Have you ever searched for a business on Google, only to find that their reviews have disappeared? It’s frustrating, confusing, and can even be concerning if you rely on those reviews to make purchasing decisions. If you’ve experienced this issue, you’re not alone. Many business owners and customers alike have noticed that Google reviews disappear without warning or explanation.
Google reviews are an essential aspect of any business’s online presence. They provide social proof and give potential customers insight into the quality of your products or services. Positive reviews can make all the difference in attracting new customers and building trust with your audience. But when those reviews disappear, it can feel like all your hard work has gone to waste.
That’s where this guide comes in. We’re here to help you understand why Google reviews disappear, what you can do to get them back, and how to prevent it from happening in the future. Our goal is to provide you with a comprehensive guide that addresses this issue from every angle, so you can feel confident in your online reputation.
So let’s get started!
Table of contents
Reasons Why Google Reviews Disappear
There are a few reasons why Google reviews disappear, and it’s essential to understand them to address the issue properly.
Violation of Google’s Policies
One of the most common reasons why Google reviews disappear is a violation of Google’s policies. Google has strict guidelines that businesses and customers must follow when leaving reviews. If you or someone else has violated those guidelines, Google may remove the review without warning.
Examples of violations include fake reviews, reviews with inappropriate language, reviews from employees or competitors, and reviews that are part of a review exchange scheme. Google takes these violations seriously and may penalize businesses that engage in these activities.
Changes in Google Algorithms
Google is continually updating its algorithms to improve search results and user experience. These changes can sometimes affect the way reviews are displayed or even cause them to disappear altogether.
For example, Google’s algorithm may flag certain reviews as spam or low quality, leading to their removal. Google may also prioritize reviews from more recent or active accounts, causing older reviews to be pushed down or removed from the list.
Technical Issues
Finally, technical issues can also cause Google reviews to disappear. This could be due to a glitch in the system, a problem with your account, or an issue with the review platform.
For example, if your Google My Business account is not properly set up or verified, it could cause reviews to disappear. Additionally, if the review platform experiences a bug or outage, it may temporarily remove or hide reviews until the issue is resolved.
It’s important to note that sometimes reviews disappear for no apparent reason, which can be frustrating for businesses and customers alike. However, by understanding the possible reasons for disappearing reviews, you can take steps to address the issue and prevent it from happening in the future.
If you suspect that your Google reviews have disappeared, the first step is to confirm whether they are really gone. Here are two methods to help you check:
How to Check if Your Reviews are Really Gone
Checking Your Google My Business Account
The easiest way to check if your reviews have disappeared is to log into your Google My Business account and navigate to the reviews section. This will show you a list of all the reviews that have been left for your business.
If you notice that some reviews are missing, check if there are any notifications or warnings from Google that may explain why they were removed. Google may provide a reason for removal, such as a policy violation or spam detection.
Using Third-Party Review Monitoring Tools
If you want to keep a more thorough eye on your reviews, you can use third-party review monitoring tools like ReviewTrackers or Yext. These tools allow you to track your Google reviews, monitor changes, and receive notifications when new reviews are left or old ones are removed.
These tools are especially useful for businesses with multiple locations or high volumes of reviews, as it can be difficult to manually track all reviews across different platforms.
Regardless of which method you choose, it’s important to stay on top of your reviews and address any issues promptly. By regularly monitoring your reviews, you can catch disappearing reviews early and take action to get them back.
Steps to Take When Your Google Reviews Disappear
If you find that your Google reviews have disappeared, there are several steps you can take to address the issue and get your reviews back.
Contacting Google Support
If you believe that your reviews were removed unfairly or without reason, you can contact Google Support for assistance. Google has a dedicated support team that can investigate the issue and provide guidance on how to resolve it.
To contact Google Support, log into your Google My Business account and navigate to the Help Center. From there, you can submit a request for assistance and provide details about the missing reviews.
Responding to Negative Reviews
If some of your negative reviews have disappeared, you may be tempted to celebrate. However, it’s important to remember that negative reviews can provide valuable feedback and insights into areas where you can improve.
