We all know that positive, authentic feedback on social media platforms and review websites is critical to business success. However, a Google review carries the most weight.
Google is by far the most commonly used review platform. Research by BrightLocal shows that 81% of consumers say they are likely to go on Google to research local businesses. Second-placer Yelp for Business is far behind at just 53%, and Facebook for Business is in third place with 48%.
What’s more, according to Podium, 93% of consumers say that a review’s content has influenced them to make a purchase.
Apart from being a source of information for decision-ready consumers, Google business reviews also:
- Boost local search engine optimization (SEO) rankings so you can be found more easily by your target customers.
- Provide insights on what you’re doing right and what you can do to improve.
- Increase your perceived trustworthiness and credibility.
What with all the advantages that positive reviews on Google deliver, it’s no surprise that a missing or delayed Google review can cause a business owner to worry. This is especially true if you have invested time, resources and talent into getting more reviews on your Google Business Profile.
In this article, we’ll answer some of the questions frequently asked by our Google review management clients:
- How long do Google reviews take to show up?
- Why are my reviews on Google taking so long to appear?
- Why did my published reviews on Google disappear?
We also discuss how to get more reviews on Google and how Google review services from a trusted online review management services provider can help you with this goal.
How Long Do Google Reviews Take To Show Up?
Google hasn’t published a definitive answer to the question, “How long do Google reviews take to show up.” However, experts claim that Google business reviews are typically published instantly, but sometimes it could take 24 hours.
If it has been more than one business day and you’re certain a customer has left a review, here are some possible explanations.
You have more than one Google business listing, and they have recently been merged.
This is usually why some Google reviews for business take longer to appear on Google Maps or Search. According to Google, this issue will self-resolve in a few days.
Your customer is using an older mobile device, operating system or Google App version.
Google does not let those with Android 2.3.7 or lower access their Google account and use its services, including Google Maps, to leave Google reviews for business. While you can’t tell your customer to buy a new phone or computer, you could suggest updating their Google App.
If your customer’s device is up to date, then they might just need to update their Google App to be able to leave reviews. Another option is to suggest to your customers that they clear their cookies or use another browser before attempting to leave a Google review.
Your Google Business Profile was suspended and then reinstated.
If this is the case, you can expect your reviews to reappear within 24 to 48 hours after your Google Business Profile is reinstated. Google advises contacting support if missing Google reviews for business don’t come back within this time frame. If you’ve hired a professional for Google review services, you can ask them for their insights or have them reach out to support on your behalf.
Your Google Business Profile is new.
“I know new Google accounts or businesses that transfer their Google accounts to a new address have the most problems with missing reviews,” said Tim Clarke, our in-house expert on Google review management and Senior Reputation Manager. “Make sure your map settings and information are accurate and up to date.”
Also, if your business is newly listed, it could simply be because your customers haven’t found your Google Business Profile yet. Increasing your marketing efforts and learning how to get more reviews on Google from a reviews management company can help you in this regard.
Your business isn’t open yet.
If you created a Google Business Profile for a business that hasn’t opened yet, and you set an opening date, any reviews made before this time will be removed.
You have more than one Google Business Listing for your company or organization.
If you have duplicate profiles for your business, reviews may appear in one and not the other. You can easily fix this by reporting the inactive duplicate profile to Google.
Google Business reviews have been temporarily disabled.
Google has a history of temporarily disabling reviews. For instance, in early 2020, Google turned off the reviews feature due to a lack of team members. Google, along with Yelp for Business, also sometimes disables reviews if a media report or internet backlash results in a large volume of reviews for certain businesses. If this is the case, you can reach out to Google support for a timeframe on when reviews would be turned back.
What If a Review Was Published, But It Disappeared?
Saw a review this morning but checked again later in the day, and it’s gone? You’re not seeing things. It is possible that a review has been published but subsequently taken down by Google. There are a few possible reasons for this.
- Either your customer’s or your own Google account is inactive.
If your reviewer left a review but then had their account deactivated, their review will disappear from your Google Business Profile. Meanwhile, if your Google Business listing is inactive or has otherwise lost its eligibility status, reviews left for your business will not appear or will be removed.
- It was removed due to policy violations.
