If the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey were released in 2010 versus 1968, the classic line above may have been followed by a click-through to read reviews. Let’s find out why. Over the past year, Google AdWords has introduced a number of ad extensions that enable advertisers to provide additional information about their businesses and products.
For example, product extensions, location extensions, ad sitelinks, and phone extensions are all now available to advertisers. Each ad extension provides valuable information along with the paid search advertisement in question, such as phone numbers, links deeper into a website, addresses, and product visuals and pricing. In my experience with helping clients with paid search, I’ve definitely seen ad extensions make an impact. It’s easy to understand why. When you are dealing with such a limited space for your paid search ads, adding visuals and other valuable information can really make those ads stand out (and help you build credibility).
The Latest Ad Extension – Seller Rating Extensions
In late June, AdWords implemented seller rating extensions, which can show up along with paid search ads when people are searching for product information. Seller rating extensions include the merchant star rating for advertisers that are highly rated on Google Product Search. If you’re not familiar with Google Product Search, it’s an area of Google where shoppers can search products to compare prices, find reviews, and link to merchant websites to ultimately buy the products they are interested in. By setting up a Google Merchant Account, you can supply Google with a feed containing your product information. Once you set up the feed, shoppers can find your products via Google Product Search (and via your paid search ads by implementing product extensions).
If you run an e-commerce site and you haven’t set up a Google Merchant Account, you should – but only after reading the rest of my post. 🙂 That said, although I think it’s important to set up a Google Merchant Account, it’s not required for seller rating extensions to work. I’ll provide more information about seller rating extension requirements later in this post.
How Seller Rating Extensions Can Impact Paid Search Performance
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I’ve provided two screenshots below of seller rating extensions showing up in the top three paid search listings (directly above the organic listings). How well do you think listings without seller rating extensions will perform when they are sitting next to two advertisers with seller rating extensions? Like I said earlier, minor enhancements to an ad can make a big difference in such a limited space.
Needless to say, having selling rating extensions show up with your ads can be an important element for building credibility and increasing click-through. Unless you’re a big brand, there’s a good chance that people searching for products don’t know your company and what other consumers think about your business. When these people are provided with a series of advertisements, which one will they click through? It very well could be the one showing a highly rated merchant, especially since they can click through to read the reviews on Google Product Search.
Unfortunately for advertisers without seller rating extensions, their ads could pale in comparison. And to make matters worse, advertisers without seller rating extensions might actually be excellent merchants with customers that love buying from them. There’s just a lack of reviews for the merchant… More on that soon. By the way, here is the page that shoppers can view once they click through to read the reviews. Shoppers have the ability to filter reviews by rating, topic, or by source.
How to Get Seller Rating Extensions
Now that you’ve seen seller rating extensions in action, I bet you’re wondering how to get them showing up along with your paid search ads. Good question, and the answer could mean some work for you. But that could be good for your business and I’ll explain why soon. First, I’ll list the criteria you’ll need to meet in order for seller rating extensions to show up with your ads.
Here are the requirements for having seller rating extensions show up (directly from the AdWords Help Center):
- Your campaign must be opted in to Google search.
- Your campaign must be targeted to the US only.
- Your business must have at least 30 unique reviews and a rating of four stars or above on Google Product Search.
The first two are easy…and the third one isn’t so easy (and is partly out of your control). Having customer reviews can help your business on several levels, and seller rating extensions is just one more reason to ensure your customers are reviewing your products. By the way, if you’re wondering how you are charged for seller rating extensions, Google only charges for clicks on the standard ad (when someone clicks the title of your paid search ad). If someone clicks through the ad extension to read reviews, you are not charged.
Where Reviews Come From and What You Can Do To Impact Your Rating Extensions
Google Product Search aggregates reviews from a number of sources, so there’s not just one place you can drive customers to in order to review your products. The AdWords Help Center lists several sources of reviews, including Reseller Ratings, Bizrate, ReviewCentre.com, Viewpoints, and Google Checkout reviews. You can perform some searches on Google Product Search and check the reviews to see other sources Google taps into for reviews. For example, I saw pricegrabber.com, Yahoo, epinions, MrRebates.com, etc. Once you understand the various sources, it’s time to get more reviews.
Getting More Reviews (Ethically)
I highly recommend mapping out a communication plan for ensuring that your customers know they can review your products. There are times that people simply don’t know they can review your products, and where to actually publish their reviews. Your customers might love your products and service, but just need a last nudge to write a review.