Even if the review has been removed, it’s still a good idea to respond to negative feedback in a professional and constructive manner. This shows potential customers that you take feedback seriously and are committed to addressing any concerns.
Encouraging Customers to Leave New Reviews
If some of your reviews have disappeared, one way to make up for the loss is to encourage customers to leave new reviews. Reach out to your loyal customers and ask them to leave a review on your Google My Business page.
It’s important to note that you should never incentivize customers to leave reviews or engage in review exchange schemes. These activities violate Google’s policies and can lead to reviews being removed or even result in penalties for your business.
Promoting Your Business Through Other Channels
Finally, while Google reviews are an essential aspect of your online reputation, they are not the only channel to promote your business. Consider leveraging social media, email marketing, or other advertising channels to get the word out about your products or services.
By diversifying your marketing efforts, you can ensure that your business stays top-of-mind for potential customers, even if some of your reviews have disappeared.
Remember, disappearing reviews can be frustrating, but there are steps you can take to address the issue and prevent it from happening in the future. By following these steps, you can protect your online reputation and continue to attract new customers.
Prevention is always better than cure, and that’s certainly true when it comes to disappearing Google reviews. By following these tips, you can reduce the risk of reviews disappearing in the first place.
Google Reviews Disappeared Because of Fake Reviews
Fake reviews are a violation of Google’s policies and can lead to reviews being removed or even result in penalties for your business. If you suspect that fake reviews are the reason why your Google reviews have disappeared, you should contact Google Support and report the issue. They may be able to investigate the issue and remove any fake reviews that are found.
Google Reviews Disappeared Because of Embedded Links
Embedded links in reviews are another violation of Google’s policies and can lead to reviews being removed. If your Google reviews have disappeared and you suspect that embedded links are the reason, you should check your reviews for any links and remove them. You should also encourage your customers to leave reviews without including any links.
Suggestions
To prevent your Google reviews from disappearing, make sure that you are following Google’s guidelines and avoiding any actions that violate their policies. Encourage honest and authentic reviews from your customers and regularly monitor your Google My Business account for any issues. By taking a proactive approach to your online reputation, you can build a strong brand image and attract new customers over time.
Tips to Prevent Your Google Reviews from Disappearing
Following Google’s Guidelines
The best way to prevent your Google reviews from disappearing is to follow Google’s guidelines. This includes ensuring that your reviews are honest and unbiased, not incentivized, and not part of a review exchange scheme.
Make sure that you are not violating any of Google’s policies, such as using inappropriate language or posting fake reviews. By staying within the guidelines, you can avoid the risk of reviews being removed or your business being penalized.
Encouraging Honest Reviews
While it’s important to avoid incentivizing reviews, there’s nothing wrong with encouraging your customers to leave honest feedback. In fact, honest reviews can help improve your online reputation and provide valuable feedback for your business.
Consider including a request for reviews in your follow-up emails or on your receipts. You can also include a link to your Google My Business page to make it easy for customers to leave a review.
Avoiding Fraudulent Activities
It’s important to avoid any activities that may be seen as fraudulent or deceptive. This includes using fake accounts to leave reviews, paying for reviews, or engaging in any other activities that violate Google’s policies.
If you are caught engaging in these activities, you run the risk of having your reviews removed or even being penalized by Google.
Regularly Monitoring Your Google My Business Account
Finally, regularly monitoring your Google My Business account can help you catch any issues with your reviews early on. Set up notifications for new reviews, and regularly check your account for any changes or updates.
By catching any issues early on, you can take action to address them before they become a bigger problem.
In conclusion, following these tips can help you prevent your Google reviews from disappearing and protect your online reputation. By staying within Google’s guidelines, encouraging honest feedback, avoiding fraudulent activities, and monitoring your account regularly, you can ensure that your reviews remain intact and continue to attract new customers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, disappearing Google reviews can be a frustrating issue for businesses and customers alike. However, by understanding the reasons why reviews disappear, checking if your reviews are really gone, taking steps to prevent it from happening, and knowing what to do if it does happen, you can protect your online reputation and continue to attract new customers.
