Semrush compared the sixth release against the July 2022 version, while Rank Ranger compared it against September 2022 data.
The February 2022 product reviews update created more volatility in Google’s search results than past versions of the update, according to Semrush and Rank Ranger data.
About the Google February 2023 product reviews update. Google released the February 2023 product reviews update around 5 p.m. ET on Feb. 21. It ran for 14 days after it was announced and ended on March 7.
This was the sixth product reviews update and the first Google applied to additional languages. In addition to English, 10 languages were impacted.
Data providers show the February 2023 update was more significant
“February 2023 product reviews update reflected a significantly more volatile update than what we saw in July,” said Mordy Obersterin, from Wix and Semrush. “The February 2023 product reviews update showed a volatility increase that was 156% more significant than the July update,” when he looked at U.S. desktop search data.
The volatility for the July 2022 update, the baseline prior to the update was 1.8 on the Semrush Sensor’s scale to a 2.7 on the Semrush Sensor’s scale for July product reviews update. Compare that to the February 2023 update that had a basement of 3.1 and it went to a 5.4 – that showed a much bigger change.