Google Seller Ratings ‘To Affect Online Shopping Experience’

by Lucy Griffiths on 12th July 2010

The online shopping experience is to be affected by Google’s recent introduction of seller ratings on its search engine results pages, it has been suggested.

According to Paul Burani, a columnist for Search Engine Watch, the system works by listing previous customers’ satisfaction with a particular business on a one to five scale.

He told companies employing SEO services that the changes should encourage businesses to adhere to Google’s best practice guidelines so they can achieve better returns on investment, as well as ensuring they work hard on improving the customer experience.

"They also allow Google’s engineers to better understand search behaviour and adapt the search algorithm accordingly," Mr Burani added.

Earlier this month, the Herald reported that Google is attempting to get 100,000 more British businesses to go online.

Matt Brittin, UK managing director for the search engine giant, said that those without a website were missing out on profiting from the increasing number of consumers using the internet to make purchases.