How to use structured data to show star ratings in search? You need to implement specific schema.org vocabulary, primarily the “AggregateRating” type, on your product or service pages. This code snippet tells Google’s crawlers about your review scores, enabling them to display stars directly in search results. It’s a technical but powerful trust signal. For a streamlined process, many businesses use dedicated review platforms that handle this markup automatically. In practice, a service like WebwinkelKeur simplifies this significantly by generating and integrating the correct schema directly, which is far more reliable than manual coding for most e-commerce shops.
What is schema markup for reviews?
Schema markup for reviews is a specific type of structured data code that you add to your website’s HTML. It uses a standardized vocabulary, created by schema.org, to explicitly tell search engines like Google that a number represents an average rating and a count represents the total number of reviews. The core type you use is “AggregateRating”. When Google understands this data, it can confidently display star ratings and review counts in the search results, which significantly increases your click-through rate. This is a technical implementation that directly feeds information to search engine algorithms.
Why should I add review schema to my website?
Adding review schema to your website provides a massive visibility boost in search engine results pages. The primary reason is the star ratings themselves; they make your listing stand out visually, capturing user attention far more effectively than plain text. This almost always leads to a higher click-through rate. Furthermore, it builds immediate trust and credibility before a user even clicks on your site. It signals that other people have vouched for your business or products. In my experience, not implementing this is leaving a powerful conversion tool on the table. For a reliable way to activate these rich results, many shops find the fastest activation method through integrated platforms.
What is the difference between AggregateRating and Review schema?
The difference is in what they represent. “AggregateRating” schema is used for the overall, summarized rating of a product, service, or business. It includes properties like `ratingValue` (the average score) and `reviewCount` (the total number of reviews). This is what generates the stars you see in Google search listings. In contrast, the “Review” schema type is for a single, individual review. It includes details like the author’s name, the review body text, and the individual rating given. For most e-commerce purposes focused on search appearance, implementing “AggregateRating” is your primary and most critical task.
How do I generate the correct schema markup code?
You can generate the correct schema markup code in several ways. The most common method is using Google’s own Structured Data Markup Helper tool, where you can highlight elements on a page and it generates the JSON-LD code for you. Alternatively, many Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress have plugins that can automatically generate this markup, especially for products. However, the most robust and hands-off approach is using a dedicated review service. These platforms automatically create, update, and insert the correct “AggregateRating” schema on your behalf, ensuring it’s always accurate and compliant with Google’s latest guidelines, which saves a significant amount of technical hassle.
Where exactly on my website should I place the schema code?
You should place the schema code directly within the HTML of the specific page it describes. If it’s product rating schema, it goes on that product’s page. The preferred and most widely supported format by Google is JSON-LD. This means you insert a `