Some Review Sites May Be Showing Early Signs of Recovery
SEO analyst Lily Ray shared an interesting observation: a few review sites that saw major declines in 2023 — tied to core updates and the Reviews update — are now showing upward visibility trends.
The chart reference points back to the August 2023 Reviews Update, a moment that reshaped large parts of the review ecosystem.
If these recoveries hold, it may indicate something broader: Google’s evaluation of review content is not static, but continuously rebalanced over time.
Not a full reversal — but a signal worth watching.
Source: Lily Ray on X
https://x.com/lilyraynyc/status/2019159044989284379
FAQ
Are review sites recovering from the 2023 Reviews Update?
Some early visibility improvements are being observed, according to Lily Ray, but recoveries appear limited to specific sites and patterns.
Why was the August 2023 Reviews Update so impactful?
It significantly changed how Google evaluated review-heavy content, especially around trust, expertise, and commercial intent.
What does this suggest about Google’s update system?
It reinforces the idea of continuous signal re-weighting — not just one-time penalties or recoveries.
As noted by Lily Ray → (tweet link)
