Metrics
Star rating average
The star rating average is the mean of all published star ratings on a profile, usually displayed to one decimal place.
Averages behave counter-intuitively at scale. With ten reviews, one 1-star drops a perfect profile to 4.6; with three hundred, the same review barely registers. This is why volume is a defence as much as a vanity metric.
A perfect 5.0 is not the optimum. Research into consumer purchasing behaviour has repeatedly found that ratings in the 4.2 to 4.7 band convert better than a flawless 5.0, which readers treat as suspicious.
In practice
Do not chase 5.0. Chase volume, recency, and a visible reply on every negative review — that combination outperforms a higher average with no responses.
Common questions
- Is a 5.0 rating bad?
- It is not bad, but it is less persuasive than a high-4 average with more reviews. Perfect scores read as filtered.
- How do I raise a low average?
- Volume of genuine new reviews, not removal. Each new 5-star moves the mean more than any appeal will.