The Google product reviews update of March 2022 was the third product reviews update. It started on 23 March 2022 and Google confirmed it complete on 11 April 2022. Its distinguishing feature was new ranking criteria covering three formats, single-product reviews, ranked lists and comparison reviews, with a clear push for evidence of use, information beyond the manufacturer’s and coverage of comparable products.
Each reviews update has its own page in my full list of Google algorithm updates.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Update name | Google Product Reviews Update (March 2022) |
| Type | Product reviews update (third in the series) |
| Rollout started | 23 March 2022 (around 12pm ET) |
| Rollout finished | 11 April 2022 |
| Rollout length | About 19 days by the announcements; Google’s ranking updates history lists 14 days |
| Confirmed by Google | Yes, announced at launch and confirmed complete on 11 April 2022 |
| Official source | Search Engine Land: March 2022 product reviews update with additional ranking criteria |
What the March 2022 product reviews update changed
The first two reviews updates (April 2021 and December 2021) established the idea and added guidance on hands-on evidence and multiple sellers. The March 2022 version went further and spelt out criteria by format. It applied to English-language reviews, with other languages promised later.
The three formats it explicitly covered:
- Single-product reviews: one product reviewed in depth.
- Ranked lists: “best” lists that order several products, such as “best running shoes for flat feet”.
- Comparison reviews: head-to-head or multi-product comparisons, such as “Product A vs Product B”.
The new criteria Google highlighted were:
- Show you used the product. Provide evidence that demonstrates real use, rather than describing what anyone could read on the box.
- Provide unique information beyond the manufacturer’s. Add something the product page does not tell the buyer.
- Cover comparable products. Help the reader understand how the product compares with alternatives, and why a choice might suit one buyer better than another.
Ranked lists were the format most exposed. A typical “top 10” list built from specification tables and a paragraph per product, with no testing and no explanation of the ranking order, sits directly against these criteria.
Timeline
| Version | Dates | What was new |
|---|---|---|
| First | April 2021 | Introduced the reviews system for insightful, first-hand reviews |
| Second | 1 to 21 December 2021 | Guidance on visual or audio evidence and links to multiple sellers |
| Third (this one) | 23 March to 11 April 2022 | Criteria for single reviews, ranked lists and comparisons; unique information; comparable products |
Google said at launch that the update would roll out “over the next few weeks”, and on 11 April 2022 confirmed: “The Google product review update is fully rolled out. Thank you!” Note the duration discrepancy: the announcements suggest about 19 days, while Google’s own ranking updates history lists 14 days. I use the announced dates for diagnosis.
Who was affected
Review and affiliate publishers reported large swings. Semrush later described the July 2022 reviews update as mild by comparison, which suggests this March update was the bigger of the two. As always, these are industry observations. Sites that relied on ranked lists without testing were, by most accounts, the ones that felt it most.
How to tell if the March 2022 product reviews update hit your site
The most useful angle for this version is to split your review content by format, because the criteria were format-specific.
- Tag pages by format. Export your review URLs from Search Console and label each as single review, ranked list or comparison.
- Compare windows. Use 9 to 22 March 2022 against 12 to 25 April 2022. Look at clicks, impressions and average position per format.
- See which format fell. If ranked lists dropped and single reviews held, the gap is probably in how you justify rankings and compare products. If single reviews fell, look at evidence of use and unique information.
- Check non-review pages. If they moved too, look for another cause. The desktop page experience update finished on 3 March, and the May 2022 core update did not start until 25 May, so late March to mid April is relatively clean for review content.
- Read the new winners. For the lists that lost, look at what the pages above you show: test methodology, photos from testing, clear “best for” reasons.
How to recover from the March 2022 product reviews update
Use Google’s criteria as a checklist, applied by format.
Single-product reviews
- Add original images and test results that prove you used the product.
- State benefits and drawbacks honestly, based on your use.
- Include something the manufacturer does not say: longevity, quirks, what it is like after a month.
Ranked lists
- Explain why each product is on the list and why it sits in that position, not just repeat specifications.
- Describe your selection and testing process briefly near the top.
- Give each pick a clear “best for” reason tied to a buyer need.
- Cut list length if you have not tested every item; ten untested picks are weaker than five tested ones.
Comparison reviews
- Compare on the factors buyers actually decide on, with your own measurements where possible.
- End with a clear recommendation for different types of buyer.
| Criterion | Quick self-check |
|---|---|
| Evidence of use | Is there at least one original photo or result per product? |
| Unique information | Does each section say something not on the manufacturer’s page? |
| Comparable products | Does the reader learn how this product differs from the alternatives? |
| Ranking logic | Could a reader explain why #1 beats #2 after reading? |
Reviews content is re-evaluated at the next reviews update, so expect to wait. For comparison tables, heading structure and internal linking between related reviews, see my on-page optimisation services; if you run a shop with buying guides, my ecommerce SEO services apply the same principles.
Is it still relevant today?
Yes, in substance. Later reviews updates expanded the system and Google eventually folded reviews evaluation into its ongoing systems, but the criteria introduced in March 2022, showing use, adding unique information and covering alternatives, remain the backbone of Google’s advice on writing reviews. Ranked lists without testing are still the format I see struggle most.
Frequently asked questions
When did the March 2022 product reviews update roll out?
It started on 23 March 2022 and Google confirmed it complete on 11 April 2022.
What was different about the March 2022 product reviews update?
It added criteria for single-product reviews, ranked lists and comparison reviews, asking for evidence of use, unique information beyond the manufacturer’s and coverage of comparable products.
Did the March 2022 update affect reviews in other languages?
No. It applied to English-language reviews, with Google saying other languages would come later.
Why does Google list the March 2022 reviews update as 14 days?
Google’s ranking updates history lists 14 days, while the start and completion announcements are about 19 days apart. The record does not explain the difference.
Sources
- Search Engine Land: March 2022 product reviews update released
- Search Engine Land: March 2022 product reviews update finished
- Keywords Everywhere: March 2022 product reviews update
If your ranked lists or comparisons dropped in spring 2022, or after a later reviews change, I can review them format by format. Request a free audit, or read about my SEO audit services.
More Google algorithm updates
- Previous update: Page Experience Update (Desktop) (22 Feb 2022)
- Next update: May 2022 Core Update (25 May 2022)
Other reviews updates:
- Product Reviews Update (December 2021) (1 Dec 2021)
- Product Reviews Update (April 2021) (8 Apr 2021)
- Product Reviews Update (July 2022) (27 Jul 2022)
- Product Reviews Update (September 2022) (20 Sep 2022)