GOOGLE REVIEWS VS. YELP REVIEWS. WHERE SHOULD PLUMBERS FOCUS?

Let's settle this once and for all.

You know reviews matter. Your customers keep telling you they found you because of your reviews. You're trying to get more.

But where should you focus your energy?

Google? Yelp? Both? Neither? Throw your phone in a lake and go back to word-of-mouth only?

tempting, but no

Here's the real answer. Based on data, experience, and the cold hard reality of how homeowners find plumbers in 2026.

Google Reviews Win. It's Not Even Close.

I'll save you the suspense.

Focus on Google. Period.

Here's why:

1. Google is where people search.

92% of all searches happen on Google. When someone types "plumber near me," Google shows your Google Business Profile. With your Google star rating. And your Google review count.

Yelp reviews? They don't show up in that search. Not in the local pack. Not in maps. Nowhere.

2. Google reviews directly affect your ranking.

More reviews + higher ratings = higher position in Google Maps and local search results. It's one of the strongest ranking factors for local businesses.

Yelp reviews have zero impact on your Google ranking. Zero.

3. Most homeowners trust Google more.

A BrightLocal study found that 87% of consumers read Google reviews for local businesses. Yelp? About 32%.

The math speaks for itself.

So Should You Completely Ignore Yelp?

Not exactly. But almost.

Here's the nuance:

Claim your Yelp profile. Make sure the info is correct. Add photos. Fill it out.

Don't actively chase Yelp reviews. Here's why.

Yelp has this algorithm called the "recommendation filter." It hides reviews it considers "suspicious." And by suspicious, I mean reviews from people who are new to Yelp, don't have profile photos, or don't review things regularly.

So that happy customer you sent to Yelp? Their review gets filtered. Hidden. Gone.

You just wasted their time and yours.

I've seen plumbers get 15 Yelp reviews in a month and have 12 of them filtered out. It's infuriating.

breaks something

Google doesn't do this. If someone leaves you a Google review, it stays up. Visible. Counting toward your total.

The Google Review Strategy That Works

Here's exactly what we tell the 50+ plumbing businesses we work with:

Ask every single customer for a Google review. Every one. No exceptions.

Here's how:

Step 1: Get your direct review link.

Go to your Google Business Profile. Click "Ask for reviews." Copy that link. That's your golden ticket.

Step 2: Send it after every job.

Within an hour of completing the job, send a text message:

"Hey [name], thanks for choosing us today. If you have 30 seconds, a Google review would mean the world to us: [link]"

That's it. Short. Simple. Personal.

Step 3: Make it stupid easy.

That link should take them directly to the review form. Pre-opened. Ready to write. If they have to search for your business, find the review button, and figure it out... they won't do it.

Step 4: Follow up once.

If they don't leave a review within 3 days, send one follow-up. Just one. Don't be pushy.

"Hey [name], just wanted to follow up. If you had a chance to leave us a quick Google review, we'd really appreciate it: [link]"

Step 5: Respond to every review.

Good reviews: "Thanks [name]! We appreciate you trusting us with your plumbing. Hope to see you again."

Bad reviews: Stay calm. Be professional. Acknowledge the issue. Offer to make it right. Never argue in public.

How Many Google Reviews Do You Need?

More than your competitors.

Seriously. That's the benchmark. Look at the top 3 plumbers in your area on Google Maps. How many reviews do they have?

If they have 50, you need 75. If they have 150, you need 200.

It's a numbers game. And the plumber with the most (quality) reviews wins.

But here's the good news. Most plumbers do 4 to 8 jobs a day. If even half of those customers leave a review, that's 10 to 20 reviews a week.

In 3 months, you'd have 120 to 240 reviews. That's enough to dominate most local markets.

What About Other Review Platforms?

Quick rundown:

1. Facebook Reviews: Nice to have. Not critical. But if someone leaves one, respond.
2. Angi (formerly Angie's List): Matters if you use their platform for leads. Otherwise, meh.
3. HomeAdvisor: Same as Angi. Only matters if you're paying for leads there.
4. BBB: Old school but some homeowners still check it. Worth claiming.
5. Nextdoor: Getting more popular. Good for word-of-mouth in specific neighborhoods.

But none of these move the needle like Google. Google first. Everything else second.

The Compound Effect of Google Reviews

Here's what happens when you stack up Google reviews consistently:

Month 1: You go from 12 reviews to 40. You start showing up in the local 3-pack for some searches.

Month 3: You hit 80 reviews. Your phone starts ringing more. You notice you're getting calls from neighborhoods you never marketed to.

Month 6: You're at 150+ reviews. You're consistently in the top 3 on Google Maps. Your website traffic has doubled. You're booked out 2 weeks in advance.

Month 12: 300+ reviews. You're THE plumber in your market. New competitors can't touch you. You're raising your prices and still fully booked.

That's not fantasy. That's what we've seen with our clients who take Google reviews seriously.

wipes tear

Stop Spreading Your Efforts Thin

Every minute you spend chasing Yelp reviews is a minute you're not spending on Google reviews.

Every customer you send to Yelp is a customer who could've been another Google review.

Focus. On. Google.

Build a simple system. Ask every customer. Make it easy. Follow up once. Respond to everything. We show you exactly how to automate the whole process.

That's it. That's the whole strategy.

Ready to Make Your Reviews Work Harder?

Your reviews are great. But are they on your website? Are they helping you convert visitors into callers?

Get your free website audit and we'll show you how to showcase your Google reviews on your website for maximum impact.

Check our pricing or see our own reviews.

P.S. If you're sitting at 15 Google reviews while the plumber across town has 200... you know what you need to do. Start today. One review at a time. And if you need a website that showcases them beautifully, we got you.