Why Your Google Reviews Disappeared and What Aussie Businesses Can Do About It
For small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) across Australia, Google reviews are one of the most powerful tools for attracting customers, building trust, and boosting your visibility online. So when reviews suddenly vanish from your profile, it can be frustrating; and even a little panic-inducing.
The good news? There’s usually a reason for it. And more importantly, there are practical ways to fix it and in many cases, bounce back even stronger. This guide is written specifically for time-poor business owners who don’t have hours to dig through forums or policies. We’ll walk you through why reviews might go missing, how to recover them, and what to do next.
Why Google Reviews Matter for Local Aussie Businesses
Before we jump into the nitty gritty, it’s worth quickly recapping why this matters:
- 98% of Australians read reviews before making a purchase
- Positive reviews boost your Google local search ranking
- They directly influence who chooses your business over a competitor
Losing even a handful of reviews might mean losing potential customers. When you’ve worked hard to earn that trust, this really is something you want to avoid.
Common Reasons Your Google Reviews Disappeared
1. Google’s Spam or Fake Review Filters
Google’s automated systems filter out reviews that seem suspicious, even the legitimate ones. This happens if a review comes from a new account, gets posted alongside multiple others in a short time, or looks a little too generic.
2. Violation of Google’s Review Policies
If a review is incentivised (offering a discount or gift), comes from staff or family, or breaches the content guidelines, there’s always a possibility it might get removed. Sometimes this will happen without notice.
3. Changes to Your Business Profile
Updating your business name, address, or category can sometimes cause Google to treat your listing as “new”, resulting in temporary or permanent loss of reviews.
4. Profile Suspensions or Reinstatements
If your Google Business Profile was recently suspended and reinstated, some reviews may have been removed or delayed in the process.
5. Duplicate Reviews or Flagged Content
Copied-and-pasted reviews or those that seem a bit too similar to others might be flagged and removed by Google.
6. Reviews Still Processing
Some reviews, like those with photos or certain keywords for example, may be held for moderation and appear after a short delay.
7. The Reviewer Deleted It
The customer may have removed their review or deleted their Google account. When that happens, the review will disappear with it.
8. Technical Bugs or Algorithm Updates
Google occasionally makes backend changes that sometimes temporarily affect how reviews are displayed. Usually they’re sorted quickly however.
Getting Your Missing Google Reviews Back
You can’t recover every review, but here are some steps you can take to try:
- Check that your Google Business Profile is verified and in good standing.
- Look into any recent changes to your business name, address, or category.
- Ask the reviewer if their review is still visible on their end. If it is, screenshot it.
- Contact Google Business Profile support via chat or the support form.
- Provide documentation (before-and-after screenshots, reviewer names).
- Wait a few days; some reviews are simply delayed because of moderation.
Tip for SMEs: Regularly monitor your Google reviews, not just when something goes wrong. Staying proactive means spotting issues early. Podium makes this easy by keeping all your reviews (Google and more) in one place. Respond quickly, be on top of any changes and keep your reputation strong.
Staying Clear of Revenue Loss
While you certainly can’t control Google’s algorithm, you can definitely do some best practices to prevent issues down the track:
- Try not to offer rewards or discounts in to try and win positive reviews
- Ask for honest, policy-compliant feedback from your customers
- Keep your NAP (name, address, phone) consistent everywhere online
- Don’t change your business name or category unless you really need to
- Take screenshots of standout reviews as a backup
- Automate the review request process to for steady, compliant growth
When to Move On and How to Bounce Back Stronger
Unfortunately, some reviews will never come back, even with support from Google. But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck. In fact, there’s no better time to shift focus and start laying the foundations for a stronger, more consistent review strategy for the future. Why? Because review sentiment over time matters more than any single review. Google values fresh, authentic feedback, and your customers do too.
Real-world example: A Sydney-based tyre and auto service business lost a dozen 5-star reviews after updating their business hours and service categories. Instead of waiting around, they used Podium to automate their review requests and collected 50+ new reviews in just six weeks. Not only did their star rating bounce back, but their local search ranking saw a positive boost too.
Podium gives you the tools to keep reviews coming in consistently, all with automated messages, smart templates, and tracking to make the whole process effortless.
Want to Stay in Control of Your Reviews?
For busy Aussie business owners, manually managing reviews just isn’t realistic. That’s where Podium comes in. This powerful, easy-to-use tool helps to automate review requests, respond quickly, and grow your online reputation with less effort.
Learn more about how Podium Reviews helps SMEs like yours or watch a free demo to see it in action today.
FAQs
Why did my Google reviews disappear overnight?
This is usually due to spam filters, policy violations, or recent profile changes.
How long do reviews take to show up?
Most appear within 24–48 hours, but some take longer if flagged for review.
Can Google delete reviews without telling me?
Yes. Reviews can be removed without notice if they violate policies.
Will I lose reviews if my business profile is suspended?
Possibly. Some reviews may return after reinstatement, but not always.
How do I contact Google for support?
Use the Google Business Profile Help Centre to access chat or submit a ticket.
Can changing my address or category cause reviews to vanish?
Yes. It may result in a “new” listing that doesn’t carry over past reviews.
Can I see who deleted their review?
No. Google doesn’t notify you when a customer deletes their review.
Can too many reviews at once trigger Google’s filters?
Yes. A sudden spike can look unnatural and cause reviews to be flagged.
