Are Google reviews not showing up? Our guide helps you identify and fix potential problems.
Google Reviews are a big deal for businesses as they can have a huge impact on whether people choose to do business with them or not.
However, sometimes a business might find that some of their reviews don’t show up on Google, which can be frustrating for the business owner who depends on those reviews to get more customers.
To deal with this issue, it’s important to figure out why some reviews aren’t showing up and what to do about it, so that the business’s online reputation is portrayed accurately.
Our guide provides essential information on what to do if Google reviews are not appearing where they should be online.
Complete the form below to begin your free review management analysis
What Are Google Reviews?
Google Reviews are feedback or comments left by customers about a business’s products or services on its Google My Business profile. They provide potential customers with valuable insights into the quality and reputation of a business.
Google Reviews are displayed on the business’s Google My Business listing and can influence a customer’s decision to engage with the business.
Reviews typically include a star rating out of five, as well as a written review of the customer’s experience with the business and images of the business uploaded by the reviewer.
Reviews can be beneficial for businesses as they can help improve their search visibility and online reputation. The more reviews you get, the more social proof you earn, helping to propel your business to top rankings in search results.
What Is Google’s Review Policy?
Google has a review policy that outlines the rules and guidelines for posting and managing reviews on Google. The policy is designed to ensure that all reviews are genuine and reflect the customer’s actual experience with the business.
According to the policy, reviews that are spammy, fake, or contain inappropriate content such as hate speech or personal information, are not allowed. Additionally, businesses are prohibited from posting fake reviews or incentivizing customers to write positive reviews.
Google’s review policy is enforced to maintain the integrity of the review system and ensure that businesses and customers can trust the reviews they see on Google.
How Long Does It Take for Google Reviews to Be Visible?
The visibility of a Google review depends on various factors, such as the review’s content and the platform’s review policy.
Generally, reviews become visible immediately after they are posted. However, in some cases, it may take up to 48 hours for a review to appear on a business’s Google My Business listing. This delay can occur due to a review’s content being flagged by Google’s automated system for violating its review policy or undergoing a manual review process.
In other cases, reviews may be delayed if the reviewer uploads a large number of photos of the business; processing those images can take several hours.
In such cases, the review may be temporarily hidden from public view until Google determines its authenticity and compliance with its review policy.
How Long Does A Negative Review Stay on Your Google Business Profile?
Once a review is posted on a business’s Google profile, it stays there indefinitely unless the reviewer deletes it or Google removes it for violating its review policy. This means that negative reviews can potentially impact a business’s reputation for a long time if they are not addressed.
If a review is fake, misleading, or defamatory, it may be automatically deleted by Google’s service or can be flagged for deletion by the business owner.
Common Reasons Why Your Google Reviews Might Not Show Up
In our experience, common reasons for Google reviews not showing up include the following:
Inaccurate or Missing Google Business Profile Info
If information on the business is inaccurate or missing, reviews associated with that business may not appear until Google verifies the authenticity of the review as well as compliance with posted guidelines.
Duplicate Business Listings in Your Google Account
If a business has duplicate listings on Google, it can create confusion for customers and impact the visibility of the business’s reviews.
When multiple listings exist for the same business, Google may combine the reviews from those listings into one listing, or it may remove some of the duplicate listings altogether. In either case, this can cause reviews to appear missing or incomplete.
In addition, having multiple listings for the same business can also violate Google’s review policy, as it can create opportunities for businesses to manipulate their reviews or misrepresent their reputation.
Therefore, it’s important for businesses to regularly monitor their Google My Business profile and ensure that they only have one accurate listing to avoid potential issues with their reviews.
You Haven’t Used or Logged Into Your Google Business Profile in Awhile
Inactivity on your Google My Business profile may cause Google to temporarily block or suspend new reviews from being posted. This can usually be fixed by logging into the profile using your business account.
Business owners should periodically go into their profiles to check the accuracy of business information and to take a look at new customer reviews. This helps Google know that the business is still active.
Additional Problems Why Your Google Reviews Might Not Show up
There are several other reasons why Google reviews aren’t showing up under your Google My Business profile. These reasons include:
Reviews Are From Current or Former Employees
If reviewers are associated with your business, such as current or former employees, the reviews posted by them may be flagged as spam or fake reviews.
Google has specific guidelines regarding reviews posted by employees. According to Google’s review policy, employees should disclose their affiliation with the business when posting a review, and reviews should focus on the business’s products or services rather than internal policies or workplace conditions.
Google Reviews Are Being Flagged as Spam
Reviews flagged as spam are reviews that have been identified by Google’s automated system or users as potentially fake or misleading. When a review is flagged as spam, it may be temporarily hidden from public view while Google investigates its authenticity.
If Google determines that the review violates its review policy, it may remove the review from the business’s profile. Reviews that are commonly flagged as spam include those that contain promotional or irrelevant content, those that are posted by fake or anonymous profiles, or those that are posted in large quantities within a short time period.
Businesses can report spam reviews to Google for review, and Google also has measures in place to proactively identify and remove spam reviews from its platform.
Google Reviews Contain Negative Language
Inappropriate language – including curse words, negative sentiments, abusive language, or defamatory language – are all violations of Google’s review policy. Reviews containing such language can be flagged by the Google system or by users and will typically be hidden from view.
Google Reviews Link to Other Websites
It is not allowed to include links to other websites in Google reviews. According to Google’s review policy, reviews that contain links or promotional content are considered spammy and can be removed.
The policy prohibits businesses from using reviews as a platform for self-promotion or including any information that is not directly related to the customer’s experience with the business. Therefore, if a review contains a link to another website, it is likely to be removed by Google or hidden from view.
