Google Review Not Showing Up - Why and how to fix in 2024

Google reviews are important for a business’s online presence and success. They help tons of potential customers decide whether or not to use a company’s products or services.

However, sometimes Google reviews may not show up when searched, which can be frustrating. You put effort into earning those reviews, and your business deserves that recognition.

In this blog, we will explore why Google reviews may not appear and provide practical solutions to resolve the issue.

Whether it’s due to a technical glitch or a violation of Google’s review policies, we will discuss the steps you can take to get your reviews back online.

So if you’re a business owner, read on to find out how to get your Google reviews back on track and ensure your business’s online reputation remains intact.

What Is Google’s Review Policy?

Google’s review policy requires users to provide truthful and accurate information in their reviews. Reviewers are not allowed to post false or misleading information, promote their own or someone else’s business, or engage in spam or harassment.

Additionally, Google reserves the right to remove reviews that violate its policy. The policy applies to all Google services that allow users to post reviews, such as Google Maps and the Google Play Store.

Why do my Google reviews not show up?

Google has strict policies for customer reviews on its platform. It ensures that all reviews and captions comply with the following two guidelines:

1. Prohibited and Restricted Content
2. Format-Specific Criteria for reviews and captions

These guidelines play an important role in maintaining the integrity of Google reviews and can result in some reviews being removed.

Prohibited and Restricted Content

Google’s Prohibited and Restricted Content Policy outlines the types of content that are not allowed on the platform.

It includes, but is not limited to, content that is:

• illegal,
• promotes hate or violence,
• contains personal and confidential information,
• sexually explicit material,
• fraudulent or misleading information

If one of your business reviews suddenly stops showing up, it’s possible it was removed due to policy violations. Google is quick to flag and remove any reviews that don’t meet its standards to maintain the integrity of its platform.

Format-Specific Criteria for reviews and captions

Google has also set some guidelines for the format-specific criteria for reviews and captions to ensure they’re helpful for everyone. Be mindful that you can’t just ask for positive reviews only, discourage negative ones, or pay for them.

So, have you ever wondered why your Google reviews are missing? It might be because they’re not following these guidelines.

Let’s look at all the possible reasons so you can figure out what’s happening with your reviews.

Google reviews not showing up? 13 Possible Reasons Why and how to fix it.

1. Google Business Listing Verification Issues
2. Inactive Google Business Listing
3. Duplicate Google Business Listing
4. New Google Business Listing
5. The Review is Flagged as Spam
6. Embedded Links in Google Reviews
7. Fake Google Reviews
8. Google Reviews Temporarily Disabled
9. Your Business Has Changed Locations
10. The Reviewer’s Account Is Inactive
11. The User Removed Their Review
12. The review contains inappropriate language or personal information
13. Due to Google Bugs and Other Issues

1. Google Business Listing Verification Issues

Verification issues with a Google Business Listing can be one of the reasons why reviews for your business may not be showing up.

Google verifies business listings to ensure that the information displayed on the platform is accurate and up-to-date. If a business’s listing is not verified, reviews for that business will not show up or may be displayed differently on the platform.

This is because Google wants to ensure that users have access to accurate information about the business and are not misled.

If you suspect that your Google reviews are not showing up because of verification issues, you must take steps to verify it.

This can typically be done through Google My Business, where you can manage your business information and ensure that it is up-to-date and accurate. If you run into any issues with verification, Google provides support resources to help you resolve them.

2. Inactive Google Business Listing

An inactive listing occurs when a business’s information on Google is not up-to-date or verified. This can result in the listing not appearing in search results, making it difficult for customers to find and leave a review for your business.

If your business’s Google listing is inactive, correct and verify the information to ensure that it’s accurate and up-to-date. Add your business’s name, address, phone number, website, and hours of operation, and verify this information with Google.

Once the information is updated and verified, the business’s listing should be active, and customers should be able to leave reviews.

Active Google Business Listing is important because it helps customers find you. It also provides valuable information about your business to potential customers.

Also, an active listing can help improve your business’s visibility and credibility, increasing customer trust and leading to more positive reviews.

3. Duplicate Google Business Listing

A duplicate listing occurs when multiple listings for the same business exist on Google Maps and Google Business Profile (GBP). This can lead to confusion and split reviews between the listings, making it difficult for users to find all relevant information about your business in one place.

If a business has multiple listings, Google may merge them into a single listing or remove the duplicates, depending on accuracy and completeness.

However, if a business owner or a third party has created a duplicate listing without the knowledge or consent of the business, it can be difficult to have it removed.

In these cases, the business can request that Google remove the duplicate using the Google Maps feedback form.