If you distinctly remember seeing reviews on your Google Business Profile, only to have them disappear the next day, they may have been removed due to Google policy violations. Google expressly prohibits inappropriate, harmful, malicious and deceptive content. As such, reviews that contain the following are removed:
- Personal information
Reviews that contain private/confidential information like:
- Government-issued identification
- Credit card details
- Medical records
- Fake engagement
Examples:
- Reviews that have been incentivized by the business in exchange for free products/services or discounts.
- Feedback posted by competitors to damage the business’s online reputation.
- Content cross-posted from other sources to manipulate the business’s ratings.
- Impersonation
Examples:
- Posting content on Google Maps while pretending to be another person, organization or group.
- Content that falsely claims to be from an authoritative source.
- Misrepresentation
Examples:
- Reviews made by people involved with the business being reviewed (conflict of interest).
- False and misleading reviews about the quality of a product or service.
- Distorting or omitting information for the purpose of scamming readers or manipulating them toward a purchase decision.
- Obscenity and profanity
Examples:
- Swear words used to offend readers.
- Obscenities used to emphasize criticism of a business’s goods or services.
- Restricted content
Reviews that reference restricted goods and services, including:
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Guns
- Medical devices
- Adult services
- Dangerous content
Examples:
- Reviews that encourage misuse of dangerous items.
- Reviews that encourage participation in dangerous activities that could result in serious physical harm.
- Advertising and solicitation
Examples:
- Reviews that contain links to other websites and social media pages.
- Content that is promotional or commercial in nature, posted for the purpose of solicitation.
Does Google Reinstate Removed Reviews?
If Google classifies the reviews as spam or violating policies on inappropriate content, the answer is no. However, this shouldn’t be a problem for businesses—in fact, it’s a plus. Harmful, offensive and deceptive reviews can harm your online reputation, and the fact that Google proactively removes these means less work for you and your Google review management and review monitoring team.
“My Reviews on Google Are Delayed!” – Here’s What You Can Do
In most cases, such as if your Google Business Profiles have been recently merged, your Google Business Profile was recently reinstated, or if your business isn’t open yet, there is little to do but wait. In the meantime, consider making sure your profile is optimized so you won’t have to worry about preventable delays in the future. Here are some ways to do so:
- Make sure your name, address and phone number (NAP) are accurate and up to date.
- Choose the correct business description and category.
- Include your products and services.
- Leverage all relevant attributes.
- Post regularly.
- Respond to customer reviews politely and in a timely manner.
- Verify your location.
- Make sure your hours are correct.
“My Reviews on Google Have Disappeared!” – What To Do Next
Suppose the reviews you received were legitimate and did not violate Google’s policies. In that case, you can reach out directly to Google support or ask for insights from the community experts in the Help Community. You should also make sure that:
- Your Google Business Profile is active.
- Your Google Business Profile is updated with the correct information, such as address/location, phone number and business category.
- You are not in violation of any relevant policies, such as paying for reviews.
However, keep in mind that sometimes, Google reviews disappear due to what may be a technical glitch or for seemingly no reason. Reviews that have violated policies are also not reinstated, as previously mentioned. In this case, the best thing to do is to invest in online reputation services, specifically review generation and review monitoring.
Learning how to get more reviews on Google should be a priority for businesses. More reviews helps offset the impact of missing and delayed feedback as well as negative reviews.
What Role Do Online Reputation Services Play in Google Review Management?
Online reputation services include online review management services. In turn, review generation and review monitoring are critical parts of a review management strategy.
The review generation component helps businesses get more reviews from customers in various ways. For instance, Rize Reviews helped Family First, an emergency services provider, get more than 238 positive reviews and 4.9-star rating on Google by sending email and SMS review requests to ER patients within one business day of their appointments.
Review monitoring involves finding and tracking reviews left on your business across multiple sites, from Google, Yelp for Business and Facebook for Business to industry-specific review platforms like TripAdvisor and Healthgrades. This vital component of online reputation services keeps all stakeholders on top of changes in your business’s online reputation.
Utilizing reviews management services from a trusted agency helps you ensure that your business’s online protection is protected, streamline your processes for getting and responding to feedback and gather valuable data from reviews.
Reach Out to Rize Reviews for Google Review Management
Rize Reviews is a leader in reputation management for businesses, with countless success stories under its belt. Since our founding, we have supported our business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-customer (B2C) clients’ business goals through our bespoke solutions, such as Google review services, online reviews management services, video testimonial services and our review widget.
To learn more about Rize Reviews, contact us today for a free demo.
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