How To Avoid Getting Reviews Removed?
After the weekend of February 7–9, 2025, many businesses returned to the office shocked to find their hard-earned Google reviews had disappeared. These reviews were left by genuine customers, not paid reviewers. Thankfully, on February 10, 2025, Google confirmed that a technical issue had caused the confusion and that no reviews were permanently deleted.
Still, this incident raised questions about best practices for requesting reviews without violating Google’s guidelines.
Best Practices On Getting Reviews
Below are the strategies our team and clients have followed since the launch of Google Business Profiles (previously known as Google My Business). None of our reviews have ever been removed.
Don’t Use the Store’s Wi-Fi
If a customer uses your store’s Wi-Fi to leave a review, Google might view it as a self-posted review, increasing the risk that your customer’s feedback could be removed.
No In-Store Solicitation
Asking for reviews in-store can appear overly pushy or forced, and Google’s algorithm may interpret bulk, on-site review requests as manipulative, increasing the likelihood of them being flagged or removed.
Avoid “Review Bombing”
Receiving many reviews in a short span can trigger Google’s suspicion, making legitimate feedback seem artificial and leading the platform to withhold or delete a cluster of newly posted reviews.
Stay Positive and Fair
Encourage reviewers to share balanced opinions without disparaging other businesses, because Google views negative, conflict-laden comments as potential policy violations, heightening the chance of those reviews being flagged or removed.
Encourage Local Reviewers
Whenever possible, invite local customers who have physically visited your store, because Google’s location data can confirm their presence, boosting credibility and reducing the likelihood of reviews being flagged fraudulent.
No 5-Star Review Exchanges
Offering gifts exclusively for five-star reviews can be seen as manipulative by Google, so provide incentives for honest feedback instead of tying rewards strictly to top ratings.
No Double Dipping
Ensure that each customer only posts one review per Google Business Profile, as duplicate or repeated reviews may be flagged by Google’s algorithm and subsequently removed without warning.
No Review Gating
Instead of screening for only satisfied customers, invite all buyers to share honest opinions. Google penalizes selective requests, so aiming for transparent feedback ensures credibility and avoids potential policy violations.
How Does Google Know Everything?
Remember, Google has extensive data from Google Maps, Android, Gmail, Chrome and Google Analytics. It can often tell if a reviewer truly visited or communicated with your business.
