What is Google’s Product Review Update?

Whenever someone wants to buy a product they usually read through a product review first. A product review gives a buyer insights into what are the ups and downs of the product.

However, eCommerce sellers started gaming the system and wrote a lot of fake reviews which negatively impacted the user experience.

To tackle this problem and improve the user experience, Google back in April 2021 released an update called Product Review Update and recently has added further improvements to it.

This update is designed specifically to promote high-quality product reviews which are genuine and come from authentic users.

In this article, we will discuss what is Google’s Product Review Update, how to analyze your website for the Update, and what are remedies one can use to improve ranking. 

What is Google’s Product Review Update?

Google’s review update is an update that focuses on bringing out the most genuine and high-quality product reviews of a particular product. Many websites use to manipulate reviews to gain ranking in search engines and this update is there to stop them.

Product reviews are a great source of information for the user which provides them with how a product will work and what are the benefits and drawbacks of the product.

This type of user-generated content is something that Google loves and promotes high in the ranking however, many webmasters started abusing this and wrote fake reviews which promote their business.

To tackle this, Google released this update which looks into the authenticity of the review provided. Google uses an algorithm to scale the authenticity of the review and bifurcate between the fake and genuine review.

Who will be affected by Google Review Update?

Google Review Update specifically looks at the websites that people visit to read a review or to buy a product.

Google is very sensitive towards some industries where the life or money of the users are involved hence, Google keeps on releasing updates related to the same.

This update is something where money is involved hence, the affected websites would be eCommerce websites, product review websites, affiliate websites. etc.  

How to Analyze Your Website for the Update?

As a website administrator or as an SEO agency, you’ll have to proactively analyze your website to keep your website safe from this update especially if you are an eCommerce website or a product review website.

If you are experiencing a sudden drop in your website ranking then you’ll have to diagnose your website articles and find out the problematic areas.

Now, prepare a list of articles that were ranking higher on the Google search before the update hit and analyze the content of the articles one by one.

An ideal article must contain the following essential elements-

• The article must contain an original image, video, or audio of the product being used by the writer
• Remove any information that the product manufacturer has provided and only write the measured or experienced data
• You’ll have to personalize the content of the review in other words your content should be unique and helpful for the user
• If providing an affiliate product link, then provide multiple sources to purchase the product
• You’ll have to share your experience of the product and the situation in which it can be helpful and also provide drawbacks of the product if you are experiencing any
• You’ll have to rate the product on key decision-making points
• Provide value to the shoppers who are reading your review

How to Keep your Website safe from Google’s Product Review Update?

Whenever a Google update comes, SEOs and website administrators will get nervous and the Google review update is a huge core algorithm update that has made some websites bankrupt.

Product review websites have huge affiliate marketing sales and Google has targeted these websites only. If you were following Google’s recommendation from day 1 then you’ll be the least affected.

But, if you are someone who has tried to game the algorithm then your website might have got huge traffic hit.

It’s not that time to worry or to reget but to try to resolve the issue by making a few changes and keeping a few things in mind.

If your website has been hit, then you can follow these steps to improve your website ranking-

• You’ll have to provide the original images in which you are using the product or the one shot from your camera
• Edit the image and place your logo branding on the image to claim your ownership
• Edit the metadata of the image and provide your website link, name, your name, and other details
• Make sure you are providing the Alt text of the image explaining what image depicts
• Add a video review of the product, it will help you boost your traffic
• Do not provide fake reviews, try to provide an original well-researched review of the product
• Provide all the information about the product that you are measuring and compare it with what the manufacturer says and draw a contrast
• Add personal observations and how the product helped you solve a particular issue that the product has been designed for
• Provide multiple sources and purchase links of the product you are reviewing
• Write the benefits, drawbacks, and USP of the product. Also, add the product performance in different circumstances
• Try to identify the key-purchase decision points for the product and rate the product based on those points