Google is on a roll with making updates and changes to their reviews system. The April 2023 Reviews System Update marks Google’s 7th update to this system.
Even though some decent changes were made, the reviews system still focuses on the same goal, to get the most useful and relevant content in front of searchers. Check out our earlier posts to learn more about the reviews system and previous updates:
- Google Product Reviews Update: February 2023
- Google Product Reviews Update: September 2022
- Google Product Reviews Update: July 2022
- Google Product Reviews Update: March 2022
Update Alert:
April 2023: Google releases the April 2023 reviews update. The rollout was complete as of April 25, 2023.
New & Improved Reviews System
The most notable change is the name. Google has made the switch from “Product Reviews System” to “Reviews System”. This name change is due to Google introducing this automatic system to areas outside of products. It now includes services and businesses, destinations, and media such as games and movies. In order to ensure consistency throughout its guidance documentation, changes to the language have been made to now include all types of reviews. This also means that moving forward, more people will be impacted by updates.
Experience Based System
Another change we’ve noted is the emphasis placed on experience signals. Google originally focused on the term E-A-T when it came to content, but they have officially added a double ‘E’ which stands for experience. E-E-A-T is now the standard.
Experience signals refer to evidence about your experience with a product. It ensures that the product or service has been handled, tested, and otherwise measured. Google’s documentation notes that these signals can include:
- Visual Evidence
- Audio
- Links to Evidence of Experience
- Quantitative Measurements
Ensure Your Success
Since the expansion of the reviews system will now impact more creators, it is more important than ever to follow Google’s advice on how to write high-quality reviews. Additionally, another great resource to understand E-E-A-T is Google’s Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines.
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