After weeks of anticipation, Google’s much-talked-about Reviews System update has finally come to an end. The update had been rolling out slowly over a period of time, causing a stir among publishers who were affected by it. The update was fully implemented on April 25, 2023, marking the end of the update.
As with any significant update, many people were eager to know what changes the update would bring to Google’s reviews system. While it’s still too early to assess the full impact of the update, publishers and website owners should note that any fluctuations in search rankings after April 25 should be regarded as part of the daily ranking churn.
One important development to note is that the announcement of the update’s conclusion was officially made on Google’s Search Status Dashboard. This signals the company’s commitment to transparency and keeping users informed about updates that affect their online experiences.
It remains to be seen how this update will affect businesses and websites that rely heavily on Google reviews. However, with Google being a major player in the online search industry, any changes to its review system are bound to have a significant impact on the online community. It will be interesting to observe how this update shapes the future of online reviews and search rankings.
Google April 2023 Reviews Update
What made the April 2023 reviews update significant is that it now extends beyond products. This update involves an algorithm that Google calls the “reviews system,” which evaluates webpages containing recommendations for a variety of things such as services, destinations, games, movies, and more.
According to the official guidance provided by Google: “The reviews system is designed to evaluate articles, blog posts, pages or similar first-party standalone content written with the purpose of providing a recommendation, giving an opinion, or providing analysis. It does not evaluate third-party reviews, such as those posted by users in the reviews section of a product or services page.”
The reviews system operates at the page level, although it can switch to evaluating an entire site if the site’s primary content consists of reviews.
Google’s Reviews System Update Complete – What Do I Do Now?
If you’ve noticed a drop in traffic on your website, it’s possible that your site has been affected by Google’s recent reviews system update. However, before jumping to conclusions, it’s important to note that this update was specifically focused on reviews. If your pages do not contain reviews or opinions, then something else might be the cause of the drop in traffic.
It’s worth noting that reviews generated by third parties, such as user-generated reviews, are not evaluated as part of the reviews system algorithm. This means that if your site relies heavily on third-party reviews, it may not be affected by this update.
If your website contains reviews and has been impacted by the update, it’s essential to identify which keywords and corresponding pages have been affected. This can help you understand the extent of the impact on your website’s traffic.
Google’s recommendations emphasize the importance of real evaluations when writing reviews. Reviewers should have direct experience with the product, service, or thing being reviewed. Measurements and comparisons, if applicable, are also crucial when writing reviews. Original analysis and signals of expertise are also important for improving rankings in the reviews system.
Google’s documentation on this ranking system says:
“The reviews system works to ensure that people see reviews that share in-depth research, rather than thin content that simply summarizes a bunch of products, services or other things.
The reviews system is designed to evaluate articles, blog posts, pages or similar first-party standalone content written with the purpose of providing a recommendation, giving an opinion, or providing analysis.”
One frustrating aspect of the reviews system is that it does not update continuously. This means that sites that have been affected by the system and have made necessary fixes may not see an immediate change in their rankings until the next update occurs.
This delay can be frustrating for website owners and publishers who are keen to see the impact of their changes in real time. However, it’s important to remember that updates to the reviews system are made periodically, and the system will reevaluate affected pages during the next update.
In the meantime, it’s crucial to continue making improvements to your site’s content and methodology to ensure that it meets Google’s guidelines. This will not only improve your site’s rankings in the reviews system but also in other search engine algorithms.
Still Don’t Know What to Do?
Still don’t know what this means for your site? Our team of experts is always up-to-date on industry trends and equipped with the latest knowledge and techniques in digital marketing. Let us help you assess and enhance your website’s performance to stay ahead of Google Updates.
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