Google Brings Store Rating To Search Result In 4 New Countries
For online shoppers, reviews have always been a key part of their decision-making process. Traditionally, checking a store’s reputation involves several steps—searching for the product, visiting the retailer’s site, and reading reviews on a dedicated page. Now, Google has streamlined this process with a new update: store ratings are directly integrated into search results.
On October 9th, Google introduced a significant update, bringing store ratings to English-language searches in Australia, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. This change makes it easier for shoppers to access essential information right at the start of their buying journey while providing merchants with a new way to build trust and showcase their reputation.
What’s New on the Search Result—Store Rating
Now, when customers search for products online, store ratings appear directly beneath the product listings, summarising feedback from previous shoppers on aspects like product quality, shipping, and customer service. These ratings, displayed as stars, make information immediately accessible, offering transparency and building trust at the moment of decision-making.
Previously, shoppers had to manually compare options by going back and forth between websites and reading reviews separately. This could be time-consuming, especially for those wanting to weigh all their product options. Now, Google’s integration fills that gap, making sure that the user experience and information they offer align with the buyer’s buying journey. This prevents buyers from leaving the search result and being derailed by having to go through the hassle of comparing information between one brand to the other.
Imagine searching for a “sling bag” and not only are you being given a list of products, but now Google also shows you the rating that some buyers left. As you click on this rating, you’re taken to a page with detailed information about the store’s reputation, recent customer reviews, and policies. As Google highlighted in their announcement: “When shopping online, feedback from other customers can help shoppers decide where to buy — and store reviews can help give shoppers added confidence.” This update makes the buyer journey smoother and more efficient.
How Businesses Can Participate
Initially available in the United States, store ratings are now accessible to merchants in Australia, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. If you’re a merchant in one of these countries and don’t yet have store ratings enabled, here’s how to join:
- Join Google Customer Review Program: A free program that collects post-purchase reviews on behalf of merchants through the Google Merchant Center.
- Gather Reviews via Independent Websites: Ratings from trusted third-party review platforms can be integrated into your store rating on Google, ensuring consistency by filtering out unverified feedback. They have also listed down independent review websites that they are partnering with which you can see here.
Store Rating Overview
Store ratings have evolved from simple rating showcases in its inception to comprehensive, data-driven insights. Google has focused on transparency, ensuring that only verified reviews contribute to a store’s overall rating. This approach helps shoppers make decisions with confidence. Store ratings are sourced from:
When shoppers click on a store’s star rating in the search results, they can view a detailed overview page, which shows them the brand’s:
With store ratings integrated into search results, Google is bridging the gap between product discovery and purchase, ensuring shoppers can access key details easily. For shoppers, this means no more jumping between sites to compare reviews. For merchants, it offers a new stage to showcase their strengths. Encouraging positive reviews has never been more important—this feedback could now be the deciding factor for potential customers.
What’s Next?
Ultimately, Google’s move to integrate store ratings into search results is a win-win for both parties. As the digital shopping experience continues to evolve, adapting to these changes can open doors to greater success.
With this new addition to search results, many shoppers might wonder: How will this change the way I shop online? The answer lies in the enhanced convenience and transparency—no more jumping between sites to compare reviews. Instead, shoppers can trust that the information they need is right at their fingertips, making it easier to find reliable stores with positive feedback.
For merchants, the big question might be: How can I make sure my store stands out in this new landscape? Take this update as a new stage for you to showcase your positive review because now it is easier than ever for customers to see past buying experiences from others. Therefore, encouraging shoppers to leave reviews, especially good reviews, would bump your review pool. This gives prospective buyers more insight into your business.
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