Google Tightens Requirements for Merchant Center Store Ratings

Google has updated its requirements for Google Store ratings in the Merchant Center. The new section outlines three key factors to qualify for the rating: at least 100 eligible reviews, an average star rating of 3.5-5, and a 24-hour timeframe.

The update also notes that store ratings are geo-segmented, meaning they are calculated separately for each country rather than aggregated globally. This means that customer reviews from specific regions will only contribute to the rating badge and ad visibility in that same region.

According to Google's algorithms, hitting 100 verified post-purchase reviews is the standard qualifying benchmark. If a merchant's average score dips below 3.5 out of 5 stars, the star rating assets will automatically cease displaying alongside ads until performance improves.