{"id":11246,"date":"2022-02-09T03:27:05","date_gmt":"2022-02-09T03:27:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/02\/09\/google-recommends-original-photos-for-product-reviews\/"},"modified":"2022-02-09T03:27:05","modified_gmt":"2022-02-09T03:27:05","slug":"google-recommends-original-photos-for-product-reviews","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/02\/09\/google-recommends-original-photos-for-product-reviews\/","title":{"rendered":"Google Recommends Original Photos For Product Reviews"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Google\u2019s Search Advocate John Mueller recommends using original photos when publishing product reviews in order to benefit from the algorithm update that rewards in-depth research.<\/p>\n

This is stated during the Google Search Central SEO office-hours hangout recorded on February 4.<\/p>\n

A website owner joins the livestream to ask Mueller about best practices for using images in product reviews.<\/p>\n

He asks if editing existing photos found elsewhere on the web would be enough for Google to consider them unique content.<\/p>\n

Or would it be better for the site owner to use original photos he\u2019s taken himself?<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s Mueller\u2019s response.\n<\/p>\n

Google\u2019s Recommendations For Images In Product Reviews<\/h2>\n

Google rolled out an algorithm update last year that\u2019s designed to reward product reviews with in-depth, first-hand research.<\/p>\n

To benefit from the algorithm update, Google recommends providing unique content beyond what is available from the manufacturer.<\/p>\n

So the question is whether editing existing photos are enough to make them unique, or if Google wants to see original photos.<\/p>\n

Mueller says \u201cunique\u201d refers to photos you\u2019ve taken yourself, not artificially enhanced photos.<\/p>\n

While Google\u2019s algorithm can\u2019t automatically distinguish between original and edited photos, this is something Google\u2019s Quality Rater team will look for when doing a manual review.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI think the guidelines that we have for reviews, or the recommendations that we have, should really be focused on unique photos that you create of these products, so not artificial review photos.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t think our systems would automatically recognize that, but but it\u2019s probably something that we would look at, at least on a manual basis, from time to time.<\/p>\n

So looking at the recommendations that we have, with regards to reviews, it feels like it\u2019s not really in line with what we\u2019re trying to do there, where we\u2019re trying to really bubble up reviews, where we can tell that someone is actually testing this product in real life.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

For clarification, the website owner follows up by asking if the best option is to go with original studio photos.<\/p>\n

Mueller says:<\/p>\n

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\u201cI think that would be ideal.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The overarching goal of Google\u2019s product review algorithm update is to boost content written by people who have personally tested what they\u2019re reviewing.<\/p>\n

One way an author can prove they\u2019ve personally tested a product is to take their own photos of it.<\/p>\n

That doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s impossible to rank with stock photos.<\/p>\n

In fact, since Google\u2019s algorithm can\u2019t tell the difference between original and edited photos, you may come across sites ranking quite well with images from the product manufacturer.<\/p>\n

However, that doesn\u2019t mean you should follow their lead.<\/p>\n

When Google\u2019s Quality Rater team, which consists of real people, goes in and evaluates product review search results they\u2019ll notice which websites use their own photos.<\/p>\n

Before long youmay not see the sites with stock photos ranking in the same positions they used to, while the websites with original photos get a boost.<\/p>\n

Hear Mueller\u2019s full response in the video below:<\/p>\n