Recap of the Issue
In this guide, we’ve discussed the reasons why Google reviews disappear, including policy violations, algorithm changes, and technical issues. We’ve also covered how to check if your reviews are really gone, steps to take when your reviews disappear, and tips to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Summary of the Guide
To summarize, if you suspect that your Google reviews have disappeared, the first step is to check if they are really gone by logging into your Google My Business account or using third-party review monitoring tools. If your reviews are missing, you can take steps to address the issue, such as contacting Google Support, responding to negative reviews, encouraging customers to leave new reviews, and promoting your business through other channels.
To prevent your reviews from disappearing, it’s important to follow Google’s guidelines, encourage honest reviews, avoid fraudulent activities, and regularly monitor your Google My Business account.
Final Thoughts and Recommendations
Google reviews are an essential aspect of your online reputation, and it’s important to take them seriously. Disappearing reviews can be frustrating, but by following the steps outlined in this guide, you can protect your online reputation and continue to attract new customers.
Remember, honest and authentic reviews are the best way to attract new customers and improve your business. Encourage your customers to leave honest feedback, and make sure that you are following Google’s guidelines at all times. By doing so, you can build a strong online reputation that will help your business succeed for years to come.
FAQ
Why did my Google reviews disappear?
There are several reasons why Google reviews may disappear, including policy violations, algorithm changes, and technical issues. It’s important to regularly monitor your reviews and address any issues promptly.
Can I get my disappeared Google reviews back?
If your reviews were removed unfairly or without reason, you can contact Google Support for assistance. They may be able to investigate the issue and help you get your reviews back.
How can I prevent my Google reviews from disappearing?
To prevent your reviews from disappearing, make sure that you are following Google’s guidelines, encouraging honest reviews, avoiding fraudulent activities, and regularly monitoring your Google My Business account.
Is it okay to incentivize customers to leave reviews?
No, it’s not okay to incentivize customers to leave reviews. This violates Google’s policies and can lead to reviews being removed or even result in penalties for your business.
How important are Google reviews for my business?
Google reviews are a crucial aspect of your online reputation and can have a significant impact on your business’s success. They can influence potential customers’ decisions to choose your business over competitors and provide valuable feedback for improving your products or services.
References
- Google My Business Help Center – https://support.google.com/business/ The Google My Business Help Center is a valuable resource for businesses looking to manage their online presence on Google. It provides guidance on a range of topics, including reviews, listings, and account management.
- Moz – https://moz.com/learn/local/google-review-removal Moz is a leading provider of SEO tools and resources. Their article on Google review removal provides detailed guidance on how to address the issue of disappearing reviews.
- Search Engine Journal – https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-reviews-disappearing/397685/ Search Engine Journal is a respected industry publication that covers topics related to SEO and digital marketing. Their article on disappearing Google reviews provides insights into the potential reasons why reviews disappear and how to prevent it from happening.
- BrightLocal – https://www.brightlocal.com/blog/why-google-reviews-disappear/ BrightLocal is a popular provider of local SEO tools and resources. Their article on why Google reviews disappear provides a detailed analysis of the issue, including potential causes and solutions.
- ReviewTrackers – https://www.reviewtrackers.com/blog/google-reviews-disappear/ ReviewTrackers is a leading provider of online review management tools. Their article on disappearing Google reviews provides insights into why reviews may disappear and how to address the issue, as well as tips for preventing it from happening in the first place.
Alex Lynx
A blogger that specializes in personal finance, SEO, and artificial intelligence (AI), Alex utilizes and examines products to help others live better lives through AI and financial literacy. He has extensive knowledge of the most recent AI and SEO developments thanks to his years of expertise in internet company. Alex is dedicated to imparting his knowledge and skills with his readers and is also well-versed in personal finance.
FAQs
What causes Google reviews to disappear? ›
In most cases, missing reviews were removed for policy violations like spam or inappropriate content. We do not reinstate reviews that were removed for policy violations. These removal measures help make sure that reviews on Google properties are relevant, helpful, and trustworthy.
