Are Your Google Reviews Missing? Here’s What You Need to Know

If you’ve noticed a sudden drop in the number of reviews on your Google Business Profile, don’t panic – you’re not alone. Many businesses have recently reported missing their reviews, with some losing dozens of customer ratings.

This issue has caused quite a stir in the Google Business Profile forums, sparking numerous conversations and complaints. But what exactly is going on? Here’s everything we know so far.

 

What Happened to the Google Reviews?

Since Friday, businesses from all over have noticed their Google reviews disappearing. The scale of the issue varies, with some reporting a minor dip while others are seeing dramatic losses – in some extreme cases, hundreds of reviews appear to be gone without a trace.

This mysterious drop has led to a flood of forum threads, such as:

• • “My customer reviews are being deleted”
  • “Reviews automatically dropped”
  • “Google reviews dropping off”

It’s clear that this isn’t an isolated incident, and it’s left small business owners frustrated and concerned about the impact on their online reputation. After all, reviews are an important part of attracting new customers, as well as maintaining trust with your audience.

 

What Does Google Say?

The good news is that Google is aware of the issue. Earlier this week, Victoria Kroll, a member of the Google team, addressed the situation on the forums, stating:

We’re aware of an issue affecting some Google Business Profiles, causing some profiles to show lower-than-actual review counts due to a display issue. The reviews themselves have not actually been removed. We’re working hard to resolve this and restore accurate review counts as quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience and will share updates on this thread as they become available.

Before reporting missing reviews, please note that there are several reasons why reviews may be removed from maps. Usually, missing reviews are removed for policy violations like spam or inappropriate content. Read more about our Review policy guidelines here before proceeding. You can also refer to the Help Center Article for more information.

A quick visit to the Help Center Article reveals this note:

• • Important: Review counts are temporarily inaccurate on some profiles due to a display error. We’re working on a fix.

While it’s certainly reassuring that the reviews haven’t actually been removed, the situation is still frustrating for business owners who rely heavily on their reviews. Knowing that the reviews still exist but are simply not displaying properly doesn’t entirely ease concerns, especially since potential customers can’t see them right now.

What Should You Do?

If your Google reviews have gone missing, here’s what you can do in the meantime:

• • Keep Calm and Carry On: Remember, this is a widespread issue, and the reviews haven’t actually been deleted – Google is working on fixing the display problem. We have had several of our customer’s reach out about this.
  • Document the Problem: Take screenshots of your current review count and any relevant forum threads or communications from Google. This can be helpful if you need to provide evidence later on.
  • Check for Updates: Visit Google Business Profile forums regularly or keep an eye on updates from trusted sources. Click here to the current updates.
  • Reassure Your Customers: If any customers inquire about missing reviews, explain the situation and reassure them that their feedback is still valued.

At the end of the day, there’s unfortunately not much to be done other than wait while Google works to resolve the issue.

 

Final Thoughts

For many small businesses, reviews are a key part of building trust and attracting customers. While Google is actively addressing the issue, it’s understandably a frustrating situation. Hopefully, the display bug will be fixed soon, and your accurate review counts will be restored.

At Smart Link Solutions, we know how vital your online reputation is to growing your business. That’s why we’re here to help you every step of the way. Whether it’s handling your reputation management or creating a tailored Local Search Optimization strategy for your business, we’ve got your back.

Call (866) 757 – 5100 or visit Smart Link Solutions today!