Are Google reviews not showing up for your business?
This can be a super frustrating problem. The good news is that it’s often only temporary.
Here we’ll explain why you may have Google reviews not showing up and how you can resolve this issue.
Key Takeaways
Google reviews may not post due to technical issues, violations of the Google Review Policy, or improperly formatted content, which affects their visibility.
Maintaining a verified, up-to-date and optimized Google Business Profile is essential for visibility of your Google reviews.
Utilizing reputation management tools can streamline the review collection process, ensuring a consistent flow of Google reviews and improving your online presence.
Common Causes for Google Reviews Not Posting
There are multiple reasons for Google Business Profile reviews not showing up as expected.
From technical glitches to Google Review Policy violations, each factor plays a crucial role in whether a review is posted or not.
Recognizing these common causes helps keep your business reviews visible to potential customers.
Technical difficulties such as server errors and formatting issues are often at the heart of why Google reviews are not showing. Additionally, reviews that include spam, fraudulent content, or inappropriate content can be filtered out by Google’s stringent policies.
Device or Browser Issues
Outdated devices or browsers are common culprits when it comes to technical glitches that prevent Google reviews from posting.
For instance, if a review is posted using an older version of the Google Maps app, it might not appear on your Google Business Profile listing.
Unfortunately there’s not a lot you can do about this, as you can’t control the version of Google Maps that is on your customers’ devices.
The good news is that this is more of an edge case, as the majority of your customers are going to be using relatively recent releases of their apps, and this tends to only be an issue with very old versions of apps.
Server Errors and Glitches
Server errors and technical glitches can also disrupt the visibility of your Google reviews. These issues can stem from temporary outages or bugs within Google’s systems, leading to customer reviews not appearing as expected.
While these problems are usually resolved quickly, they can cause significant frustration for businesses and customers alike.
Cache and History Problems
Sometimes, the issue lies closer to home. Not clearing your browser’s cache or removing history can prevent reviews from showing up.
This is less of an issue these days than in the past, but clearing your browser cache & history can often resolve these visibility issues so that you can see all the reviews for your business.
The good news here is that when this is an issue, it’s typically only an issue for you, not for your potential customers.
Google’s Review Policies
Google’s review policies are designed to maintain the integrity and authenticity of reviews on its platform. Violating these policies can lead to reviews being filtered out or removed entirely.
If Google suspects that your business has engaged in buying Google reviews or posting fake ones, it can suspend the posting of legitimate reviews as well, often without notifying you.
This suspension can last for 6-8 months, severely impacting your business’s ability to collect Google reviews.
So understanding and adhering to Google’s review policies is crucial to maintaining a steady stream of visible reviews.
Prohibited and Restricted Content
Google removes reviews that contain hate speech, harassment, false information, profanity, or offensive language.
Reviews should avoid including any personal information. This includes phone numbers, addresses, or email addresses. Reviews that contain links are also removed to prevent spam.
Format-Specific Criteria
Google has set specific Format-Specific Criteria that all reviews must adhere to.
This includes following character limits and avoiding prohibited content. Actions such as selectively soliciting positive reviews while discouraging negative ones (aka “review gating”) can also violate these criteria.
Note that you also can’t create a Google review on behalf of a customer, and we (and Google) discourage against employees writing Google reviews for your business.
Adhering to these rules ensures that your reviews remain visible in Google search and are not flagged for removal.
Fake Google Reviews
Fake Google reviews, written by individuals without actual experience with the business, can significantly undermine trust and damage a business’s reputation.
Fake reviews can be particularly harmful as they mislead potential customers. Google takes action against such reviews by removing them and penalizing the involved accounts.
Engaging in practices like buying fake reviews can lead to severe consequences, including the suspension of your Google Business Profile.
Verification and Activity Issues
Issues with verification and account activity can also impact the visibility of Google reviews.
If a Google Business listing is inactive for more than six months it can become unverified, leading to reviews not posting.
Additionally, problems with duplicate profiles and unverified information can cause Google reviews to disappear from an active profile.
Google actively enforces rules to ensure that reviews are genuine and based on personal experiences. Practices like selectively soliciting positive feedback or discouraging a negative Google review (aka “review gating”) are prohibited and can lead to Google’s review policy violations.
Ensuring that your Google My Business listing is verified and active is extremely important for maintaining review visibility.
Unverified Google Business Profile
Verification issues with the Google Business Listing can lead to problems. As a result, reviews may not appear.
An unverified Google Business Profile can delay review postings, making it essential to provide accurate and up-to-date business info.
If you haven’t already verified your profile through Google My Business, it goes without saying that you should do it immediately and keep the details accurate and up-to-date.
Inactive Reviewer Accounts
Inactive reviewer accounts can lead to a reduction in the number of visible reviews on a business profile. You can ask customers to use active Google accounts to keep their reviews visible, but realistically they’re not going to do this.
If reviews are missing due to user account deactivation, your time is best spent getting new reviews from active customers.
Recently Created Profiles
Recently created Google Business Profiles must comply with Google’s policies to display reviews successfully.
Properly setting up Google reviews for your business and adhering to Google’s guidelines will prevent visibility issues with your reviews.
Duplicate and Merged Listings
Duplicate Google My Business listings can cause confusion and lead to reviews being visible on the wrong profile.
