First off, why are Google Reviews important?
As a business, Google Reviews are valuable because they are an unbiased third party opinion. We are a community influenced by social proof and seeing a slew of positive Google Reviews tends to place the company in a preferable light. In addition, Google Reviews are a significant variable that contribute to a site’s search rank. When you search for “Coffee”, what pops up? Go ahead, try it! You get a description of coffee, yes. But, you also get a listing of places near you that sell coffee. And, as a local business, you really want to be on the list. As with all results on Google, the closer your business is to the top of the page, the better.
How do the Google Reviews get lost?
The main reason Google Reviews disappear is inactivity. Yes, there are other factors that may cause Google Reviews to disappear, but the big one is inactivity. When a business does not update its Google+ page for a period of 6 months, there is a high probability the listing will become unverified. After a 6 month hiatus, Google decides you are no longer interested in playing ball so it kicks you off the team. This affects page ranking and your precious reviews. Other reasons your reviews may have vanished include:
- Links in reviews
- Spam reviews
- Reviews are private
How do I keep them?
In order to prevent Google Reviews from evaporating, make sure you’re active on your Google+ account. Simple. Sharing other Google+ members’ content, posting updates and photos will keep your account active and work to preserve those precious reviews. This will also maintain/ grow your Google+ community and expand your reach on social media.
So, how can we get our reviews back now that we lost them?
Migs Bassig has a great set of steps to get your Google Reviews back:
- Log into Google My Business.
- In the upper left corner, open the menu and choose “All Locations”.
- If prompted, verify that you are authorized to manage this business and agree to the Terms of Service.
- Click “Manage Location”.
- From the Location page, click “Edit”.
- Open the Maps section.
- Click “Edit Marker Location”.
- Wiggle the map marker just a tiny bit and save.
If needed, contact Google Customer Support.
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