There are several ways you can communicate with your customers about the review process. You can include a message in the confirmation email after they purchase a product, you can send a follow up email explaining that they can review your products, you can use your Facebook page and Twitter account to remind followers and fans that they can review your products, etc. If you have a call center, then you can also have your representatives let customers know that they can review their latest purchase.
I think you’ll be surprised to see how many customers are willing to write reviews for you once they know that they can, along with where to publish those reviews. Again, you need 30 reviews, and not 500. If you create a solid communication plan, this shouldn’t be a problem. Also, once you create your communication plan and build enough reviews, let it keep running. Have it become a standard part of the process for your business. You could end up with hundreds or thousands of reviews over time, and that can only help your efforts.
Show Your Stars, Increase Click-Through, and Boost Sales With Seller Rating Extensions
The more I work with ad extensions in Google AdWords, the more I see how minor additions to an advertisement can impact click-through and sales. Seller Rating Extensions are the latest to hit Google.com and should be part of the paid search equation for companies running e-commerce websites. Don’t let stars and ratings from competitors overshadow your ads. You can have those stars too. You just need to meet the requirements.
Category SEO
FAQs
How do I enable Seller ratings on Google Ads? ›
- There must be at least 100 verified site reviews in the country of the searcher.
- Those reviews must have been collected within a the last 12 months.
- The reviews must have an average star rating of at least 3.5 stars.
Adding star ratings to your ads is fairly simple. You can add ratings through the Google Ads' ad extension called “Seller ratings”. The extension is not directly linked to your Google Ads and is instead tied to a specific domain. Google then pulls pre-existing reviews from your domain to include in the star ratings.
What is automated extension Seller ratings? ›Seller ratings are automated extensions that show how your eCommerce store is rated based on aggregated business reviews from a range of trusted and reputable review websites. You can see what the reviews say and where they come from by clicking on the link within an ad extension.
What are the star ratings on Google? ›What is a Google Star rating? A Google Star rating is a five star rating scale that ranks businesses based on customer reviews. Customers are given the opportunity to leave a business review after interacting with the business, which involves choosing from one star (poor) to five stars (excellent).
Why are my seller ratings not showing? ›My seller ratings aren't appearing
For ratings to appear in a particular country, your business needs enough unique reviews for the country within the last 12 months to allow us to confidently calculate a seller rating score.
- Enter complete data. Local results favor the most relevant results for each search. ...
- Verify your locations. ...
- Keep your hours accurate. ...
- Manage & respond to reviews. ...
- Add photos. ...
- Add in-store products. ...
- Relevance. ...
- Distance.
If you have a review score average on Google that doesn't match up with the actual reviews left on the listing, the likely reason is that the score doesn't update in real-time and you need to wait a few days for it to reflect the average after new reviews have been left.
How do I increase my star rating? ›- Ensure Medication Benefits Are Central to the Consumer Onboarding Experience. ...
- Develop Targeted Outreach Programs Around Medication Adherence and Preventive Screening. ...
- Make Every Interaction Count. ...
- Be Proactive with Consumer Feedback. ...
- Communicate Consistently and in Different Channels.
You'll only see the Rate seller option once you've bought something from a seller or had a conversation with them.
How are seller ratings generated? ›How they work. Google gathers seller ratings from reputable sources that aggregate business reviews. These ratings primarily reflect customers' overall post-fulfillment consumer experience with your business on a country basis. You're not charged for seller ratings.
Are automated extensions such as seller ratings shown? ›
When Google predicts they'll improve ad performance, automated extensions, such as Seller Ratings are shown. When an advertiser manually opts in to receive them.
What is a full automated ad extension? ›Fully automated extensions are directly populated by Google and don't require any action on your part. These extensions are shown automatically when Google predicts that they will improve ad performance. Seller ratings are an automated extension that lets users know if your business is highly rated for quality service.
Can you remove a star rating from Google? ›Flag a review in the Reviews Management Tool
Click Confirm. Report a new review for removal. For each review that you want to flag, click Report. In the new tab, select a category for the review.
The Five-Star Quality Rating System is a tool to help consumers select and compare skilled nursing care centers. Created by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2008, the rating system uses information from Health Care Surveys (both standard and complaint), Quality Measures, and Staffing.
How do you get 5 stars on Google reviews for free? ›- Ask for Google reviews. ...
- Add a review link to your website or thank-you email. ...
- Provide excellent customer service. ...
- Respond to your existing Google reviews. ...
- Share your positive reviews. ...
- Invest in review generation tools. ...
- Frequently update your Google Business Profile.
