TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Organic stars, also known as rich snippets, are valuable elements that can enhance your website's visibility and credibility in search engine results. In this article, we will explore the two best integration methods that aid in generating Google Stars and provide Search Engine Optimization (SEO) benefits: On-Page Reviews Integration and Reviews API.
On-Page Reviews Integration
The On-Page Reviews Integration, also known as Full Integration, is a seamless method provided by Feefo where all the necessary mark-up is already included. With this integration, there is nothing additional to add or configure. Feefo has taken care of all the required mark-up, ensuring that Google can interpret the content and generate rich snippets, including stars, to associate with organic or natural search engine results.
Reviews API
For those seeking more customisation, the Reviews API offers a Customised Integration option. With the Reviews API, structured data needs to be added to mark-up the content effectively. This additional mark-up helps Google gain a better understanding of the content's context, leading to more accurate search results and broader distribution of the content to users. Proper mark-up can make the content eligible for inclusion in 'rich cards' and 'rich snippets,' enabling users to engage directly with your content from the search results.
It is essential to note that as of now, only Product mark-up, particularly 'AggregateRating,' can achieve Gold star ratings in search engine results pages.
Take a look at our 'How Do I Get Organic Stars?' article for our recommendations on schema mark-up.
Getting Organic Stars
After implementing the necessary mark-up, your website needs to be fully indexed by Google for the organic stars to appear. The stars are generated by rich snippets, which are displayed in the search results. However, it is important to understand that displaying stars is at the discretion of Google. To increase the chances of success, it is crucial to test all the mark-up for correctness using Google's Rich Results Test Tool, accessible at https://search.google.com/test/rich-results.
Even if the mark-up passes the structured data tester successfully, the page may still not be eligible for stars if some parameters are missing or not properly configured. For additional mark-up advice from Google, please refer to https://developers.google.com/search/docs/guides/intro-structured-data or check out our article addressing possible issues.
Conclusion
By employing the On-Page Reviews Integration or the Reviews API, and implementing the correct schema mark-up, you can optimise your website for organic stars, providing an enhanced user experience and improving your overall search engine visibility. For further support or guidance, feel free to reach out to our expert support team at Feefo.