UPDATE Feb 13, 2025: It looks like the issue has been resolved, and the reviews are coming back!
In the past few days, businesses worldwide have noticed a sudden drop in their Google Business Profile reviews (we see it with our clients as well from Canada and USA). If your company has been affected, you’re not alone. Many businesses have reported missing reviews, with some losing only a few and others seeing dozens disappear overnight (One of our clients saw a crazy drop in their reviews from 594 to 299). Let’s be honest, we all rely on reviews today to make decisions and build trust with local businesses!
What’s Happening?
Multiple sources, including Search Engine Land, SERoundtable, and FTAdviser, have reported that Google is experiencing a bug that affects how reviews are displayed on Google Business Profiles. According to Google representatives, the issue is a display problem rather than a complete removal of reviews. While the exact cause remains unclear, Google has acknowledged the issue and is working on a resolution.
Why Are Reviews Missing?
There are two primary explanations for this phenomenon:
- Technical Glitch: Google has confirmed that the disappearing reviews are due to a bug that affects how they are displayed. The company has assured users that it is actively working to restore them. (hopefully this happens soon!)
- Policy Compliance: Some SEO experts suggest that Google has been removing reviews that don’t comply with its policies. However, in this case, the widespread and sudden loss of legitimate reviews points more towards a technical issue.
How This Impacts Businesses
Customer reviews help build trust, boost search rankings, and bring in new customers. If reviews suddenly disappear, it can hurt a business’s reputation and bottom line. Businesses that count on Google Reviews should stay aware of this issue.
What Can You Do?
If your business has been affected, here are a few steps to take:
- Monitor Your Reviews: Keep an eye on your Google Business Profile to check for any updates.
- Report the Issue: If you’ve lost a significant number of reviews, consider reporting the problem to Google’s support team. (You can try here: https://support.google.com/business/gethelp)
- Communicate with Customers: Let your customers know about the issue and encourage them to leave new reviews if necessary.
- Stay Updated: Follow industry news sources, we will also update this page as soon as we see things are coming back!
Final Thoughts
While Google has acknowledged the issue and is working on a fix, there is no official timeline for resolution. In the meantime, businesses should remain proactive in managing their online reputation. If you’ve been impacted, don’t panic- this is a known issue, and many others are experiencing the same problem. Stay informed, and hopefully, your reviews will be restored soon!