How do I find deleted Google reviews? ›Google does not keep backups of users' reviews, so if you have inadvertently deleted a review, there is no way of restoring it. You will need to rewrite it. You may want to consider saving copies of your reviews.
Can businesses delete Google reviews? ›Google doesn't enable businesses to delete reviews on their Google Business Profile. This helps prevent businesses from deleting poor reviews due to bad experiences. To have a review removed, the person who wrote the review can delete the review, or a business can ask Google to remove an inappropriate review.
How does Google detect fake reviews? ›Does Google detect fake reviews? Google has a spam filter that helps detect fake reviews directed to the platform. While some fake reviews manage to squeak by, most customers can spot fake reviews with ease.
Can you get bad Google reviews removed? ›If you can address the customer's issue, they may edit or remove the review. If these don't work, you can always tweet to Google's small business team. And, lastly, if the content is illegal or slanderous, you can submit a formal legal request for Google to take the post down.
Does Google notify you if your review is removed? ›Filtering reviews is not a new practice for Google; they have done this for years. Lately, however, they are simply removing more reviews than in the past and removing them in bulk. Google will not explicitly notify you as to why they removed a review.
What is a conflict of interest on Google reviews? ›4. Conflict of Interest. When posting a review on Google, they prohibits reviews written by company owners, current employees, former employees or competitors. And it's irrelevant whether the reviewer attempts to hide or misrepresent their authorship.
Why can I see my Google review but no one else can? ›If you can see it but no-one else can, it usually means that there are symbols, such as $ % * ( ) or @ in the text, or you have included an email address or URL. Please check your review and remove any of these items and try posting again.
Can business manipulate Google reviews? ›On Google, anyone can write a fake review that goes public instantly upon submission. And since Google is a third-party site, businesses can't just take the review down. They need to go through Google's reviewal process to appeal the fake review.
How long does it take Google to remove a review? ›The review process can take a few business days, so be patient. If Google finds that the review violates their policies, the review will be deleted within three days.
Can you sue someone for a bad Google review? ›
Defamatory reviews are legally actionable, whereas bad reviews are not. Defamation can be described as a false statement claiming to be a fact that is published to a third party which ends up causing injury or damage to the reputation of a person, business, or entity.
Do people pay for fake Google reviews? ›Can you buy Google reviews? Buying Google reviews is against Google's policy and is illegal according to rules set by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Can you block someone from leaving a Google review? ›You can't block a user but you can report to google by Flag as inappropriate the review, if you think the review doesn't comply with Google's review policies. You can't contact someone who left an inappropriate review, but you can request that Google remove it.
Are negative Google reviews illegal? ›Is It Illegal to Write a Fake Review? Fake reviews are a violation of the terms of service of all business review sites. This means that any attempt to manipulate your brand reputation — or harm that of your competitors — through fake reviews can result in legal action against you.
Is it illegal to delete bad reviews? ›Is it legal to remove bad reviews? It is legal to remove bad reviews (or get them removed) as long as you're not violating the Consumer Review Fairness Act. This act allows businesses to prohibit or remove the following types of reviews: contains sensitive or private information; or.
How many times does a Google review have to be reported to be deleted? ›It only takes 1 flag to remove a Google review as long as you give Google enough evidence that the review violates Google's policies. Google removes reviews based on whether they violate policy, not based on the number of times a review gets flagged as inappropriate.
What if someone leaves a fake Google review? ›If a competitor is behind the fake negative reviews, a faster method is to contact them and request that they stop the activity and remove the fake reviews. If they don't, you always have the option of reporting them to the Better Business Bureau and your local Chamber of Commerce.
What are the policy violations for Google reviews? ›- Paying, incentivising or encouraging the posting of content that does not represent a genuine experience.
- Discouraging or prohibiting negative reviews, or selectively soliciting positive reviews from customers.
Some examples of a conflict of interest could be: Representing a family member in court. Starting a business that competes with your full-time employer. Advising a client to invest in a company owned by your spouse.
What can be considered as conflicts of interest? ›A conflict of interest occurs when an individual's personal interests – family, friendships, financial, or social factors – could compromise his or her judgment, decisions, or actions in the workplace.
