Your competitor has 500 Google reviews and you have 20. What matters now?
Review count matters, but it is not the whole local result. Work on a steady honest review habit, the right business match, and the places where you can realistically compete.
Google My Business, Google Business Profile, and your Google listing: same thing?
Google My Business is the former product name. Google Business Profile is the current name; owners often call the customer-facing result a Google listing.
Can you pay for Google reviews? The rule is simpler than the sales pitch
Do not pay, discount, reward, pressure, or selectively solicit positive Google reviews. Ask eligible customers for an honest account of a real experience.
Ads can buy immediate exposure, but they do not purchase a better organic local rank. Fix ownership, hours, phone, reviews, and the call path before paying for more traffic.