If you’ve ever taken the time to write a review for a business on Google, you know how frustrating it can be to have it suddenly removed without warning. Not only does this affect the business being reviewed, but it also impacts the reviewer who invested time and effort into sharing their honest opinion.
Google’s review policy is ever-evolving, and it’s not uncommon for reviews to get deleted even if they comply with the guidelines. In this article, we’ll delve into the reasons behind Google’s review removals, the possible causes for review deletions, and what you can do if your review has been removed.
Understanding Google’s Review Policy
Before we dive into the reasons behind review removals, it’s essential to understand Google’s review policy. The company has established a set of guidelines to regulate reviews and maintain the integrity of its review platform. The policy prohibits reviews that contain spam, adult content, or violence. Reviews should also be relevant and genuinely reflect a customer’s experience with a business.
The policy emphasizes the importance of authenticity and honesty in reviews. Google requires reviewers to clearly indicate their relationship with the business, such as indicating if they’re an employee, owner, or have any affiliation with the company. This ensures that reviews are trustworthy and don’t appear to be biased or fake.
Reasons Behind Review Removals
While Google’s review policy provides guidelines on what constitutes an acceptable review, there are various reasons why your review might get removed even if it complies with the policy. Here are some possible causes for review deletions:
Spam Filters
One common reason for review removals is Google’s spam filters. The company uses automated algorithms to detect and remove suspicious reviews that may be spam or fake. While these filters are intended to protect the integrity of reviews, they can sometimes mistakenly flag genuine reviews.
If you’ve included a business’s name, phone number, or website in your review, it may get flagged by Google’s spam filters. Another possible cause is if your review appears to be promotional or contains a call-to-action, urging others to visit a website or make a purchase.
How to Avoid Triggers for Spam Filters
To avoid triggering Google’s spam filters, follow these best practices:
- Use a conversational tone in your review.
- Avoid mentioning the business’s name multiple times.
- Refrain from including contact information such as phone numbers, email addresses, or website URLs.
- Use keywords naturally in your review and avoid keyword stuffing.
- Be descriptive in your review, but avoid excessive brevity or vagueness.
Prohibited Content
Reviews containing prohibited content, such as hate speech, harassment, or defamatory language, can be removed instantly. While it’s understandable that some reviews may contain extreme opinions, it’s essential to exercise caution and avoid crossing the line between a negative review and a review that contains prohibited content.
If you’re writing a review that critiques a business, make sure it’s constructive and professional. Avoid making personal attacks, using derogatory language, or threatening the business or its employees.
Fake Or Misleading Reviews
Fake reviews, whether written by the business owner, employees, or friends and family, can cause a review to get removed. Moreover, if Google detects that a review contains fake or misleading information, it may be removed.
Make sure you honestly and accurately represent your experience with the business in your review. Be cautious of businesses that offer incentives for reviews or ask you to adjust or rewrite your review.
Business Request
Sometimes, businesses may request that a review be removed, especially if they don’t like what’s been written about them. However, this can only happen if the review contains confidential information, is defamatory, or violates Google’s review policy.
If a business requests the removal of your review and it doesn’t contain prohibited content, it’s essential to be cautious and understand why they want the review deleted. Ensure you keep your review professional and respect the business owner’s feelings.
Possible Causes For Review Deletions Beyond The Policy
In addition to the reasons above, there are several other possible causes for review deletions beyond Google’s policy. Some of these causes include:
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Algorithm update – Google constantly updates its algorithm, which can affect its filter for detecting fake reviews and deciding which reviews to display. Even if your review is genuine, an algorithm update may flag it as fake or remove it.
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Technical issues – Infrequent technical issues can cause reviews to disappear or become temporarily unavailable.
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Other users’ flags – When a significant number of users flag your review, Google may opt to remove it due to a suspicion that it doesn’t meet their guidelines.
Business Listing Ownership
Incorrect business listing ownership can lead to review removal. A verified business owner may have a valid reason for owning and managing the listing, but disagreement over who should be in control can lead to misunderstandings about which reviews should be live.
To minimize issues related to this cause, it’s essential to clarify who the actual business owner or authorized reviewer is and who owns the business.
What You Can Do If Your Review Is Removed?
If your review is deleted from Google due to any of these reasons, you can contact Google My Business or visit their support center for help with troubleshooting. Here’s what you can do in more detail:
Contact Google Support
Contact Google Support and request assistance with resetting your account if you suspect any issues caused by algorithm updates or another unexpected glitch.
When speaking to the Google representative, ensure to have as much detail as possible regarding your case and any interactions related to your Google My Business listing.
In case the support representative concludes that a third-party interaction may have affected deletion and removal of a previous customer review response wasn’t completed properly, then remind them about obtaining an actual, accurate reason if required.
