Review Schema Markup Generator
Generate valid Schema.org JSON-LD markup for local business reviews. Get AI-powered validation and boost your SEO with rich snippets
Important: Google Self-Serving Review Policy
You cannot mark up reviews of your own LocalBusiness or Organization on your own website. This violates Google guidelines and may result in manual action. Review schema for local businesses only works on third-party review sites. Product reviews for e-commerce are still allowed.
Select the most specific type that describes your business
Business Information
Address (Optional but Recommended)
Aggregate Rating
Individual Reviews
What is Review Schema Markup?
Review schema markup is structured data code (JSON-LD format) that you add to your website to help search engines understand and display customer reviews. It enables rich snippets in Google search results, showing star ratings, review counts, and other review information directly in search listings.
Websites with review rich snippets see 15-35% higher click-through rates compared to regular listings. The gold star ratings stand out visually and provide immediate social proof, making users more likely to click on your listing even if you are not ranked #1.
Why Review Schema Matters for SEO (2026)
Higher Click-Through Rates
- • Star ratings catch attention in search results
- • 15-35% increase in CTR with rich snippets
- • Stand out from competitors without markup
Improved Local Rankings
- • Review signals are top 3 ranking factors
- • Better visibility in local 3-pack results
- • Enhanced Google Knowledge Panel display
Increased Trust & Credibility
- • 84% trust online reviews like personal recommendations
- • Visual social proof in search results
- • Professional appearance signals legitimacy
Better User Experience
- • Users see ratings before clicking
- • Helps qualify leads and filter traffic
- • Reduces bounce rate from mismatched expectations
Critical Google Guidelines (Updated 2025)
No Self-Serving Reviews
Most Important: You cannot mark up reviews of your own LocalBusiness or Organization on your own website. This includes embedded third-party review widgets. Doing so violates Google policies and may result in manual action. This restriction applies to local businesses only—Product reviews for e-commerce are still allowed.
Content Must Be Visible
All reviews marked up with schema must be immediately visible to users on the page. You cannot mark up hidden content. The structured data must accurately reflect the visible page content.
Author Names Must Be Valid
Author names must be under 100 characters and must be actual names—not promotional text like "50% off until Saturday." Google updated this requirement in October 2021 to improve review quality.
Use JSON-LD Format
Google recommends JSON-LD over Microdata or RDFa because it is easier to implement and maintain. Place the script in your page head section without modifying HTML content.
Keep Reviews Fresh
Google prefers recent reviews. Old, outdated reviews may not display in rich results. Maintain a steady flow of new reviews to show active engagement and current customer satisfaction.
10 Common Schema Mistakes to Avoid
Schema Type Comparison
| Schema Type | Use Case | Self-Serving Allowed? | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | E-commerce products | Yes | Amazon product page |
| LocalBusiness | Local businesses | No | Only on Yelp, Google, etc. |
| Restaurant | Food establishments | No | Only on review sites |
| Organization | Companies, non-profits | No | Only third-party sites |
| Book | Book reviews | Yes | Goodreads, Amazon books |
| Course | Educational courses | Yes | Udemy course page |
How to Test & Validate Your Schema
Step 1: Google Rich Results Test
Test if your page is eligible for rich results in Google Search:
- 1. Visit search.google.com/test/rich-results
- 2. Enter your URL or paste your code snippet
- 3. Click "Test URL" or "Test Code"
- 4. Review any errors or warnings
- 5. Preview how your result may appear in Google
Step 2: Google Search Console
Monitor your structured data over time:
- 1. Open Google Search Console
- 2. Navigate to "Experience" → "Structured Data"
- 3. Check for errors and warnings
- 4. Use "URL Inspection" tool for specific pages
- 5. Set up email alerts for new issues
Step 3: Schema Validator
Validate JSON-LD syntax and structure:
- 1. Use our AI validation feature above (recommended)
- 2. Or visit validator.schema.org
- 3. Paste your JSON-LD code
- 4. Check for syntax errors and type mismatches
Best Practices
- ✓ Test before deploying to production
- ✓ Fix all errors (warnings are optional but recommended)
- ✓ Re-test after any schema changes
- ✓ Monitor Search Console weekly
- ✓ Keep reviews fresh and up-to-date
- ✓ Document your implementation for future reference
Ready to Collect More Reviews?
Spokk helps you automatically collect reviews from customers, manage them across all platforms, and build the social proof you need for better SEO and higher conversions.