Google's acquisition of Zagat, a restaurant guide with reviews and ratings, could lead to potentially big search engine ranking boosts for small businesses. 

Since 1979 Zagat has established a reputable print and online brand with reliable reviews which Google now plans to parlay into useful local search results. 

Google announced the Zagat purchase in their September 8^th blog:

"So, today, I'm thrilled that Google has acquired Zagat. Moving forward, Zagat will be a cornerstone of our local offering—delighting people with their impressive array of reviews, ratings and insights, while enabling people everywhere to find extraordinary (and ordinary) experiences around the corner and around the world."

Google will prioritize local searches in order to deliver more relevant results, which means that optimizing content to reflect where a business is located along with what they offer will become key in establishing ranking.  Customer reviews will also play a major role according to Business2Community:

"The value of a customer review has just increased, meaning businesses must invest more time and energy in convincing their customers to share their thoughts. Customer service, a good product, and employees that care are now even more important aspects of a business' online strategy."

Finally, in their blog, Google added:

"With Zagat, we gain a world-class team that has more experience in consumer based-surveys, recommendations and reviews than anyone else in the industry. Founded by Tim and Nina Zagat more than 32 years ago, Zagat has established a trusted and well-loved brand the world over, operating in 13 categories and more than 100 cities."

Read Google's blog for more information on their acquisition of Zagat and how customer reviews can help your business going forward.