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Why Google May Remove Reviews from Your Business Profile

  • Writer: Sridhar Ramakrishnan
    Sridhar Ramakrishnan
  • Nov 7, 2024
  • 3 min read

1. Why does Google delete reviews from my profile?

Google removes reviews that violate its guidelines or are deemed potentially fake . This can include reviews that contain links , are overly promotional , look like spam , or come from users with no history of activity on Google . Google’s algorithms particularly scrutinize long reviews and those with the highest 5-star rating to ensure they are authentic.

2. Can I recover a deleted review?

If you believe a review was removed unfairly, you can try contacting Google Support and reporting the issue. However, in most cases, deleted reviews are a result of algorithmic action, and restoring them can be challenging. To avoid such situations in the future, ensure that all reviews comply with Google’s guidelines .

3. Why does Google delete most 5-star reviews?

According to our analysis, 89.6% of deleted reviews are those with the highest possible 5-star rating . Google removes them more frequently because they are considered potentially fake or overly promotional . Google’s algorithms pay special attention to these types of reviews to ensure they are authentic and not manipulating the company’s rating.

4. Does responding to reviews protect them from being deleted?

Unfortunately, no. Over 60% of deleted reviews had a response from the business owner, which means that simply responding to reviews does not protect them from being deleted. It is essential that reviews and responses comply with Google’s guidelines and do not contain elements that could be considered a violation.

5. Which days of the week are the worst for review deletions?

Most review deletions occur on Tuesdays and Wednesdays . This suggests that Google’s algorithms are most active on these days, and the number of deleted reviews is even three times higher than on weekends. It’s advisable to monitor your profile’s activity on these days and be prepared for potential review deletions.

6. Are reviews without content less likely to be deleted?

Yes, according to our analysis, only 18.3% of deleted reviews were those without content. This means that reviews with comments are more likely to be deleted, as Google’s algorithms verify not only the rating but also the content of the comment for compliance with guidelines.

7. Why are my reviews deleted only after several days or weeks?

Google rarely deletes reviews immediately after they appear. Google’s algorithms need time to analyze the data thoroughly. Our data shows that as many as 77% of deleted reviews remained on the profile for more than 10 days before being removed. This means that Google may monitor the history of a particular review and only later decide to delete it.

8. Does the length of a review affect its deletion?

Yes, according to our analysis, long reviews , both positive and negative, are more frequently deleted by Google. This could be because Google’s algorithms have more data to analyze, increasing the chance of detecting potential violations. As many as 81.84% of deleted positive reviews were longer than 11 words .

9. What steps can I take to prevent my reviews from being deleted?

Ensure that reviews are authentic , written by real customers , and comply with Google’s guidelines . Avoid overly promotional content , links , repetitive phrases, and language that might appear as spam . Regularly monitor your reviews and report those that may violate the guidelines.

10. Does Google only delete negative reviews?

No, Google deletes both negative and positive reviews if they violate the platform’s guidelines. According to our data, positive reviews longer than 11 words are deleted more frequently than shorter comments, which may suggest that Google’s algorithms pay special attention to their authenticity.

11. How can I check if my review was deleted?

If your review has disappeared from the profile, you can check this in your Google account by going to the “ My Reviews ” section. You can also use monitoring tools like Localo , which track deleted reviews and provide real-time updates to users.

12. How can I reduce the risk of review deletion?

Encourage customers to write honest and authentic reviews that describe specific experiences with your business. Avoid suggesting pre-made content filled with keywords that might look unnatural. Respond to reviews in a factual and empathetic manner, adhering to Google’s guidelines.

Summary:

The analysis of 50,000 deleted reviews on Google reveals clear patterns and trends that can help better understand Google’s review moderation rules . Deletions primarily affect high-rated reviews and those containing content. Google pays special attention to longer comments , both positive and negative. Most deletions occur at specific times, hours, and days of the week


 
 
 

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