Challenge The Deactivation Or Deletion
Address or correct issues which the company feels led to removal of an excellent customer written original from online posting.
In some situations it could cause reversal. Provide evidence explaining reasons challenging deletion without being perceived as defensible even if related incident or inappropriate handling the situation surrounding Google removal.
Why Does Google Delete Reviews From Its Platform?
Google deletes reviews from its platform for various reasons, including policy violations, suspicious activity, or a request from the business owner. Some common policy violations include reviews that contain hate speech, explicit language, or spam. Additionally, if multiple reviews for the same business are posted by the same user in a short period, Google’s algorithm might flag them as suspicious activity.
To avoid having your reviews deleted, make sure to familiarize yourself with Google’s review policies and guidelines. When writing a review, be honest and provide specific details about your experience with the business. Avoid using language or tone that might be interpreted as hate speech or spam. Also, be mindful of how often you post reviews for the same business to avoid raising suspicions.
How Do I Know If Google Deleted My Review?
If Google deletes your review, you might not receive a direct notification from the platform. However, there are a few ways to verify if this has happened. First, check the Google page of the business you reviewed to see if your review is still listed. If it’s no longer there, you can try searching for the review using your name or keywords from the review to see if it’s been removed. Another way to check is by logging into your Google account and navigating to the “My contributions” section of Google Maps or Google My Business.
If you’ve confirmed that your review has been deleted, try to recall the reasons why you wrote the review in the first place. Consider rewriting the review, taking into account Google’s guidelines and policies. Before rewriting, wait for a couple of days or even a week to avoid raising suspicions with your new review. Make sure to provide specific details and avoid using the same language or tone that got your original review deleted.
What Can I Do If Google Deleted My Review?
If your review has been deleted by Google, there are a few steps you can take to appeal the decision. The first step is to ensure that your original review complies with Google’s policies and guidelines. If you believe that your review was deleted in error, you can try to reach out to Google support directly and ask for their assistance in resolving the issue. Be prepared to explain the content of your review and provide context for why you wrote it.
Alternatively, you can try rewriting the review, taking into account the guidelines and policies mentioned earlier. Remember to be honest and specific about your experience with the business and avoid using language or tone that might raise suspicions. In the meantime, consider reporting the issue to the Google support team to get their help in solving the problem. Be patient and polite when interacting with Google’s team, as this can increase your chances of a successful appeal.
Can I Still Leave A Negative Review After Google Deleted Mine?
Yes, you can leave a negative review after Google deleted yours, provided you rewrite it according to the platform’s guidelines and policies. Before writing your new review, make sure you can provide accurate and specific details about your experience with the business. If you feel your original review was accurate and helpful, you may choose to report the issue to Google support in case their team can reinstate it.
When writing your new review, try to phrase your thoughts and opinions differently to avoid raising suspicion. Ensure the new review does not include any policy-violating content or spam. Wait a couple of days or even a week before writing the new review to avoid any further deletion. In the case of multiple incidents of review deletion, this step becomes very crucial.
Can Business Owners Delete Google Reviews About Their Business?
Business owners have some control over the reviews on their Google My Business page. They can flag or report reviews for removal by Google if they believe they are fake, spammy, or otherwise violate Google’s policies. However, they cannot directly delete reviews written by customers from their Google My Business page. Once a review is reported, Google’s team will review the report and decide whether to remove the review.
Even though business owners have some control, trying to have a legitimate review deleted can damage a business’s reputation and may intimidate customers from posting honest feedback. Business owners should instead focus on addressing legitimate concerns raised by customers in a timely and professional manner.
How Can I Prevent My Google Reviews From Being Deleted In The Future?
To prevent Google reviews from being deleted in the future, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with Google’s review policies and guidelines before writing reviews. Always be honest and specific about your experience with a business, providing context and details that help other readers understand your perspective. Avoid using language or tone that might be perceived as hate speech or spam, and be mindful of how often you post reviews for the same business.
Additionally, use your actual name when writing reviews, as posting reviews under pseudonyms or business names can raise suspicions. Wait before posting the review to make sure it does not sound ‘too good to be true.’ When possible, add images and be respectful in your reviews – following these practices can lead to your reviews being considered accurate and legitimate.
Does Google Deleting My Review Affect My Account Or Ranking?
Having a review deleted by Google typically doesn’t directly impact your Google account or ranking. However, if you consistently have reviews deleted due to policy violations or suspicious activity, it may raise suspicions about the legitimacy of your reviews and could eventually lead to further consequences. In extreme cases, if your account is found to be posting numerous fake or fraudulent reviews, Google may choose to restrict or delete your account altogether.
In the case of a business owner whose review is consistently deleted by Google’s system, their reputation and local SEO may face potential setbacks. Be careful not to post or write reviews that would be considered suspicious or fake, and carefully follow the terms and conditions specified by Google to maintain your credibility on the platform.