Google adds requirement for review comments and author names in rating systems
Search giant updates review snippet guidelines to mandate written feedback and attribution for improving user context.
Three days ago, on January 15, 2025, Google announced significant changes to their review snippet documentation, introducing a new recommendation that aims to enhance the quality and reliability of user reviews across the web. According to the latest documentation update from Google Search Central, websites implementing review systems should now require both written comments and author identification for all ratings.
The modification reflects Google's continued emphasis on content quality and user experience. According to the documentation, this change specifically targets the review snippet feature, which displays star ratings and review excerpts in search results and Google Knowledge Panels.
The technical implementation requires websites to adjust their review collection systems. The documentation indicates that while this remains a recommendation rather than a mandatory requirement, following this practice can significantly improve the context provided to users when making decisions based on reviews.
Google's documentation explains that this approach serves multiple purposes. First, it helps users understand the reasoning behind numerical ratings through accompanying textual explanations. Second, the inclusion of author names adds a layer of accountability to the review process, potentially deterring fraudulent or low-quality submissions.
For developers and website owners, this update necessitates potential modifications to their existing review systems. According to the technical guidelines, sites need to implement both schema.org markup for structured data and user interface elements that capture these additional review components.
The documentation provides specific implementation details for various content types, including products, services, recipes, books, and local businesses. For example, when using JSON-LD structured data, developers must include both the author property and reviewBody fields in their markup.
Luís Rijo
The timing of this announcement aligns with broader industry trends toward more transparent and detailed user feedback systems. According to the documentation, Google has observed that reviews accompanied by detailed comments and author attribution tend to provide more valuable information to users making decisions based on online reviews.
This update follows several other significant changes to Google's review documentation throughout 2024. The documentation indicates that these modifications form part of a broader strategy to improve the quality of review content across the search ecosystem.
For website operators, the implementation process involves several technical considerations. The documentation specifies that review systems should:
- Require a minimum character count for review comments
- Implement author name validation
- Include timestamp information for each review
- Maintain proper structured data markup
- Ensure review content remains visible on the page
The documentation emphasizes the importance of maintaining existing technical requirements while implementing these new recommendations. This includes proper implementation of schema.org markup, adherence to content guidelines, and compliance with Google's structured data specifications.
From a technical perspective, the guidelines specify that reviews should continue using the Review or AggregateRating schema types, with additional emphasis on populating the author and reviewBody fields. The documentation provides example code snippets demonstrating proper implementation of these elements.
The impact of this change extends beyond simple rating systems. According to the documentation, this update affects how review snippets appear in search results, potentially influencing click-through rates and user engagement with reviewed content.
For businesses and website owners, the documentation suggests conducting a thorough audit of existing review systems to ensure alignment with these new recommendations. This includes reviewing current review collection processes, updating structured data implementation, and potentially modifying user interfaces to accommodate these additional requirements.
Google's documentation indicates that while these changes take effect immediately, existing review snippets will continue to function. However, implementing these recommendations may improve the likelihood of review snippets appearing in search results and provide better user experience for visitors.
The documentation also addresses technical implementation challenges, providing guidance for common scenarios such as legacy review systems, mobile interfaces, and international websites. These guidelines ensure consistent application of the new recommendations across various platforms and use cases.