In a few weeks, the latest Google will be rolling out its first algorithm update of 2023, this time focusing on displaying high quality, credible product reviews in its search results. In this month’s Vortex Marketing Blog, we will be covering how this change will affect the search engine interface, and what you can do to prepare for it!
How Does Google Currently Display Products?
Whenever you search for a product on Google, you will be shown a large list of different sellers offering that product, from Amazon and eBay to smaller businesses on the internet. One of the most important factors of not only search rank, but if someone decides to buy that product, are reviews.
According to Bright Local, 79% of customers put as much weight in online reviews as personal recommendations when buying a product, and according to World Financial Review, positive reviews can increase sales by about 18%.
Like other facets of SEO marketing we have covered, positive reviews are an integral factor for small businesses looking to rank higher and convert more users online. We know this, you know this, but unfortunately, some less credible businesses also know this. This has led to spammy, fake reviews popping up on products across the internet, and this is what Google hopes to stop with its new Product Reviews System update.
What Does the New Product Reviews System Update Do?
According to Google, the new product reviews system will work to ensure that people see product reviews that share in-depth research, rather than thin content that simply summarizes a bunch of products at once.
This means that when you see a review for a product on Google, you can rest assured that that review is for that specific product, and not for a group of products or something else completely unrelated.
On Google’s end, this will require a new evaluation of your website to gather and verify reviews. All you need to do is make sure that each review is tied to the product it is meant for. If you use a CMS like WordPress or Shopify, this is already done for you, and you have nothing to worry about! Again, this update is meant to identify and punish less credible businesses for gaming the system with fake reviews. As long as your reviews are legitimate, and Google can easily parse through your website, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
Need assistance creating or managing your eCommerce website? Want to increase your search ranking or improve sales? Visit Vortex Digital or call us at 319.621.0191 today.
