How to Get Star Ratings in Google Search Results

Have you ever noticed that some websites in Google search results have star ratings under their listings and wondered how they got there?

Those eye-catching stars don’t show up by accident. They result from structured data (schema markup) and solid review strategies. And they matter—a lot. Star ratings instantly boost your credibility, help your results stand out, and can significantly increase click-through rates.

An essential component of this strategy is utilizing free listings, which allow sellers to showcase their products without incurring costs. Participating in free listings requires meeting specific criteria and can help gain visibility alongside paid ads, making it easier for star ratings to appear.

The good news? You don’t need a developer or SEO expert to make it happen. In this blog, we’ll explain how to get star ratings to appear under your Google search listings step-by-step, without the tech being overwhelmed.

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Understand Where Star Ratings Appear

• Google Ads (paid listings)
• Google Business Profile (local pack)
• Organic search results (rich snippets)
• Quick visual examples of each
• Star ratings can significantly improve local search ranking. Google confirms that higher star ratings and increased customer reviews enhance a business’s local ranking. This is crucial for local businesses aiming to outperform competitors in search results.

How to Get Star Ratings in Google Search Results

1. Use Review or Rating Schema Markup

You need one essential ingredient: schema markup to get star ratings to show in Google’s organic search results.

Schema markup is structured data that tells Google exactly what’s on your page. When used correctly, it enables Google to display rich snippets—including valuable star ratings—under your listing.

Here’s how to use it effectively:

Numerous free schema code examples are available to assist businesses in implementing schema markup correctly. These resources are crucial for enhancing visibility and reputation in search results.

2. Choose the Right Schema Type

Google only shows star ratings for specific content types. The most common ones include:

• Product – for physical or digital products
• Service – for business or professional services
• Course – for educational programs
• Software Application – for apps and tools
• LocalBusiness – for location-based services

Implementing Google review schema is crucial for displaying star ratings in search results, which can attract more visitors by showcasing clear ratings and reviews.

Avoid using review markup on pages where it doesn’t belong (like blog posts or homepages)—this could lead to penalties or your stars getting removed.

Use a Plugin or Tool if You’re Not a Coder

If you’re using WordPress or Shopify, there are schema plugins like:

• Rank Math
• Schema Pro
• WP Review

These tools make it easy to add structured data without touching code.

3. Choose the Right Pages for Star Ratings

Not every page on your website is eligible—or appropriate—for showing star ratings in Google search. Choosing the right pages is critical to earning and keeping your rich snippets visible. Review ratings play a crucial role in determining the eligibility of pages for star ratings, as they are influenced by user feedback and affect the calculation of the average score.

Here’s how to pick the best ones:

Focus on Review-Driven Content

Star ratings typically appear in search results for pages with structured review data that qualify under Google’s guidelines. Ideal pages include:

• Product pages – selling physical or digital goods
• Service pages – detailing specific offerings like “Facial Treatments” or “SEO Services”
• Course listings – if you’re offering training or education
• Local business location pages – especially with customer testimonials or ratings
• Software or app pages – with public user reviews

Avoid Non-Eligible Pages

Pages like blog posts, general homepages, or landing pages without visible reviews usually won’t qualify—and misusing schema on these pages could get your rich snippets removed entirely.

Make Sure Reviews Are Displayed on the Page

Google requires that any structured data you use (like ratings or reviews) reflect content visible to users. No display = no stars.

Your schema markup must match the content on the page. If your structured data says you have 200 five-star reviews, your page should show that somewhere—clearly and honestly.

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4. Collect and Display Legitimate Reviews

You can’t get star ratings in search results without actual reviews—and Google’s smarter than ever at spotting fake or manipulated feedback. A higher Google review count, along with star ratings, plays a significant role in enhancing a business’s visibility and credibility, ultimately encouraging more clicks and engagement from potential customers.

If you want your stars to stick, the reviews must be real, relevant, and visible on the page where you’re using schema markup.

Here’s how to do it right:

• Ask at the right moment: Request reviews after a customer has had a positive experience—like a successful purchase, project, or support interaction.
• Use trusted review tools or platforms: Google, Facebook, Trustpilot, or your own website’s review system. As long as they’re authentic and verifiable, they count.
• Show reviews directly on the page: If your schema says there are 4.9 stars from 87 reviews, that data should be visible to site visitors.
• Highlight both ratings and written feedback: The more detail the better. Short, one-word reviews aren’t as valuable—for users or for search engines.
• Keep reviews fresh: Outdated or stagnant feedback will not help you much. Request and publish new reviews regularly to show that your business is active and trustworthy.

Never fake reviews, copy-paste feedback across multiple pages, or inflate numbers. Google may ignore your markup—or worse, penalize your site.

5. Use a Plugin or Tool (for Non-Coders)

Don’t know how to write code? No problem. You can still add the necessary schema markup to your site using simple plugins or tools—no developer needed.

