{
  "title": "Google review removal and local ranking: rating-band and sampling-frame audit",
  "creator": "ReviewRemoval",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "date": "2026-11-07",
  "article": "https://reviewremoval.ca/blog/google-review-removal-local-ranking-study.html",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "source": {
    "creator": "datanephew",
    "study": "https://datanephew.com/research/local-pack-study/",
    "methods": "https://datanephew.com/research/local-pack-study/methods/",
    "version": "v1.2",
    "snapshot": "2026-10-18",
    "geography": "Six US metros; no Canadian sample",
    "license": "CC BY 4.0",
    "files": [
      {
        "url": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings_by_rating.json",
        "sha256": "9c4a6fffffec011566a5accc4f1b80739ea0a5ec637326dd373da24800b4234a"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/curve_rank_by_rating.json",
        "sha256": "3b18b6c14fc5301c99c8d32f2ba9abc75d32ecd7186b1c3838b23b26a809ed0a"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings.json",
        "sha256": "825c2321a26c5dbfe2c5f7f81141c5f6b1806c87965fcafaa252b280669fbc48"
      }
    ]
  },
  "method": {
    "count_recovery": "For unsuppressed cells with n >= 10, round(n * published_share); require integer residual < 0.00001 and tier totals equal n.",
    "suppression": "Never reconstruct omitted source cells or publish business identities.",
    "scope": "Descriptive aggregate reanalysis, not a new Maps crawl, experiment, forecast or causal estimate.",
    "tiers": "top3=best 1-3; top10=best 4-10; top20=best 11-20; not_seen=no sampled top-20 appearance.",
    "comparability": "Listings use the listing rating source; appearances use Maps-result ratings. Frames cannot be joined at business level from these aggregates."
  },
  "summary": {
    "listings": 1571,
    "high_rating_listings": 852,
    "high_rating_not_seen": 538,
    "high_rating_not_seen_percent": 63.14553991,
    "high_rating_top3": 89,
    "high_rating_top3_percent": 10.44600939,
    "high_rating_appearance_n": 1214,
    "high_rating_appearance_top3": 232,
    "high_rating_appearance_top3_percent": 19.11037891,
    "high_rated_share_of_not_seen_percent": 51.93050193050193,
    "appearance_total": 2025
  },
  "rating_bands": [
    {
      "category": "all",
      "rating_band": "<4.0",
      "listings": 139,
      "top3_count": 2,
      "top3_percent": 1.43884892,
      "top10_count": 19,
      "top10_percent": 13.66906475,
      "top20_count": 21,
      "top20_percent": 15.10791367,
      "not_seen_count": 97,
      "not_seen_percent": 69.78417266,
      "source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings_by_rating.json",
      "source_version": "v1.2",
      "snapshot": "2026-10-18"
    },
    {
      "category": "all",
      "rating_band": "4.0-4.4",
      "listings": 105,
      "top3_count": 7,
      "top3_percent": 6.66666667,
      "top10_count": 11,
      "top10_percent": 10.47619048,
      "top20_count": 29,
      "top20_percent": 27.61904762,
      "not_seen_count": 58,
      "not_seen_percent": 55.23809524,
      "source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings_by_rating.json",
      "source_version": "v1.2",
      "snapshot": "2026-10-18"
    },
    {
      "category": "all",
      "rating_band": "4.5-4.7",
      "listings": 122,
      "top3_count": 21,
      "top3_percent": 17.21311475,
      "top10_count": 25,
      "top10_percent": 20.49180328,
      "top20_count": 18,
      "top20_percent": 14.75409836,
      "not_seen_count": 58,
      "not_seen_percent": 47.54098361,
      "source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings_by_rating.json",
      "source_version": "v1.2",
      "snapshot": "2026-10-18"
    },
    {
      "category": "all",
      "rating_band": "4.8-5.0",
      "listings": 852,
      "top3_count": 89,
      "top3_percent": 10.44600939,
      "top10_count": 131,
      "top10_percent": 15.37558685,
      "top20_count": 94,
      "top20_percent": 11.03286385,
      "not_seen_count": 538,
      "not_seen_percent": 63.14553991,
      "source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings_by_rating.json",
      "source_version": "v1.2",
      "snapshot": "2026-10-18"
    },
    {
      "category": "all",
      "rating_band": "no rating",
      "listings": 353,
      "top3_count": 9,
      "top3_percent": 2.54957507,
      "top10_count": 25,
      "top10_percent": 7.08215297,
      "top20_count": 34,
      "top20_percent": 9.63172805,
      "not_seen_count": 285,
      "not_seen_percent": 80.73654391,
      "source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings_by_rating.json",
      "source_version": "v1.2",
      "snapshot": "2026-10-18"
    }
  ],
  "high_rating_categories": [
    {
      "category": "accountant",
      "rating_band": "4.8-5.0",
      "listings": 60,
      "top3_count": 10,
      "top3_percent": 16.66666667,