Factors Google Considers When It Comes To Fake Reviews
Google’s review policy is backed by an automated system that can flag or remove potentially fake reviews. This system isn’t perfect, however, and some legitimate reviews may be hidden. Below are factors that can influence whether or not reviews are shared publicly:
Is the Google Review a Genuine Reflection of Your Experience?
If a review is posted by someone who has experienced a business, it’s likely to be legitimate. Unfortunately, some reviewers post reviews for businesses they have not visited or in cities they’ve never traveled to. In most cases, these reviews are hidden from view.
Has the Review Been Posted to Manipulate a Place’s Ratings?
Google’s algorithm evaluates the authenticity of reviews and can often spot attempts to artificially manipulate a business’s star rating or review profile.
Is the Review Content Actually Real and Relevant to the Location?
When customers write about their experiences, those are genuine reviews. Some reviewers may post stock images or content that isn’t actually related to the business in question; in these cases, Google or other users may flag the reviews as spam.
Has the Exact Same Review Been Posted Before or on a Different Date?
If the same language has been used in multiple reviews – either for the same business or for different businesses – Google’s automated system typically spots these and flags them for deletion.
Has This Reviewer Reviewed the Business Page Multiple Times?
Reviewers can only post one review per business, although they are allowed to update their existing reviews to reflect new experiences.
Attempting to post multiple reviews for the same business is considered as spam; Google will flag those reviews for deletion.
How To Fix Google Reviews Not Showing Up
Here are the steps you can take to make sure your Google reviews are showing up for your business:
- Claim and verify your Google My Business listing: This will ensure that your business information is accurate and up-to-date, and that customers can find and leave reviews for your business.
- Encourage customers to leave reviews: Reach out to your customers and ask them to leave an authentic review on your Google My Business profile. You can do this by including a link to your profile in your email signature, on your website, or in your physical location.
- Respond to reviews: Responding to reviews, whether positive or negative, shows that you are engaged with your customers and value their feedback. It can also help improve your business’s online reputation.
- Monitor your reviews: Regularly check your Google My Business profile to ensure that all of your reviews are visible and that there are no technical issues preventing them from showing up. If you notice any issues, reach out to Google’s support team for assistance.
It is a good practice for business owners to periodically log into the Google My Business profile, particularly when some customer reviews aren’t showing up. This tells Google that the business is still active while it helps the owner to fix any issues that result in hidden reviews.
Why Buying Fake Google Reviews Hurts Your Small Business
If you’ve ever been tempted to purchase fake Google reviews to improve your rankings and search visibility, think again.
Buying fake reviews is a violation of Google’s review policy, and can result in serious consequences for your business’s online reputation. Not only can fake reviews damage your credibility with potential customers, but they can also lead to penalties from Google, including the removal of all of your reviews or even the suspension of your Google My Business account.
In addition to the ethical and legal concerns of buying fake reviews, they are also generally ineffective in achieving the desired results. Consumers are becoming increasingly savvy in detecting fake reviews, and they are likely to be turned off by a business that has a large number of obviously fake reviews.
Final Thoughts
If Google reviews aren’t showing up, it has been our experience that there is usually a simple reason why. Thankfully, most of the issues are easy to fix in your Google My Business dashboard.
Google’s automated review monitoring system is good, but it’s not perfect. Business owners must take the steps needed to ensure that legitimate customer reviews are visible by periodically monitoring activity on the Google My Business account.
Google Reviews Not Showing Up FAQs
Here are common questions our review management team has been asked:
Does Google Notify You When You Get a Review?
Google will notify you when you get a review on your business. If you have claimed and verified your Google My Business listing, you will receive an email notification when someone leaves a review on your profile. The notification will include the text of the review and a link to your profile, where you can respond to the review if you choose to do so.
In addition to email notifications, you can also enable push notifications through the Google My Business app, which will send you real-time alerts when someone leaves a review or takes another action on your profile.
How Do I Contact Google Regarding My Reviews?
If you need to contact Google regarding your business reviews, you can do so through the Google My Business Help Center. Here are the steps to follow:
- Go to the Google My Business Help Center website: https://support.google.com/business/
- Click on “Contact us” in the top right-hand corner of the page.
- Select the issue you need help with, such as “Manage reviews.”
- Choose the method you prefer to contact Google, such as chat, email, or phone.
- Provide the required information and describe your issue in detail.
- Wait for a response from a Google support representative. The response time may vary depending on the complexity of your issue and the support channel you chose.
What Happens When You Get a Google Review?
When you get a new Google review for your business, several things happen:
- You receive a notification: If you have claimed and verified your Google My Business listing, you will receive an email notification when someone leaves a review on your profile. This notification will include the text of the review and a link to your profile.
- The review is published on your profile: The new review will be published on your Google My Business profile, where it will be visible to potential customers who are researching your business.
- The review contributes to your overall rating: The new review will be factored into your overall rating on Google. Your rating is the average of all the star ratings you have received, and it can have a significant impact on your business’s online reputation and visibility.
- You have the opportunity to respond: When you receive a new review, you have the opportunity to respond publicly to the reviewer. This can be a valuable way to engage with your customers, demonstrate your commitment to customer service, and address any concerns or issues raised in the review.
By staying on top of your Google reviews and responding to them in a timely and professional manner, you can build a strong online reputation for your business and attract new customers.
Contact NetReputation Today
Since 2015, NetReputation has helped business owners maximize their online visibility. Our review management services are designed to help you stand out online, boosting your digital reputation and levels of trust between you and your customers.
Call NetReputation today at 844-461-3632 or fill out the form below to get started with our expert review management team.
Complete the form below to begin your free review management analysis
by Net Reputation