To view a seller's detailed seller ratings, select the number in brackets next to their username to go to their Feedback profile. You'll find stars next to the four different areas, with 1 star being the lowest rating and 5 stars being the highest.
What is the difference between Google seller rating and product rating? ›Seller ratings apply to your business overall, while product ratings are specific to products. Google seller ratings give a score to a brand. They are based on customer reviews from Google and a range of other review platforms, like Trustpilot or PowerReviews.
Why my customer reviews are not showing up? ›Find why a review is missing
In most cases, missing reviews were removed for policy violations like spam or inappropriate content. We do not reinstate reviews that were removed for policy violations. These removal measures help make sure that reviews on Google properties are relevant, helpful, and trustworthy.
Can you buy Google reviews? Buying Google reviews is against Google's policy and is illegal according to rules set by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Can you buy Google ratings? ›Is it illegal to buy Google reviews? Yes. Paying for fake reviews on Google, other review sites and review platforms (such as the Google Play Store) could result in legal action.
Can I change my Google rating? ›
Your review, score, and details about a place show up in Google Maps and on your profile until you take them down. After your review is published, you can edit it or change the rating and pictures you included.
How long does it take to improve Google ranking? ›According to seo.co, it can take anywhere from three to six months to rank on the first page of Google, assuming that you're writing good content and optimizing your website for search engines. If there's high competition or you haven't optimized your website, it may take six to 12 months to see results.
How many 5 star reviews do I need to negate a 1 star review? ›Assuming that only one of every 10 happy customers leaves a positive five-star review, and knowing that it takes four five-star reviews to make up for each one-star review, you can figure it takes 40 positive customer experiences to make up for a single bad review.
Why is it so hard to get Google reviews? ›The main reason why it seems almost impossible to get Google reviews is a lack of strategy. Companies that aren't successful in getting reviews usually never ask for them or don't use review management software. It's good to remember that customers often forget to leave feedback unless you remind them.
How do you get 3 star ratings fast? ›- Plant lots of flowers and trees all over your island, but make sure the island does not look cluttered.
- Clear the island of all garbage, including weeds and other objects lying around the main area of the island.
- Grows Your Customer Base. ...
- Helps You Rank On Local Searches. ...
- Ask When They're Happiest. ...
- Express Your Intention. ...
- Showcase Your 5 Star Reviews. ...
- Respond To Customer Feedback. ...
- Engage in Online Conversations. ...
- Increase Your Average Review Rating.
According to research by Northwestern, purchases are most influenced by reviews with an average rating of 4.2 to 4.5 stars out of 5 — making this the ideal average star rating for purchase probability. “Consumers perceive ratings closer to a perfect 5 stars as too good to be true,” the report suggests.
How do I ask someone to rate me on Marketplace? ›- Tap in the top right of Facebook.
- Tap . If you don't see tap See more.
- Tap , then tap Commerce profile.
- Scroll down and tap Request ratings.
- Find the buyer you want to request a review from, then tap Send request.
Seller reviews can be seen in a seller's commerce profile and in the individual listing to which they relate.
How do I avoid fake buyers on the Marketplace? ›Double-check deals that seem too good to be true. Scammers may try to use underpriced items to lure buyers into a scam. Do not send deposits for high value items (apartments, cars, etc.) without confirming that they're real first.
What is a good seller rating? ›
Amazon has previously advised that the best sellers average 0% negative feedback. However, anything between 0% and 2% is considered "great." Anything greater than 5% is a cause for concern. Feedback Rating: The feedback rating is what most sellers think of when discussing customer ratings.
What percentage do you want to keep your seller feedback score? ›Your Seller Feedback Score is simply the percentage of positive feedback you have received over a specific period of time. Amazon does not specifically state what they consider to be a good seller feedback score, but aiming for a positive rating of 95% or higher over the last 12 months is industry standard.
How can you tell fake ratings? ›- Don't rely on star ratings alone. ...
- Watch out for red flags. ...
- See if the reviewer is legit. ...
- Check for a burst of reviews during a short time span. ...
- Look out for fake negative reviews, too. ...
- Read independent product reviews from established sources.
Despite all of the different tools Google provides, there are three key extensions that every marketer should consider in order to enhance their text ads. These extensions include: sitelinks, callout extensions, and structured snippets.
What are two benefits of using automated bidding? ›Increase site visits. Maximize clicks automatically sets your bids to help get as many clicks as possible within your budget. Maximize clicks is available as either a standard strategy in a single campaign or portfolio bid strategy across multiple campaigns. Increase visibility.