      "top10_count": 8,
      "top10_percent": 13.33333333,
      "top20_count": 5,
      "top20_percent": 8.33333333,
      "not_seen_count": 37,
      "not_seen_percent": 61.66666667,
      "source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings_by_rating.json",
      "source_version": "v1.2",
      "snapshot": "2026-10-18"
    },
    {
      "category": "estate_attorney",
      "rating_band": "4.8-5.0",
      "listings": 59,
      "top3_count": 13,
      "top3_percent": 22.03389831,
      "top10_count": 15,
      "top10_percent": 25.42372881,
      "top20_count": 8,
      "top20_percent": 13.55932203,
      "not_seen_count": 23,
      "not_seen_percent": 38.98305085,
      "source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings_by_rating.json",
      "source_version": "v1.2",
      "snapshot": "2026-10-18"
    },
    {
      "category": "handyman",
      "rating_band": "4.8-5.0",
      "listings": 86,
      "top3_count": 14,
      "top3_percent": 16.27906977,
      "top10_count": 14,
      "top10_percent": 16.27906977,
      "top20_count": 10,
      "top20_percent": 11.62790698,
      "not_seen_count": 48,
      "not_seen_percent": 55.81395349,
      "source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings_by_rating.json",
      "source_version": "v1.2",
      "snapshot": "2026-10-18"
    },
    {
      "category": "home_health",
      "rating_band": "4.8-5.0",
      "listings": 67,
      "top3_count": 1,
      "top3_percent": 1.49253731,
      "top10_count": 4,
      "top10_percent": 5.97014925,
      "top20_count": 9,
      "top20_percent": 13.43283582,
      "not_seen_count": 53,
      "not_seen_percent": 79.10447761,
      "source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings_by_rating.json",
      "source_version": "v1.2",
      "snapshot": "2026-10-18"
    },
    {
      "category": "house_cleaning",
      "rating_band": "4.8-5.0",
      "listings": 158,
      "top3_count": 14,
      "top3_percent": 8.86075949,
      "top10_count": 24,
      "top10_percent": 15.18987342,
      "top20_count": 12,
      "top20_percent": 7.59493671,
      "not_seen_count": 108,
      "not_seen_percent": 68.35443038,
      "source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings_by_rating.json",
      "source_version": "v1.2",
      "snapshot": "2026-10-18"
    },
    {
      "category": "landscaper",
      "rating_band": "4.8-5.0",
      "listings": 89,
      "top3_count": 11,
      "top3_percent": 12.35955056,
      "top10_count": 14,
      "top10_percent": 15.73033708,
      "top20_count": 9,
      "top20_percent": 10.11235955,
      "not_seen_count": 55,
      "not_seen_percent": 61.79775281,
      "source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings_by_rating.json",
      "source_version": "v1.2",
      "snapshot": "2026-10-18"
    },
    {
      "category": "massage",
      "rating_band": "4.8-5.0",
      "listings": 178,
      "top3_count": 8,
      "top3_percent": 4.49438202,
      "top10_count": 13,
      "top10_percent": 7.30337079,
      "top20_count": 10,
      "top20_percent": 5.61797753,
      "not_seen_count": 147,
      "not_seen_percent": 82.58426966,
      "source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings_by_rating.json",
      "source_version": "v1.2",
      "snapshot": "2026-10-18"
    },
    {
      "category": "personal_trainer",
      "rating_band": "4.8-5.0",
      "listings": 83,
      "top3_count": 14,
      "top3_percent": 16.86746988,
      "top10_count": 23,
      "top10_percent": 27.71084337,
      "top20_count": 21,
      "top20_percent": 25.30120482,
      "not_seen_count": 25,
      "not_seen_percent": 30.12048193,
      "source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings_by_rating.json",
      "source_version": "v1.2",
      "snapshot": "2026-10-18"
    },
    {
      "category": "plumber",
      "rating_band": "4.8-5.0",
      "listings": 72,
      "top3_count": 4,
      "top3_percent": 5.55555556,
      "top10_count": 16,
      "top10_percent": 22.22222222,
      "top20_count": 10,
      "top20_percent": 13.88888889,
      "not_seen_count": 42,
      "not_seen_percent": 58.33333333,
      "source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings_by_rating.json",
      "source_version": "v1.2",
      "snapshot": "2026-10-18"
    }
  ],
  "frame_comparison": [
    {
      "rating_band": "<4.0",
      "listing_frame_n": 139,
      "listing_best_top3_count": 2,
      "listing_best_top3_percent": 1.43884892,
      "appearance_frame_n": 115,
      "appearance_rank1_3_count": 9,
      "appearance_rank1_3_percent": 7.82608696,
      "appearance_median_rank": 11.0,
      "listing_source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings_by_rating.json",
      "appearance_source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/curve_rank_by_rating.json",
      "comparison_note": "Different frames, units and rating sources; not paired effects or removal outcomes."
