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If you’ve noticed a sudden drop in the number of reviews on your Google Business Profile (GBP), you’re not alone. Many business owners have reported missing reviews, sparking concern about potential data loss or unfair removals. However, Google has acknowledged an ongoing issue that’s causing incorrect review counts to be displayed—but the reviews themselves are still intact.
What’s Happening?
Victoria Kroll, a representative from Google, recently posted an update in the Google Business Profiles Forum, explaining:
“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.”
This means that while your total number of reviews may appear lower than expected, they haven’t been deleted—just temporarily hidden due to a technical glitch.
Why This Matters for Businesses
For companies like Infinity Exteriors, where customer trust is at the core of everything we do, online reviews are more than just numbers on a screen. They serve as social proof for new customers researching our services, reinforce our reputation, and contribute to our local SEO rankings.
When reviews appear to be missing, it can cause unnecessary panic, both internally and externally. Customers who took the time to leave feedback may feel like their opinions were erased, and potential clients might question why the number of reviews has dropped. This situation highlights how important transparency is when it comes to online reputation management.
What Should You Do?
Right now, there is no action required on your end. Google is actively working to correct the issue, and your reviews should be restored soon.
However, before assuming your reviews are affected by this display error, consider the following:
- Google’s Review Policies: Some reviews are removed due to policy violations, such as spam, fake reviews, or inappropriate content. If your missing reviews contained questionable content, they may have been taken down for compliance reasons.
- Review Filter Updates: Google’s algorithm continuously filters out low-quality or potentially deceptive reviews. If you suspect a legitimate review was mistakenly removed, check Google’s review guidelines to ensure compliance.
- Help Center Resources: If your reviews don’t return after Google resolves the issue, you can reference their Help Center Article for additional troubleshooting steps.
Why Reviews Matter for Your Business
Google reviews play a crucial role in local SEO, trust-building, and customer decision-making. Losing even a few can impact your business’s credibility and rankings. That’s why it’s important to:
- Regularly encourage happy customers to leave reviews
- Respond to all reviews (positive and negative) to boost engagement
- Monitor your GBP for updates and changes
Final Thoughts
Google is actively working on a fix, so your missing reviews should be restored soon. If they don’t return, double-check Google’s review policies to ensure compliance. In the meantime, focus on delivering great service and encouraging new, authentic reviews—your online reputation will benefit.
For the latest updates on this issue, follow the discussion on the Google Business Profiles Forum.
At Infinity Exteriors, we take customer feedback seriously because it helps us continue delivering high-quality service. If you’re a business owner in the same situation, the best thing to do right now is to remain patient and stay focused on providing exceptional service that encourages more positive reviews over time.
By: Ethan Van De Hey
Kudos to Nick Frievalt for the helpful update.