Google Announces a Product Reviews Algorithm Update on April 8th 2021
Did you know that Google announced a “Product Reviews Algorithm Update” yesterday?
The update has been specifically “designed to better reward” certain types of product reviews.
Basically, if you appear to provide in-depth research, as opposed to “thin content that summarizes a bunch of products” you are likely to be rewarded in terms of rankings.
This wasn’t a core update, but rather a standalone update solely aimed at Product Reviews.
So, as of April 8th 2021 you may have noticed a fluctuation in traffic to your product review articles.
There won’t be any punishments for what Google deems “lower quality product reviews”.
However, if someone else’s product review is deemed to be better than yours it is likely to be promoted above yours in the rankings.
So, this could actually feel like a punishment.
Experts Or Enthusiasts
Product reviews written by “experts or enthusiasts who know the topic well” are likely to be rewarded in terms of rankings.
My take on the “expert or enthusiast” is that you can either show a broad knowledge of the product you are promoting, or perhaps you have certain qualifications (listed on your About Me page) that “prove you are an expert”.
Also, it helps if you have used the product yourself, and other similar ones, and can provide a comparison between two or more products,
e.g. “I have tried both De’Longhi and Nespresso coffee makers, and for me Nespresso wins hands down. I just found that with the De’Longhi coffee maker there always seemed to be a bitter, almost cardboard-like aftertaste”.
Basically, your review should go beyond that of just quoting what is on the Product Specifications page.
In terms of physical products, if you actually own the product or create videos in your reviews showing you talking about and using the product, this will go a long way towards being seen as “providing more value”.
I accept that you can’t own every single product that you review.
For something like Wealthy Affiliate Product Reviews, you have the upper hand, as you can talk about personal experience.
But, it will probably also help if you discuss what sets Wealthy Affiliate apart from its competitors (in your mind).
My standard approach to writing a product review will typically suffice:
- Introduction
- Product Specifications
- What is the Product?
- Who Created the Product?
- How Does the Product Work?
- What Do You Get With the Product?
- What Did I Think of the Product? (This is the most important section now and you should aim to be as detailed as possible about WHAT YOU THINK).
- Product Pros.
- Product Cons.
- Conclusion
From what we are taught here at Wealthy Affiliate about writing product reviews, this shouldn’t have any negative impact for any of us.
I’m sure you’ve noticed many product reviews online that are barely 500 words long.
They are almost a copy and paste job from the creator’s website.
They provide no additional information to help a potential customer make a buying decision.
Simply put, they provide no real value over the actual product page.
These types of product reviews are likely to lose out in the rankings.
You can read more information by checking out Barry’s blog post on this on SearchEngineLand.
Just Google “Google Product Review Update”.
Partha
Recent Comments
37
Hey Partha,
Thank you for an excellent write up. The information makes total sense and if I was a visitor I really do want real opinions on the product.
I like your product review template.
It really boils down to being able to answer questions of what your viewers would be looking for. If I had to read just the product specs without the juicy info on them, there is no value to the review. Ya, it's nice to use the product.
I didn't know Google had an update.
Monica
Excellent Post & Share on product reviews Partha. I was thinking while reading your post that it would be difficult to compare products if you only have one. If that is the case what would you be comparing it with. It would be a lot more work but wouldn't it be better to use somebody like Consumer Reports for actual unbiased reporting inclusive with Amazon, Home Depot & Lowes?
To do that you would probably be affiliates to all.
This is the best thing Google has ever done for the legitimate Affiliate community...IN THEORY!
It remains to be seen exactly how this is implemented, there are lots of BIG names (Forbes etc..) that have a lot of thin reviews from nonexperts, it remains to be seen if these are demoted or if it's the small guys, with great content that get hit.
Google does have a history of not correctly identifying good content, they often go after site size, backlinks, etc... they can rarely actually look at content and "rate it" as a human would.
This Update has me really scared!
No big shift on my end atm!
The online communities are buzzing at this latest up date. The copy and paste review sites are screaming unfair, for folks creating in depth reviews and analysis a very favorable outcome. For members of WA creating reviews utilising the training provided this update is the golden goose, and we all know what they do.
Excellent summary Partha.
I totally agree Alex.
You just know the one's who are shouting the loudest are probably the one's who've been "getting away with this" for years.
Although, not always the case, but in general terms if someone is impacted by a Google update then perhaps they have been potentially cutting corners.
I know there are times when we have been effected in one way or another by an update, but usually if you're providing relevant and quality material you'll soon rise back up again.
I'm actually really interested to go and read some of the "haters" and negative comments within the various online communities.
Me thinks that some are going to reveal their true colours.
Partha
See more comments
Hi Partha, this is great news for anyone writing reviews as part of our websites. As long as we keep things authentic and honest we should see the benefit of this. I will definitely keep this in mind as I continue writing reviews.
I use a different format when writing my reviews than you do. However, I am considering changing it up a bit to be sure I include a section with my opinion in it. I have a section with the header "Worth the Time or Money". I usually interject my opinion in this section. I hope Google picks up on that.
Thanks again for another insightful post. I definitely appreciate the lessons learned from them.
I wish you the best,
Bob