Have you ever found money in an old pair of clothes that you'd forgotten about? That’s exactly how it feels when we receive more positive reviews than we deserve. These reviews can significantly boost your visibility and influence potential customers to choose your business.
Unfortunately, some business owners believe they can achieve this artificially by buying fake reviews. Whether they are approached by someone promising to boost their ratings in days or they actively seek out such services, it’s never a good idea!
The reason? Google is flagging potentially fake reviews and displaying warnings to potential customers. Google's latest guideline addresses this.
Google's new warning for fake reviews
Imagine you own a local restaurant with a well-performing Google Business Profile that draws customers from your neighborhood. Life’s good—until, one day, a red triangular warning icon appears on your profile.
Google’s new warning reads, “Suspected fake reviews were recently removed from this place.” This is now visible on UK business profiles flagged for fake reviews. Such a warning can give potential customers second thoughts about visiting your restaurant—even your most loyal customers might hesitate.
Should you be worried?
Not necessarily. This warning primarily targets businesses that Google suspects of posting or buying fake reviews. If a business violates Google’s Fake Engagement Policy, it can face three common restrictions:
New reviews or ratings may be blocked for a set period.
Existing reviews or ratings may be temporarily removed.
- A visible warning will inform customers that fake reviews were deleted.
These measures are part of Google’s effort to maintain customer trust and deliver reliable search results. While businesses can appeal these actions, the process isn’t always smooth or guaranteed.
Prevention is better than reaction
The easiest way to avoid this situation? Don’t be tricked into buying fake reviews, no matter how tempting those quick fixes might seem. They might provide short-term benefits, but the long-term damage to your reputation can be irreversible.
Instead, focus on earning genuine customer reviews. Honest reviews—even if they’re not always glowing—can be just as persuasive as a million-dollar ad in winning over potential customers.
Comments