A single, accurate, and complete listing on Google is essential for businesses to be easily discoverable by potential customers. It enables customers to access all relevant information about the business, including its reviews.

4. New Google Business Listing

If a business has recently created a new Google Business Listing, it can take some time for reviews to appear on the platform. This is because Google needs to verify the listing and ensure that it complies with its policies before reviews can be posted.

Additionally, when a new listing is created, there may not be any reviews. It takes time to build up a base of customer reviews, so if the listing is new, that could also be why reviews aren’t showing up.

In any case, it’s important to wait a bit and give the listing some time to get established before expecting many reviews to be present.

And, of course, ensure that the listing complies with all of Google’s policies to avoid any issues that could prevent reviews from appearing.

5. The Review is Flagged as Spam

A review is flagged as spam when Google’s algorithms or a human moderator have determined that the review is not genuine or relevant. This could happen for various reasons, such as:

• An account wrote the review with a history of posting spammy or low-quality content.
• The review was written in a language different from the primary language of the reviewer or the business.
• The review contains repetitive or irrelevant information.
• The review was posted multiple times in a short period.
• A fake or unverifiable account wrote the review.

Google takes spam seriously and aims to provide users with trustworthy and relevant information. If a review is flagged as spam, it will not be visible on the business’s Google listing, and the review may be permanently removed from Google’s system.

6. Embedded Links in Google Reviews

Google doesn’t allow links or URLs in reviews as they can be used to promote spam or other inappropriate content. Additionally, including a link in a review can violate Google’s policy on promotional content or advertising.

If your business has received a review that includes a link, it’s possible that Google’s algorithms have flagged it and removed it from the platform.

To avoid this, it’s best to discourage your customers from including links or URLs in their reviews. Instead, encourage them to write helpful and informative reviews based on personal experience.

Following these guidelines ensures that your business’s Google reviews are visible and high-quality and provide valuable information to potential customers.

7. Fake Google Reviews

If your Google reviews are not showing up, one of the reasons could be fake reviews.

A fake review is written by someone without real experience with your business. This can be done for various reasons, such as trying to manipulate your business’s reputation or boosting your ratings artificially.

Buying fake Google reviews for your business, or hiring someone else to do it for you, is strictly against Google’s policies. This is considered unethical and can lead to your business’s reviews being removed or your account being suspended.

Fake reviews can undermine the trust of potential customers and negatively impact your business’s reputation.

Instead, focus on providing excellent service and encourage customers to leave honest, authentic reviews. If you have fake reviews on your page, it’s recommended that you flag them to Google for removal.

8. Google Reviews Temporarily Disabled

“Google Reviews temporarily disabled” means that Google has temporarily suspended the ability to post or display reviews for a specific business. This can happen for several reasons, including:

1. Violations of Google’s policies: If Google detects that a business or its reviews violate its Prohibited and Restricted Content Policy or Format-Specific Criteria, it may temporarily disable the reviews for that business.
2. Quality control measures: Google may temporarily disable reviews for quality control purposes. It ensures that all reviews meet their relevance, accuracy, and usefulness standards. During this time, existing reviews may not be visible.
3. Maintenance and updates: Google may temporarily disable the review feature for maintenance or updates to their platform.

Remember, this temporary disabling of Google reviews is not permanent. It can be resolved by correcting policy violations or waiting until maintenance or updates are completed.

You can contact Google’s support team for more information on the specific reason for the temporary disabling and what steps you can take to resolve it.

9. Your Business Has Changed Location

Your Google reviews may not appear if your business has changed location since they’re associated with the old address. This can happen if the old listing for your business still exists on Google, and the reviews are tied to that listing rather than the new one.

When you change your business’s location, you must either merge the old listing with the new one or create a new listing for the business at its new address. This way, all relevant information, including the reviews, will be transferred to the correct location and be easily accessible to potential customers.

If the old listing is not properly merged with the new one, or if a new listing is not created for the new location, the reviews may not be visible.

10. The Reviewer’s Account is Inactive

An inactive reviewer’s account might be why a Google review isn’t showing up. That means the reviewer’s Google account has not been used in a while and may have been deactivated by Google. This can cause their reviews to be removed or not displayed on the platform.

It’s important to remember that Google’s policies and guidelines are subject to change. The platform regularly reviews accounts to ensure they comply with its terms of use. As a result, even if a review was posted and visible in the past, it may no longer be visible if the reviewer’s account becomes inactive.

It’s always a good idea for business owners to encourage their customers to use active Google accounts when leaving reviews. It ensures that the reviews remain visible and accessible to other users.

11. The User Removed Their Review

One possible reason for a Google review not showing up is that the user who wrote it decided to remove it. This can happen for many reasons, such as a change of heart, an error in the review, or providing wrong information.

