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The digitization of every business has made Google reviews pivotal to shaping reputation and building customers’ trust. In that circumstance, flaunting a bunch of positive reviews towards potential consumers is inevitable for every business that relies on digital platforms. But if Google reviews do not show up on a particular page, it would be detrimental to businesses and frustrating at the same time.
If you’re struggling with Google reviews not showing up, this guide is your clarity! It clearly explains the reasons for this issue and provides appropriate solutions, ensuring you’re well-informed and clear-headed in addressing the problem.
What Is Google’s Review Policy?
Google’s Review Policy works like a tool to identify unfamiliar reviews that fail to meet the guidelines. With its help, Google identifies spam, fake, biased, and offensive reviews to maintain transparency and build trust among consumers.
Following are some key considerations of Google’s Review Policy:
- Google identifies and investigates misleading information in reviews.
- Reviews must specify the product or service and reflect a genuine experience.
- Irrelevant content that negatively impacts a company’s reputation is removed.
- Reviews should use language appropriate for the intended audience.
- Personal information sharing in reviews is prohibited.
- Users cannot post duplicate opinions from multiple accounts.
- Only reviews from verified purchasers are accepted.
- Google does not tolerate hate speech or derogatory content.
Reasons Why Google Reviews Not Showing Up and How To Fix It
1: Duplicate Google Business Listing
Having duplicate Google business listings can confuse consumers and lead to issues like “Google reviews not showing up”. Follow these steps to resolve the issue:
- Step 1: Log into your Business Profile Manager.
- Step 2: Navigate to “Manage Locations”.
- Step 3: Select the duplicate listing(s) you want to remove by checking the boxes next to them.
- Step 4: Click on “Actions” and then “Remove location”.
2: Inactive Google Business Listing
If your Google Business Profile has been inactive for more than six months, Google may have unverified it, affecting your reviews and current information.
Follow these steps to regain verification and restore your profile’s authenticity:
- Step 1: Contact Google Support: Reach out to Google Support to initiate the re-verification process.
- Step 2: Update Information: While re-verifying, update any outdated information on your profile.
- Step 3: Regain Reviews: Once verified, your reviews should reappear, ensuring customers can find and review your business correctly.
3: Your Business is Newly Listed on Google
If the aforementioned reasons do not match your business history, then you are probably a newbie! So, if your business is newly launched on Google and you’re experiencing difficulties in ranking or receiving reviews, the following are some insights:
- Competitive Market: New businesses often struggle to rank high in search results due to competition.
- Effective Marketing: Invest in effective marketing strategies to enhance your online presence and attract customers.
- Encourage Reviews: Actively encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews to build credibility and visibility.
4: The Review Is Flagged as Spam
Spam content is one of the most common reasons why your Google reviews not showing up. Reviews flagged as spam are often not displayed on your Google profile. This could happen if the review contains irrelevant content or if users mark it as spam. To ensure your reviews appear:
- Follow Google’s Criteria: Reviews must adhere to Google’s policies, focusing on genuine experiences and relevant content.
- Contact Customers: Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews that meet Google’s guidelines.
- Promote Neutrality: Google promotes neutrality in reviews, so ensure your requests for reviews are unbiased and genuine.
5: Embedded Links in Google Reviews
Embedded links or URLs are not permitted in Google’s review section. Google removes reviews that contain URLs to maintain policy adherence. If you notice any reviews containing URLs, contact the reviewer and request them to edit the review to comply with Google’s policy.
6: Fake Google Reviews
If the profile of the reviewer does not have a proper name, profile picture, or necessary information, Google counts such reviews as fake content. Many businesses misuse reviews by purchasing them or using bots.
Google prioritizes transparency and actively removes such content. To avoid severe consequences, such as the removal of your Google Business Profile:
- Ensure Transparency: Avoid using fake reviews to manipulate your business’s reputation.
- Discontinue Inappropriate Practices: Stop any attempts to generate fake reviews through bots or purchases.
7: Google Reviews Temporarily Disabled
Google may temporarily disable reviews when faced with a high volume of user activity. During heavy traffic and limited staffing periods, Google might pause or close the review section to manage the situation.
When reviews are disabled:
- Existing Reviews Hidden: Users cannot see any existing reviews.
- New Reviews Paused: Users cannot leave new reviews during this period.
Once the situation stabilizes, Google will restore the review functionality, allowing users to see and leave reviews again.
8: Your Business Has Changed Locations
Sometimes business locations change, but owners overlook the location update on the Google Business Profile. However, simply updating the location may not always reflect your existing reviews. Here are the steps to ensure a smooth transition:
- Update Promptly: Update your business location and any other relevant information immediately when you change locations to avoid errors and maintain consistency.
- Merge Listings: Attempt to merge your old business listing with the new one to transfer reviews.
- Contact Google: If merging doesn’t work, contact Google Support for assistance in transferring your reviews.
9: The Reviewer’s Account Is Inactive
Sometimes, it’s not you—it’s them! That means the issue of Google reviews not showing up stems from the reviewers’ side. If a reviewer deactivates or deletes their Google account, any reviews they left will also be removed.
10: User Removed Their Review
Since users have full access to delete and edit their reviews, they often take advantage of this accessibility. If any user deletes a review for any reason, including personal choice, it will no longer be visible to the public. However, sometimes, business owners may still see the deleted reviews, even though they are not visible to the public.
Wrapping Up
Google prioritizes clarity and works to prevent inappropriate activity, ensuring that its platforms, including Google Reviews, serve the best interests of both businesses and users. While it is common for business owners to encounter issues with Google reviews not showing up, understanding the specific causes and implementing the appropriate solutions can effectively address these challenges.
By following the guidelines and best practices outlined above, businesses can ensure their reviews are visible and maintain a trustworthy online presence.
FAQs
Why are my Google reviews not appearing?
There are various reasons for not showing Google reviews, which may include:
- Duplicate Google Business Listing
- Inactive Google Business Listing
- Your business is newly listed on Google
- The review is flagged as spam
- Embedded links in Google reviews
- Fake Google reviews
- Google reviews temporarily disabled
- Your business has changed locations
- The reviewer’s account is inactive
- The user removed their review
How long does it take for a Google review to show up?
Google takes a few minutes to a few hours to show a review after a user posts one.
How do I fix my Google reviews?
The solution depends on the problem, and your first task would be to define the issue and the reason. If it is from your end, you can get assistance from Google itself or fix the settings from the Google Business Profile.
Can businesses delete Google reviews?
Businesses can’t delete a Google review directly but can report to Google through the Google Business Account to take proper steps if it violates the review policy.