Having multiple listings for the same business can dilute the impact of your reviews and make it harder for customers to find accurate information.
Merging Google Business Profiles ensures that all reviews are consolidated into a single, accurate listing, which helps with your business visibility in search.
When merging profiles, reviews from both profiles are combined. However, there might be delays in the appearance of these reviews, which are usually resolved within a few days.
Removing Duplicate Listings
To find duplicate listings simply run a search for your business name and address. Hopefully you find only one listing, but if a duplicate listing is created unintentionally, you can reach out to Google support to remove it.
Eliminating duplicates consolidates reviews into a single, accurate profile.
Merging Google Business Profiles
Merging Google Business Profiles consolidates reviews from both profiles, ensuring they are all visible on a single listing. While there might be delays in the appearance of merged reviews, these issues are typically resolved within a few days.
Handling Reviews with Links and Spam
Google’s review policy prohibits the inclusion of links in reviews, as they are often considered spam. Reviews with embedded links are usually removed almost instantly.
Embedded Links in Google Reviews
If you notice that any of your customers have posted Google reviews that include a link, ask them to update their review and remove the link so that the review doesn’t disappear.
Your customer took the time to write the review, so they’ll typically appreciate you reaching out to make sure the review stays posted.
Flagged as Spam
Reviews flagged as spam by algorithms or human moderators are removed from visibility. Ensuring that reviews are well-written and relevant reduces the likelihood of them being flagged.
Genuine customer feedback that mentions specifics about your business helps maintain review integrity.
Changes in Business Information
Changes in business information, such as moving locations or updating details, can affect the visibility of your reviews.
If a business listing remains unverified, it may not appear in local searches, impacting review visibility. Regularly updating your information ensures reviews remain visible and helps build trust with potential customers.
When a business changes its location, the reviews may not transfer automatically. Update your business address on your Google Business Profile to transfer reviews to the new location on Google Maps.
Business Location Changes
Businesses closely tied to their locations might not have their reviews transferred automatically after a move. To ensure continuity, update your local business address on your Google Business Profile.
This helps maintain the visibility of your reviews at the new location.
Updated Business Details
Keeping business details current is essential for maintaining the relevance of reviews. Keep all information up to date to avoid verification issues and maintain review visibility.
Resolving Missing Google Reviews
If you suspect missing reviews due to technical issues, contacting Google support is a necessary step towards resolution. Include your Google Place ID and a detailed issue description to expedite the process. Typically, you can expect a response from Google support within 72 hours.
Reviewing Policy Compliance
Google’s review policies are designed to ensure a fair and authentic review process. Non-compliance with these policies can lead to customer reviews being filtered out.
It can be annoying, but you should take proactive measures to make sure that you remain in compliance. For a full guide on this, check out: Google Reviews Policy: What You NEED To Know (and what you can ignore).
The Bigger Issue With Your Google Reviews
We’ve established how important Google reviews are for your business.
And we can agree that when a Google review doesn’t show that it’s an issue.
But the bigger issue for most businesses isn’t that a few of their Google reviews aren’t showing – it’s that they don’t have a steady stream of Google reviews to begin with.
Making sure reviews are visible is important, but consistently getting more Google reviews for your business is crucial to help you rank better in Google search, and improve your online reputation.
Fortunately, there are review management software tools available that can help you achieve this.
Using Reputation Management Tools
Reputation management software like ReputationStacker can be a game-changer for businesses struggling with getting more Google reviews.
These tools help you get more reviews on the most important review sites, ensuring a steady stream of feedback from your customers.
These online reputation management tools also consolidate all your reviews into a single dashboard, making it easy to respond to your Google reviews, embed reviews on your website, share them on social media, and use customer feedback to gain deep insights into your business.
Summary
Making sure that your business’s Google reviews are visible requires a multifaceted approach.
From addressing technical glitches and adhering to Google’s strict review policies to managing verification and avoiding duplicate listings, each step plays a crucial role in maintaining your online reputation.
But far more important than a few Google reviews not showing is your issue with not getting a steady stream of reviews in the first place.
Asking your customers for Google reviews and taking proactive measures to get more Google reviews for your business are going to make a much larger impact than recovering missing reviews will.
You can do it manually, or you can use customer review software like ReputationStacker to do it automatically for you. Your efforts will not only fix the immediate issue of missing reviews but also pave the way for sustained business growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my Google reviews not showing up?
There are multiple reasons why a Google review is not displaying. It may be because of technical issues, policy violations, or problems with your Google My Business Profile. Verifying your profile and ensuring compliance with Google’s review policies can resolve this matter.
How can I fix missing Google reviews?
To resolve missing Google reviews, make sure your Google Business Profile is verified, address any technical issues, and comply with the Google Review Policy. Using reputation management software may also be helpful.
What should I do if my Google Business Profile is unverified?
To restore review visibility, update your business info and complete the verification process through Google My Business. This action is essential for establishing credibility and improving your online presence.
How do reputation management tools help with Google reviews?
Reputation management tools like ReputationStacker assist in helping businesses consistently acquire Google reviews, consolidating them for easier tracking, and offering actionable insights to help improve a business’s online presence.
How long does it take for Google reviews to show up?
How long it takes a Google review to show up depends on a number of factors, but you can typically expect a review to appear within a few hours after it is posted.
