Yandex has announced a significant update to its Product Search feature, phasing out the āTrusted Storeā icon and introducing the āVerified Storeā badge, a move aimed at enhancing user and partner experience.
This decision, influenced by feedback from users and partners, will see the gradual removal of the āTrusted Storeā badge from search results. However, Yandex assures that this change will not impact the ranking of stores in the product card. The “Best Price” and “Faster Delivery” icons will remain operational, continuing to guide users in their shopping decisions.
The new āVerified Storeā badge, which replaces the āTrusted Storeā icon, can be obtained free of charge after stores pass additional quality checks. This badge is designed to boost user trust and potentially increase traffic and orders for stores by up to 10%. Users tend to favor trusted sellers, associating the badge with superior service quality.
To earn the āVerified Storeā badge, Yandex conducts a thorough evaluation process, including:
- Order Placement Checks: Quality control staff may place orders using the phone number listed on the storeās website during business hours or from 10:00 to 18:00 local time. This assesses the store’s responsiveness and efficiency.
- Website Order Processing: Orders are placed on the storeās website to ensure confirmation times do not exceed two hours, reflecting on the store’s service quality.
- Legal Entity Verification: The store and its documents are manually checked through open sources and registries to ensure there are no signs of bad faith or legal issues.
The verification process takes 48 hours and is regularly repeated to maintain the badgeās integrity. Stores can apply for verification through the Webmaster’s account on the āProducts and Offersā page under āData Sources.ā
If a store fails its first additional verification or is found to violate standards after receiving the badge, the āVerified Storeā sign will be revoked. However, these stores will continue to appear in product searches.
This update is part of Yandex’s ongoing efforts to refine its Product Search feature. In July 2023, Yandex began incorporating the āReliable Storeā and āFaster Deliveryā icons into its ranking algorithm, highlighting the three most attractive offers to users. The update prioritizes offers with the best price, followed by those with the āReliable Storeā and āFaster Deliveryā badges.
This shift to the āVerified Storeā badge represents Yandexās commitment to improving user experience and trust in online shopping, ensuring a high standard of service and reliability for consumers.