What are two other benefits that search ad extensions can contribute to performance? ›- Add extra information to an ad, such as a special promotion or lead form.
- Stand out from competitors and take up more space on the search engine results page.
- Increase clicks and your click-through (CTR) to your website.
Google recommends creating the maximum number, which is four.
Do ad extensions cost money? ›There's no cost to add extensions to your campaign.
How many ad extensions can you have? ›the individual price extension that you list for each product or service on your ad extension. You can add up to eight for a single ad. Google recommends using at least three.
How do I report a fake Google review to my business? ›Business owners
Sign into your Google account and go to Manage Your Business Profile. Open the profile you'd like to manage and, on the left-hand menu, click Reviews. Locate the posted review and click Flag as inappropriate.
How do I remove ratings from my page? ›
Scroll to the 'Reviews' tab, and select 'Settings'. Finally, navigate to 'Show Reviews' towards the right, and a slider will be visible. Click to disable the reviews, and proceed to 'Save' the changes. Now, customer reviews and negative feedback will no longer be visible on your Facebook page.
How do I get rid of a 1 star review? ›In the top left, click Menu. Then click “Your contributions” and choose “Reviews.” Next to the review you want to edit or delete, click “More.” Choose an option and follow the instructions.
How long do star ratings last? ›STARS reports and ratings are valid for three years.
How does Google calculate star rating? ›Star ratings on Google are powered by consumer reviews from different properties, and Google uses an algorithm and an average to determine how many stars are displayed. These ratings appear on a scale of 1 to 5 stars.
What is the best star rating? ›What do the stars mean? The labels on televisions, computer monitors, refrigerators, air conditioners, dishwashers, washing machines and dryers, can show a maximum of ten stars. That is, the least efficient models have one star while the most efficient models can have up to ten stars.
How do I get 100% Google reviews? ›- First, know the process. ...
- Create a Google review link shortcut. ...
- Shorten your review shortcut. ...
- Link out to your Google reviews page from your website. ...
- Create a Google reviews page on your website. ...
- Include a Google review CTA in your footer. ...
- Create “leave us a review” cards.
First, ask your customer to rate your business privately. If they give you a 5-star rating, then encourage them to write a review. But if they give you a bad rating, ask what you could do better, fix any problems they might have, and go the extra mile to make your customers happy. Then encourage a review.
Why can't I rate a seller on Marketplace? ›You'll only see the Rate seller option once you've bought something from a seller or had a conversation with them.
How do I change permissions on Google Ads? ›- Sign in to your Google Ads account.
- In the upper right corner of your account, click the tools icon. ...
- Place your cursor over a user's access level in the "Access level" column, then click the arrow that appears to select a new access level for the user.
Seller ratings are an account level automated asset type that showcase advertisers with high ratings. Seller ratings help people find businesses that offer quality services. Seller ratings can help advertisers improve ad performance and earn more qualified leads.
Can you see seller ratings on Marketplace? ›
Seller reviews can be seen in a seller's commerce profile and in the individual listing to which they relate.
How do I sell on the Marketplace without getting scammed? ›Don't trust a payment receipt provided by the buyer
If you're selling an item, you should work with a common online payment system like PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle. And if you're new to online payments, don't accept the word of the buyer that they've made the payment (or an image of a receipt they've texted to you).
You cannot change your campaign to a new campaign type once it's been created. If you want to adjust where your ads can appear, create a new campaign using a different campaign type. For Search, Video, and Shopping campaigns, change your campaign's "Networks" settings, which also affects where your ad can appear.
Can you control Google Ads? ›Open Settings. Tap Privacy > Advanced > Ads. Turn on Opt out of Ads Personalization and confirm your changes.
Is selling Google reviews illegal? ›Buying Google reviews is against Google's policy and is illegal according to rules set by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Do Google Ads increase sales? ›Optimizing your Google Ads campaigns can help you boost your sales without going over your ad-spend budget. This is something that a lot of paid marketers struggle with.
How do I see my own Marketplace ratings? ›- In your developer account, navigate to App Marketplace > Listings.
- Next to your app, click the More dropdown menu and select View listing details.
- Navigate to the Ratings & Reviews tab.
To share your feedback and help other people on Marketplace, you can rate buyers and sellers you've interacted with using our 5-star rating system.
Where can I see my Marketplace rating? ›It's easy to check your Facebook Marketplace rating. You must log into your Facebook account and go to your “Activity” page. You'll see your ratings from other buyers and sellers on this page. You can also see the ratings other buyers and sellers give you.