    },
    {
      "rating_band": "4.0-4.4",
      "listing_frame_n": 105,
      "listing_best_top3_count": 7,
      "listing_best_top3_percent": 6.66666667,
      "appearance_frame_n": 175,
      "appearance_rank1_3_count": 21,
      "appearance_rank1_3_percent": 12.0,
      "appearance_median_rank": 12.0,
      "listing_source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings_by_rating.json",
      "appearance_source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/curve_rank_by_rating.json",
      "comparison_note": "Different frames, units and rating sources; not paired effects or removal outcomes."
    },
    {
      "rating_band": "4.5-4.7",
      "listing_frame_n": 122,
      "listing_best_top3_count": 21,
      "listing_best_top3_percent": 17.21311475,
      "appearance_frame_n": 276,
      "appearance_rank1_3_count": 57,
      "appearance_rank1_3_percent": 20.65217391,
      "appearance_median_rank": 9.0,
      "listing_source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings_by_rating.json",
      "appearance_source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/curve_rank_by_rating.json",
      "comparison_note": "Different frames, units and rating sources; not paired effects or removal outcomes."
    },
    {
      "rating_band": "4.8-5.0",
      "listing_frame_n": 852,
      "listing_best_top3_count": 89,
      "listing_best_top3_percent": 10.44600939,
      "appearance_frame_n": 1214,
      "appearance_rank1_3_count": 232,
      "appearance_rank1_3_percent": 19.11037891,
      "appearance_median_rank": 9.0,
      "listing_source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings_by_rating.json",
      "appearance_source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/curve_rank_by_rating.json",
      "comparison_note": "Different frames, units and rating sources; not paired effects or removal outcomes."
    },
    {
      "rating_band": "no rating",
      "listing_frame_n": 353,
      "listing_best_top3_count": 9,
      "listing_best_top3_percent": 2.54957507,
      "appearance_frame_n": 245,
      "appearance_rank1_3_count": 19,
      "appearance_rank1_3_percent": 7.75510204,
      "appearance_median_rank": 12.0,
      "listing_source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/listings_by_rating.json",
      "appearance_source": "https://datanephew.com/data/gbp-study/v1.2/cubes/curve_rank_by_rating.json",
      "comparison_note": "Different frames, units and rating sources; not paired effects or removal outcomes."
    }
  ],
  "frame_audit": [
    {
      "measure": "listing_frame",
      "count": 1571,
      "unit": "business listings",
      "definition": "Matched visible plus not-seen enriched owner-operated listings; not all businesses in the six metros."
    },
    {
      "measure": "listing_best_top3",
      "count": 128,
      "unit": "business listings",
      "definition": "Best observed rank 1-3 at any of eight search points for its market."
    },
    {
      "measure": "listing_rank4_10",
      "count": 211,
      "unit": "business listings",
      "definition": "Best observed rank 4-10; excludes top3."
    },
    {
      "measure": "listing_rank11_20",
      "count": 196,
      "unit": "business listings",
      "definition": "Best observed rank 11-20; excludes higher tiers."
    },
    {
      "measure": "listing_not_seen",
      "count": 1036,
      "unit": "business listings",
      "definition": "No top-20 result at the study search points in this one snapshot; not proof of general invisibility."
    },
    {
      "measure": "appearance_frame",
      "count": 2025,
      "unit": "business-by-search-point appearances",
      "definition": "Visible results; businesses can recur; a different frame from listings."
    },
    {
      "measure": "high_rating_listings",
      "count": 852,
      "unit": "business listings",
      "definition": "Listing rating 4.8-5.0 inclusive; this is not a perfect-5.0-only group."
    },
    {
      "measure": "high_rating_not_seen",
      "count": 538,
      "unit": "business listings",
      "definition": "High-rating listings absent from sampled top-20 results."
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "One snapshot, non-random six-US-metro sample; not a Canada-wide prevalence estimate.",
    "No review removals, before/after rank changes, authenticity labels or customer outcomes measured.",
    "Best rank across eight widely spaced search points is not a single-point rank or universal visibility.",
    "Enrichment under-matches service-area businesses; original frame is selected.",
    "Rating bands mix review counts, sectors, distances and business characteristics; no causal adjustment attempted.",
    "Appearance and listing sources/frames differ; their percentages are not paired estimates.",
    "No new confidence intervals, significance tests or independence assumptions added."
  ],
  "distributions": [
    {
      "file": "google-ranking-rating-bands.csv",
      "rows": 5,
      "sha256": "6617d0dacdd83f3994d5e43d3346b6d14cc333fec797d424a7e68f305568e859"
    },
    {
      "file": "google-ranking-high-rating-categories.csv",
      "rows": 9,
      "sha256": "4383f007f49157e75127327f66d157039aefd5154356a0faca2f4737369dcaf8"
    },
    {
      "file": "google-ranking-frame-comparison.csv",
      "rows": 5,
      "sha256": "f0a526c0ed57b8731cd19edbeb6d20d8d1990bf01e607b9d9004e2b73b92dee5"
    },
    {
      "file": "google-ranking-frame-audit.csv",
      "rows": 8,
      "sha256": "d34b9dd33b96d1c4e33a1d0ba3d0feb89d02a8d3ed49f527622c03f898f9b09d"
    }
  ]
}