Why can't people see my reviews? ›
It is likely that your review got filtered or removed for violating Google's moderated review policies, Google filters a small percentage of reviews based on things like spelling, grammar, punctuation etc.
How do I contact Google reviews? ›Sign into Google Business Profile (you'll set this account up in step 1 if you haven't already) and select the location (if you have multiples) with the review you'd like to respond to. In the menu, select “Reviews.” Then click “Respond” next to the review you would like to address.
How many reviews have I left on Google? ›In the top left, click Menu . Click Your contributions. To see places you've already reviewed, choose Reviews.
How many Google reviews can someone leave? ›Unfortunately, you can only have one active review per business at a time. But, if you'd like your feedback to reflect a more recent experience, you have a few options: Delete your original Google review and post a new one. Leave a review on another review site like Yelp or the Better Business Bureau.
Is Google review a defamation? ›Defamation consists of slander (oral statement) and libel (written statement). Because Google reviews are written statements, the law of libel would apply.
How long does a bad Google review last? ›The upfront answer is that Google reviews do not expire, so any customer reviews you receive will remain posted online (unless you're able to get them removed - more on this below).
Is giving a bad review defamation? ›While a review may seem like a small act of free speech, it can have high stakes for business owners, who may pursue legal action over defamation of character, libel, slander, intentional interference with business expectancy, violation of privacy rights, or breach of contract.
Can you go to jail for fake reviews? ›Yes. Under 15 US Code § 45, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has the power to stop and penalize parties “using unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce.” This makes it a crime to break official rules imposed by the FTC. And the FTC forbids the use of fake testimonials.
Can you buy 5 star Google reviews? ›You can buy real Google reviews from UseViral.com. This site sells real reviews from real people who have active Google accounts, so these people will give you positive reviews and 5 star reviews. UseViral has been featured in magazines like 'Forbes' and 'HuffPost' as the best website to buy reviews on Google.
Can I buy positive Google reviews? ›The good news is that there is the option to buy Google reviews. Buying Google reviews is an easy way to get the visibility that your brand needs. When you have a lot of positive Google reviews, you easily increase the traffic that is driven to your website, and the good news is that you're able to do this safely.
Why can I see my Google review but others can t? ›
If you're only able to see your Google review when logged in, it's likely because the review is still awaiting moderation from Google. This moderation process can take a few days. Once the review is approved, it will be visible to everyone.
How long do Google reviews last? ›The upfront answer is that Google reviews do not expire, so any customer reviews you receive will remain posted online (unless you're able to get them removed - more on this below).
How long does Google take to remove reviews? ›The review process can take a few business days, so be patient. If Google finds that the review violates their policies, the review will be deleted within three days.
How do I contact Google review support? ›You can call Google customer support at 650-253-0000.
Where can I contact Google support? ›Sign in using your administrator account (does not end in @gmail.com). In the Help window, click Contact support. If a Help article that relates to your issue is listed, click it to review. If you still need help, click This didn't help, continue to Support.
How do I clear my Google Maps cache? ›- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Settings app .
- Tap Apps & notifications.
- Follow the steps on your device to find the Maps app.
- After you select the app, storage & cache options should be available.
About public info
All reviews are public and anyone can find what you add. You're unable to add an anonymous review. Here's some more info others can find when you write a review: The name on your About me page.
There is a common misconception that customers need a Gmail account to post and interact with reviews, but this is not the case. By pointing out the simple steps we have put together below, you can encourage customers to leave reviews of your business and boost the credibility of your business page online.
How many reports does it take to remove a Google review? ›It only takes 1 flag to remove a Google review as long as you give Google enough evidence that the review violates Google's policies. Google removes reviews based on whether they violate policy, not based on the number of times a review gets flagged as inappropriate.
What time is best to ask for Google reviews? ›Noon to 7 pm is consistently the best time when it comes to asking for reviews. The two best times to ask for reviews are between 2-3 PM and 6-7PM. These are the times consumers are most likely to rate a business on Google, which makes sense.