23 Apr, 2021

Google Product Reviews Update Goes Live

product reviews

Any marketer or business owner agrees that word of mouth marketing is one of the most effective ways to promote your business. It gives you more credibility because your customers are the ones who are speaking on your behalf. Any positive claims made about your products or services are more believable since they came from those who actually bought and used them. 

This is why if you have a website or Google My Business listing, it is an excellent idea to ask your customers to leave Google product reviews. 

Google to Reward for Quality Product Reviews

Besides giving you more credibility and helping you convince prospects to do business with you, asking previous customers to give you reviews and testimonials can also boost your search rankings. This is particularly useful, especially now that Google has recently updated its search algorithm to better reward product reviews. 

With the release of its “product reviews update,” the search giant seeks to promote product reviews that provide “in-depth research” and “insightful analysis.” Bonus points will be given to those that came from experts or enthusiasts who have extensive industry knowledge. If the product reviews on your site meet these requirements, Google will promote them in its search results rankings. 

What if your product reviews are not that in-depth? Will your site be punished for them? Google assured webmasters and business owners that it wouldn’t penalise their respective websites for having lower quality or “thinner” customer reviews or testimonials. 

If you noticed that you got lower search rankings because other content gets better promotion than yours, this is not a penalty. The search giant explained that it is just rewarding sites with better product reviews. Also, Google pointed out that rather than being a core update, the product reviews update is merely a standalone update. Also, it only affects product reviews and not other types of web content. 

What Are the Qualities of a Good Product Review?

If you want to make the most of Google’s recent search update, you have to make sure that your customer reviews and testimonials meet the search giant’s requirements. See to it that your Google product reviews: 

  • Demonstrate expert knowledge of your products.
  • Provide a physical description of the product and its usage beyond what’s initially offered by its manufacturer.
  • Explain in detail how the product meets performance standards.
  • Discuss what makes the product different from its competitors.
  • Provide a comparison with other products and discuss which of them is suitable for specific use or circumstance.
  • Discuss the product’s pros and cons.
  • Showcase the improvements made on the product to illustrate how it evolved from previous versions.
  • Explain the key factors that influenced the customer’s decision to purchase the product. For instance, if the product review is about a pair of shoes, it should discuss the amount of comfort the item can provide, its value for money, colour, and design, amongst others. 

With the algorithm update, Google is encouraging marketers and business owners like you to put more effort into their product review content. In doing so, you can set your business apart from the competition and improve your search ranking at the same time. 

How to Convince Customers to Review Your Products

So how do you convince customers to review your product or service? Here are several pointers to help you obtain quality Google product reviews from your previous clients. 

1. Simply ask

Believe it or not, most customers will be happy to share their experience with your business. All you have to do is ask them nicely. It also helps to build a strong relationship with them beforehand, so it will be easier for you to convince them to write a product or service review. 

2. Make it easy for your customers to leave a review

Customers will be more inclined to review your product or service if there’s an existing system that makes it more convenient for them to do so. For example, let’s say you provide interior design services. At the end of each project, you can ask clients to write you a review in your sign-off emails. On the other hand, if you’re selling a particular product, you can set up a pop-up form that customers can fill out after they made their purchase. 

3. Target happy customers

Because you’d want customers to provide a more extensive product review, you should target those who have previously expressed happiness with your business. For instance, you can survey previous customers. Then, invite those who gave you positive feedback to write a more comprehensive review of your products. 

Take Advantage of Product Reviews

Product reviews contribute to the success of your business. Not only do they serve as social proof of the quality of products or services you can provide, but they also help you establish a more substantial online presence. As such, please take note of the information discussed above so you can make the most of Google’s latest search algorithm update. 

If you need help optimising your site for search engines, our team at Springhill Marketing is happy to assist you. We can provide you with the SEO services you need to ensure that your website is compatible with Google’s search algorithm updates. Please speak to us today and let us develop a bespoke optimisation plan just for you.

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