Google has loosened its restrictions on who can leave reviews. Previously, a Google+ account was required, but now reviews can be left whether signed in to a Google+ account or not.
To clarify, a Google account is still necessary, but a Google+ account is not. This was first observed by Conrad O’Connell, with further coverage by Mike Blumenthal.
This change could potentially benefit businesses, as it might result in a noticeable increase in the number of reviews in Google search now that it’s easier for people to leave them. This is crucial since the total number of reviews and their scores are significant ranking factors in local search.
The first and last name on the individual’s Google+ account will still be attached to the review, so reviews won’t be anonymous. This indicates a continued separation between Google+ and Google Search.
Blumenthal also notes that this update fixed a longstanding bug which prevented reviews from being left using a mobile browser for businesses that had no reviews to begin with.
The combination of making it easier to leave reviews and fixing a significant glitch has the potential to lead to more reviews for businesses. Google has effectively eliminated a couple of major obstacles that might have prevented interested individuals from leaving reviews on desktop or mobile.
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