These tools make it easy to implement structured data (including star ratings) without touching a single line of code. Structured data markup is crucial for enhancing your website’s visibility and presentation in search results, as it helps display star ratings and other valuable information.

Best Plugins for WordPress:

1. Rank Math – SEO plugin with built-in schema support for products, services, and reviews.
2. Schema Pro – User-friendly and powerful, lets you add rich snippets to any page or post.
3. WP Review – Great for adding customer reviews and star ratings directly to your pages.

For Shopify, Wix, and Others: Enhance your eCommerce platform with WiserNotify’s social proof and FOMO marketing solutions to boost sales and build customer trust.

1. Shopify – Use apps like Judge.me, Stamped.io, or Product Reviews for schema integration.
2. Wix – Built-in SEO tools now support structured data for certain content types, or use Velo for more control.

Key Features to Look For:

• Easy schema setup with dropdowns and checkboxes.
• Custom review and rating fields.
• Integration with Google Rich Results testing tools.

Once installed, always test your pages with Google’s Rich Results Test to confirm your schema is valid and eligible for star ratings.

6. Follow Google’s Guidelines (Avoid Penalties)

Adding review schema to your site can boost visibility, but it only works if you follow Google’s rules. If you try to manipulate the system, your stars can be removed—or worse, your site could face ranking penalties. The review score factor is crucial in maintaining the integrity of star ratings, as accurate and honest scores help build trust and credibility.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Only add schema to relevant pages. Don’t add review markup to your homepage or general contact page. It should go on specific pages that actually contain review or rating content—like a product, service, or blog post with real feedback.
• Use accurate ratings. Don’t fake 5-star ratings or inflate numbers. Google wants real user-generated data, and misleading info can get your rich snippets removed.
• No self-serving reviews. You can’t mark up reviews that you wrote yourself or embedded from other sites unless the review data is also hosted and visible on your own site.
• Don’t use structured data on every page. Overusing schema across unrelated pages won’t help—it may get flagged as spammy.

Always test your markup using Google’s Rich Results Test to ensure it’s valid.

Following these guidelines keeps your site eligible for star ratings while staying safe from ranking drops or visibility issues.

7. Optimize Your Google Business Profile (Local SEO)

If you’re a local business, the fastest and most visible way to get star ratings in Google search results is through your Google Business Profile (GBP). These star ratings appear in the “local pack” and Google Maps, not just on your website listings. Star ratings significantly influence your ranking in local search results, making maintaining an optimized Google Business Profile crucial.

Here’s how to make your profile work harder for you:

1. Claim and Complete Your Profile

• Make sure your business is verified.
• Add accurate business info: name, address, phone, website, hours, and service areas.
• Upload high-quality photos to make your listing more attractive.
• Actively collect Google Business Reviews to enhance your profile’s visibility and credibility. These reviews can significantly increase customer feedback and contribute to overall business growth.

2. Ask Happy Customers to Leave Reviews

• Send them the direct review link from your GBP dashboard.
• Include it in emails, texts, receipts, or thank-you messages.
• Ask shortly after a service or sale—when their experience is fresh.
• Emphasize the importance of collecting more reviews to maintain a high review count and visibility.

3. Respond to Every Review

• Thank positive reviewers and address any concerns in negative ones.
• Engagement shows professionalism and builds trust with future customers.
• Google review stars are crucial for online reputation management and improving visibility. High star ratings can differentiate your business in competitive markets, enhance credibility, and drive customer engagement, leading to higher conversion rates and revenue.

4. Keep Your Profile Active

• Post updates, offers, or event announcements.
• Regular activity signals to Google that your business is active and reliable.
• Maintain high Google ratings by regularly updating your profile and engaging with customer reviews. High ratings boost customer confidence and improve your online presence and local SEO.

5. Use Keywords in Responses and Descriptions

• Naturally include services or location-specific phrases to help with visibility in local search.
• Optimize for ‘local pack results’ to enhance visibility in local searches. Local pack results are a key feature in Google search that helps local businesses increase visibility. They display alongside business ratings, allowing consumers to see various options and sort them by their ratings, thus enhancing potential customers’ decision-making.

Conclusion

Star ratings in Google search results aren’t just a vanity feature—they’re a proven way to boost visibility, credibility, and clicks. And the best part? You don’t need to be a tech expert to make it happen.

You can earn those gold stars by choosing the right pages, collecting real reviews, using proper schema markup, and leveraging tools or plugins to stand out in a crowded search space. Optimizing your Google Business Profile for local businesses adds even more power to your presence.

Do it right, be honest, and be consistent, and those star ratings will become one of your most valuable trust-building assets online. They act as an important conversion element by providing social proof and increasing click-through rates, which can indirectly improve your overall search rankings.

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