Missing Google reviews can be a concern for businesses that rely on online reviews to attract and retain customers.
The issue of disappearing or delayed reviews is perplexing and aggravating both for the writers and business owners.
This article will explore the common reasons behind missing Google reviews and provide guidance on tackling the problem and ensuring the credibility and integrity of your business's online presence remain intact.
Leverage feedback and reviews to improve your online reputation
Get more online reviews and turn your customers into raving fans with ReviewsOnMyWebsite review generation software.
Why Do Google Reviews Disappear? 6 Reasons Behind Missing Reviews
1. The Review Violated Google's Guidelines
A common reason for Google reviews to vanish is that the content violated the company’s content guidelines. Google enforces strict policies to guarantee the quality and integrity of their reviews, so reviews may be removed if they contain spam, inappropriate language, or reveal personal information about others. Google also won’t reinstate reviews that are taken down due to policy infractions.
2. You Received a Large Number of Reviews at Once
An influx of feedback at one time can trigger Google's spam alarms. The system may think the reviews are fake, especially if the language or ratings are too similar. It's essential to monitor your Google Business Profile profile to prevent sudden surges in reviews. Encourage customers to leave reviews organically and avoid incentivizing them.
3. An Error With Google
Sometimes, reviews disappear due to a technical error on Google’s end. In these cases, the missing feedback may reappear after some time without any action required from you. However, it’s also possible the review may be gone for good. If you suspect an error is causing the problem, contact Google support for more information.
4. Google Accidentally Removed the Review
Occasionally, Google may accidentally delete legitimate reviews while trying to eliminate spam or false content. Business owners should keep track of their reviews and monitor Google Maps or Google Business Profile to identify any deleted feedback. If you notice a genuine review has been removed, reach out to Google support.
5. Your Google Business Profile Was Suspended
A suspended Google Business Profile account can also cause reviews to vanish. If Google suspends your account due to violations or inconsistencies, your reviews may disappear. So, ensure your business profile is accurate, up to date, and free of any policy violations to prevent suspension. Once reinstated, your reviews may reappear, but it’s not guaranteed, so be diligent to avoid this headache.
6. The Reviewer Deleted Their Review
Reviewers have the option to delete their reviews at any time. If a customer chooses to remove their review, it’ll no longer be visible on your Google Business Profile profile or Google Maps app. Although you can’t control the whims of individual reviewers, providing excellent service and maintaining a positive online presence helps encourage consumers to leave positive feedback and keep it up.
7. The Review Is Delayed
Some reviews, especially after profile merges, may take longer to appear on platforms like Google Search or Google Maps. Delays due to merges should be resolved within a few days.
8. The Reviewer Has An Older Operating System
For customers on older devices, leaving reviews might pose a challenge. To address this issue, encourage them to update their operating systems and the Google Maps app. Ensuring their systems are up-to-date can facilitate a smoother review process.
How Do I Know if A Google Review Has Been Removed?
Detecting the loss of a Google review can be difficult, especially if you don’t actively monitor them for your business. Here are a few straightforward ways to determine if a review has been removed from your Google Business Profile:
1. Adopt Monitoring Tools: There are various online tools and services available, such as ReviewsOnMyWebsite, that help monitor your Google reviews. Some provide notifications when a review is added or removed, which saves you time and effort manually tracking your reviews.
2. Search Google Maps: Open Google Maps and search for your business. Click on the “Reviews” tab to see all the reviews for your business, both positive and negative. If a review has been removed, it’ll likely be missing from that list.
3. Take Advantage of the Google Search Console: While this may not explicitly show deleted reviews, you can use the Google Search Console to assess changes in performance, traffic, and search queries for your website. Any significant drop in these factors may point to the loss of one or more reviews.
4. Compare Review Count: Keep track of your total review count. If the number suddenly decreases, it indicates a review has been removed. However, this method can be inaccurate, as newer reviews may overshadow the disappearance of an older one.
5. Regularly Check Your Email: Google often notifies business owners via email when a review is removed. Regularly check the email associated with your Google Business Profile for notifications from Google regarding changes to your reviews.
7 Steps to Recover Missing Reviews on Google
Google now has a dedicated form to help businesses recover their lost reviews. This updated process involves several steps:
- Visit the Google Business Profile support page and log in as the business owner.
- Select your business from the drop-down menu.
- Enter "missing review" and choose the best description of this issue.
- Complete the required fields in the form, including your Business ID, if possible.
- Optionally, upload an image of the missing review for better chances of recovery.
- Keep track of the case ID from Google.
- If the situation remains unresolved after 10 days, create a new thread on the Google Business Profile forum with relevant information for a Product Expert's review.
Although this newly introduced process makes retrieving missing reviews more user-friendly, some areas need improvement, so be patient.
Leverage feedback and reviews to improve your online reputation
Get more online reviews and turn your customers into raving fans with ReviewsOnMyWebsite review generation software.
Key Takeaways on Missing Google Reviews
Google reviews are crucial for businesses as they contribute to online visibility and credibility. However, sometimes reviews go missing or fail to show up. It’s not always possible to regain reviews that are lost but by tracking the above factors and taking proactive measures, your attempt at retrieval will have a greater chance of success.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can I only see my Google review when logged in?
If you can only see your Google review when logged in, it’s possible Google's system flagged it, or it may be pending approval. Google moderates reviews to ensure they follow their guidelines and remove any inappropriate content. During this moderation process, reviews may be visible only to the reviewer.
Where can I find deleted Google reviews?
Unfortunately, once a Google review has been deleted, there’s no direct way for users to see or access it. However, contacting Google Support may provide some assistance or insight into why the review was deleted, especially if it involved a violation of Google's guidelines.
Can I recover deleted Google Business Profile reviews?
Once Google or the original owner deletes a Google Business Profile review, you can’t retrieve it. If you believe the deletion was unwarranted, you can contact Google Support and dispute the removal. Provide as much information as possible about the review in question to try and regain it.
Why does my Google review disappear when I log out?
If your Google review disappears when you log out, the review could still be undergoing vetting or has been flagged for potential violations. This can occur if the testimonial contains inappropriate language, links, or other content that breaches Google's review guidelines.
What does it mean when I can see my Google review, but no one else can?
If you’re able to see your Google review but others can’t, it might still be in the moderation process. During this time, the “Review in Progress” will be visible only to the reviewer. It’ll be visible to others on the relevant Google Business Profile and Google search results once it’s approved.
What should I do if I can't see Google reviews on mobile?
If you’re unable to view Google reviews on a mobile device, try the following steps:
- Ensure your Google Maps app is updated to the latest version.
- Refresh the Google Business Profile or Google Maps app.
- Check your internet connection and restart the app.
- If the issue persists, contact Google Support for assistance.
How can I encourage customers to leave Google reviews without violating guidelines?
While it's crucial to encourage customer reviews, it's equally important to do so within Google's guidelines. Avoid offering incentives or directly asking for positive reviews, which goes against Google's policy. Instead, focus on creating a seamless process for customers to leave feedback. Utilizing review generation software allows business owners to send review requests via SMS and email. Additionally, consider including a link to your Google Business Profile in follow-up emails or on your website, making it easier for satisfied customers to leave reviews organically.
