Google continues to evolve, and this time it comes with an important change in their review policy. On November 8, 2023, Google rolled out the latest reviews update. This will be the last time Google announces a reviews update, as they will now occur regularly and continuously.
Changes in review updates
Google has indicated that updates are now occurring on a "regular and ongoing basis." This implies that changes on your site, both positive and negative, can be reflected in real-time. The update continues to have a global impact and includes multiple languages.
Since the first reviews update in April 2021, there have been a total of 8 confirmed updates. With the update in April 2023, Google changed the name from 'product reviews update' to 'reviews update.' This broadened the focus to reviews of any assessable subject, including services, destinations, and media.
Overlapping with the November core update
Currently, Google has also rolled out another update, the
Websites can be affected by both the core update and the reviews update. It can be challenging to determine which update impacts your site.
If your website publishes reviews, this update is crucial. Check your rankings to see if your organic traffic is improving, declining, or remaining the same.
Guidelines for High-Quality Reviews