In an attempt to remove false reviews, Google has mistakenly removed legitimate reviews from verified profiles. Google’s full statement reads:
“In our ongoing efforts to remove fake reviews from Maps, we’ve experienced an increase in reviews being removed from businesses. We are inspecting our tools and systems to ensure that any legitimate reviews are reinstated.”
For some businesses, a few reviews are missing – while others are missing all their reviews.
It is still unknown if Google will (or even can) restore these; however, Google says it is working to resolve the ‘bug’ as soon as possible.
If you’re a client of ours, we’re watching your account like a hawk for you.
If you’re not currently a Wit client, reach out to your digital marketing company as soon as possible and ask what they’re doing to ensure your hard-earned reviews are protected.
This situation is an excellent reminder of why it’s important to have a system in place to collect reviews.
We’re keeping a pulse on this issue – we’ll keep you updated!