Users have the option to edit or remove their feedback at any time. So if a previously visible review is no longer there, it could be due to the user removing it.

In some cases, the review may still be visible to the business owner but not to the public. It’s always a good idea to regularly monitor your reviews and respond to any questions or concerns raised by customers to maintain a positive reputation on Google.

12. The review contains inappropriate language or personal information.

A review containing inappropriate language or personal information can violate Google’s policies for Prohibited and Restricted Content. This can include language or content that is hate speech, sexually explicit, defamatory, threatening or violates someone’s privacy.

Personal information such as phone numbers, addresses, or email addresses must also not be included in reviews.

If Google detects a review that such contains, it will likely remove it to maintain the safety and security of its platform — as these reviews make the platform less trustworthy and may deter users from using it.

Businesses and customers must ensure that their reviews comply with Google’s policies. They must not contain inappropriate language or personal information in their reviews. This will help maintain the quality and reliability of the information on Google’s platform.

13. Due to Google Bugs and Other Issues

Google is a large and complex platform, and it’s not uncommon for technical issues or bugs to arise from time to time. Sometimes reviews might not appear due to issues such as Google server outages, display glitches, posting errors, etc.

These issues are usually resolved by Google quickly, but they can still cause inconvenience. If you believe your reviews are not showing up due to a bug or technical issue, reach out to Google support for assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Google reviews not showing up.

What are Google reviews?

Google reviews are user-generated comments and ratings about businesses or locations posted on Google Maps or Google Business Profile (GBP). People can write reviews about their experiences with a business and rate it using a star system, with one star being the lowest and five stars being the highest.

How long does it take for a Google review to show up?

The exact time it takes for a review to show up can depend on various factors, such as the volume of reviews posted and the processing time of Google’s systems.

Typically, Google reviews will show up on a business’s page within a few minutes to a few hours of being posted. However, sometimes, it can take up to 24 hours for a review to appear.

How do I delete fake reviews?

To delete a fake or inaccurate review on Google, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Google Business account.
2. Find the fake review you want to remove.
3. Flag the review as inappropriate by clicking on the three dots next to the review and selecting “Flag as inappropriate.”
4. Google will then review the request and determine whether to remove the review or keep it.

Note: Remember that Google may not remove reviews simply because you disagree with the content. They only remove reviews that violate their content policies, such as reviews that contain hate speech, harassment, or false information.

Why Are Google Reviews Important For Local Businesses?

Google reviews are a valuable tool for the growth of local businesses. They can significantly influence a company’s online image and credibility. Positive 5 star reviews can help attract new customers and establish trust in a business. In contrast, many negative reviews can negatively affect a business’s image.

By keeping a close eye on their Google reviews, businesses can enhance their online presence, foster customer connections, and drive growth and revenue.

How do I fix missing Google reviews?

To fix missing Google reviews, you can try the following steps:

• Check if your Google My Business listing is verified and up-to-date.
• Look for any spam or inappropriate reviews that Google may have removed.
• If a legitimate review is missing, contact Google support for assistance.
• Encourage your customers to leave reviews on your Google listing to increase the number of reviews and enhance your business’s visibility.
• Follow Google’s review policies to avoid having any future reviews removed.
• Encourage your customers to leave reviews on Google through their active google accounts.

Are Google Reviews Permanent?

No, Google reviews are not permanent. They can be removed for various reasons, such as spam or fake reviews, offensive language, or a conflict of interest. Google has strict policies in place that cover customer reviews on its platform. It constantly monitors and removes any reviews that violate its guidelines.

Additionally, businesses or individuals can flag and request the removal of reviews that they believe are inappropriate or in violation of Google’s policies. Reviews can also disappear if the business’s Google listing is deleted or suspended.

Conclusion

Missing Google reviews can be frustrating for businesses. After all, customer reviews play a major role in shaping a business’s online reputation. They can greatly influence consumer purchasing decisions.

Google reviews not showing up is a common problem that many businesses face. In addition to spam and fake reviews, missing Google reviews could be due to inappropriate or off-topic content, conflict of interest, or unverified business listings.

Businesses must be proactive in monitoring their customer feedback to ensure that it complies with Google’s policies.

However, keeping track of all the reviews and ensuring they comply with Google’s policies can be tough. That’s why it’s important to have a solution that can help manage and monitor customer feedback without adding to the already busy workload of a business.

With the help of a reputation management platform like DemandHub, businesses can easily stay on top of their online reputation and ensure that their Google reviews are always visible and working in their favor.

With DemandHub, businesses can streamline the process of gathering and monitoring customer reviews. This can help businesses to free up their valuable time to focus on other important aspects of business growth.

Build a strong online reputation for your business with maximum visibility!

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