We’ve been keeping a close eye on a widespread issue affecting Google Business Profiles, where recent customer reviews either go missing or show up with an incorrect tally. Naturally, this has left many businesses—especially those that thrive on local credibility—feeling frustrated. Here’s our rundown of what’s happening and how you can navigate the situation.
What’s Going On?
Some Google Business Profile users report that their latest reviews are missing in action, or the total count is showing up short. The silver lining? Google confirms that the reviews are still there; it’s just a display bug causing them to vanish temporarily.
Key Highlights
- Reviews are not gone for good—they’re just not showing up.
- Google is on it—they’ve acknowledged the glitch and are working on a fix.
- Hold off on re-submitting—asking customers to repost could backfire.
- Review policy matters—in some cases, “missing” reviews may actually be removed due to violations.
Why This Matters
From a local SEO perspective, online reviews are gold. They impact your rankings, establish trust, and often seal the deal with potential customers. According to consumer research, 88% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. So, when legitimate reviews suddenly go AWOL, it can hurt sales and credibility.
Google’s Official Stance
A Google spokesperson acknowledged the problem, stating that some profiles might show fewer reviews than they actually have. The content isn’t truly deleted; it’s just not visible because of a display error. They’re currently working on restoring accurate counts.
Important Note:
Before reporting any missing reviews, double-check Google’s guidelines. Some reviews may have been removed due to spam, use of inappropriate language, or violations of Google’s review policies.
How to Manage (and Potentially Fix) the Outage
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Review Google’s Review Policy
Ensure your missing feedback wasn’t removed for any of these reasons:- Suspected spam or fake content
- Profanity or inappropriate content
- Other policy violations
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Monitor Your GBP Dashboard
Keep a regular tab on your Google Business Profile. As Google resolves the bug, missing reviews should start reappearing. -
Avoid Duplicate Review Requests
Don’t ask customers to re-submit feedback that appears missing. This could lead to policy flags. -
Stay in the Loop
Keep an eye on:- Google’s Help Center (for real-time updates)
- GBP forums (for user insights and potential workarounds)
Our Take at Emu Web Marketing
It’s no secret that missing or incorrectly displayed reviews can deal a blow to local businesses. However, Google has already acknowledged the glitch and is on the case. In the meantime, focus on the marketing channels and SEO strategies that are still within your control—build your brand presence, engage customers on social media, and keep your website content fresh.
Stay tuned for more updates from Emu Web Marketing, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need a local SEO partner on your side. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and share any major developments as they roll in.