July 2022 Google Product Reviews Update: Rollout & Analysis

← Google Updates

Published: Last updated:

The fourth Google product reviews update ran July 27 to August 2, 2022, finishing in six days against Google's 2-3 week estimate, and data providers measured very little ranking volatility.

Where this update falls among the 55 Google updates of the last 10 years. Hover any dot to identify it.
20162017201820192020202120222023202420252026This update, 27th Jul 2022

Google released the July 2022 product reviews update on July 27, 2022, the fourth in the series after the April 2021, December 2021 and March 2022 releases. It again applied to English-language product reviews, with more languages promised for the future, and Google said the rollout would take 2-3 weeks. Instead, it was marked complete as of August 2, 2022, just six days in.

It was also unusually quiet. In Search Engine Land's roundup of data providers, Semrush called the update "incredibly mild" compared with the March 2022 version, RankRanger saw nothing unusual in rank or traffic data, and Sistrix concluded it "did not have a major impact on SERPs". The same report carried an important caveat: aggregate calm still included individual sites with severe swings, some reporting traffic changes of up to 80%.

The target profile was unchanged from earlier reviews updates: promote reviews built on insightful analysis, original research and demonstrated hands-on experience, ahead of templated rewrites of manufacturer specifications. Review sites that lost ground were advised to benchmark their content against that standard, showing first-hand use, unique information beyond the spec sheet, and honest comparisons, before the next reviews update came around.

Rollout log

  • The fourth product reviews update begins for English-language reviews; Google estimates 2-3 weeks.

  • Google records the rollout as complete after just six days.

  • Search Engine Land's data-provider roundup reports very little ranking volatility from the update.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

When did the July 2022 product reviews update start and finish?

It started July 27, 2022 and Google marked it complete as of August 2, 2022, a six-day rollout despite Google's initial estimate of 2-3 weeks.

How big was the July 2022 product reviews update?

Very small in aggregate: Semrush called it "incredibly mild", and RankRanger and Sistrix saw little movement. Individual sites could still be hit hard, with some reporting traffic changes of up to 80%.

What does a product reviews update reward?

Review content that goes beyond templated manufacturer information: insightful analysis, original research, evidence of actually using the product, and comparisons written by people who know the category well.

Spotted a change we have not covered? Ranking volatility, a new SERP test, a platform change: email us a tip and we will credit you if we cover it.
Cite this page: Keywords Everywhere, "July 2022 Google Product Reviews Update: Rollout & Analysis", last updated 2nd Aug 2022, https://keywordseverywhere.com/news/google-algorithm-updates/july-2022-product-reviews-update/