “slow service” or “wrong order” will reduce your confidence score for personas where service speed matters. Responding to negative reviews on Google honestly and helpfully does not change the star rating, but it signals an active and accountable business.What you cannot do
- Cannot request removal of honest negative reviews. Google’s policy applies. If a review is fake or violates Google’s terms, report it through Google directly.
- Cannot pay for placement. NaijaTaste does not offer sponsored rankings.
- Cannot manipulate your rating. Coordinated fake reviews are detected and removed by Google.
Get your listing right first
Before worrying about reviews, make sure your Google Business Profile is complete and accurate.