Google Showing Stars for 3/4 Reviews

[Eric Marshall]

Just noticed Google showing review stars for GMB listings with 3 and 4 reviews stars in both the 3-pack and the local finder. Anybody else seeing this?

 

[Linda Buquet]

Nice catch Eric!

 

[AndySimpson]

Just spotted it last night Eric when I was just explaining to a client that they needed 5 reviews to see the stars...nearly fell off my chair when I saw it!

https://www.screencast.com/t/0U6oop6G

Cheers

 

[Eric Marshall]

Haha...that's unfortunate timing

 

[AndySimpson]

lol...tell me about it!

 

[JoyHawkins]

I just did a couple random searches and yep I'm seeing the stars for businesses with less than 5 reviews as well.

 

[JoyHawkins]

From what I'm seeing, 3 is the new 5. Anyone with 1 or 2 reviews isn't showing the stars. Can you guys confirm that is what you're seeing too?

 

[Colan Nielsen]

Yes, looks like 3 is the new 5. Although I came across an exception where a 3 star had no stars. All 3 reviews were one stars so I am wondering if that's why the stars aren't showing?

 

[Eric Marshall]

Yep, 3 seems to be the new 5 from what I'm seeing.

 

[BaggySEO]

It appears to be showing for 1 and 2 reviews on some businesses here in the UK


That said, it's not doing it for all:



My query was 'Digital marketing agency Cornwall'. Rather confusing!

 

[JoyHawkins]

Now I'm wondering if the age of the reviews might factor into it if there is less than 3. For the 2 you showed with stars, they both had reviews over 2 years old. Wolf Rock did not. However, that theory doesn't hold up with this business who has a 5-year old review:

 

[Rich Owings]

I'm seeing star icons show up for lots of businesses with two reviews now.

 

[Eric Marshall]

I'm also seeing stars for 2-reviews...with the reviews being as recent as 7 months.

 

[Robin]

I'm seeing stars on this listing with only 1 review!

 

[Linda Buquet]

Got a reply from Google. Not a bug or anything. Intended update.

Now everyone gets stars.

 

[MizMolly]

Yes - I can see stars for businesses with one x 5 star review, in very small towns here in Australia.

 

[Robin]

I present you with: 0 reviews, 5 stars:

 

[JoyHawkins]

Wow Robin, yours wins for most bizarre. I'm going to add that to an ongoing thread I have going on with Google to see if they can give me an explanation.

 

[JoshuaMackens]

Wow Robin, yours wins for most bizarre. I'm going to add that to an ongoing thread I have going on with Google to see if they can give me an explanation.

Has to be a "soft score" from the other reviews tied to the Knowledge Card, right?