Vanishing Google Reviews

Have you noticed your Google Business Profile review count dropping, even as new reviews come in?

You're not alone. Many local businesses worldwide are reporting the same problem, and it's understandably frustrating.

Here's what's happening and what you can do about it.

The Problem: Reviews Are Disappearing (or Being Filtered)

The reviews are not being removed but are being hidden.

‍

One user retrieved the reviews directly from their Google My Business (GMB) API and separately from Google Maps through Outscraper. According to them, all the reviews were still there.

‍

Google appears to be actively filtering or hiding reviews from Business Profiles. While Google hasn't officially commented, this likely stems from ongoing efforts to combat fake reviews and enforce their review policies. In many cases, the reviews aren't permanently deleted, but they are no longer visible to the public.

What's Happening?

It's suspected that a recent update to Google's review algorithm is more aggressively flagging reviews. This could be due to various factors, including:

• Suspicious Activity: Patterns that suggest fake or incentivized reviews.
• Policy Violations: Reviews that violate Google's content guidelines (e.g., offensive language, personal information).
• Technical Glitches: Some issues may simply be bugs in Google's system.

Google has addressed the issue and is working on a fix. 

What You Can Do Right Now

Document Everything: Keep records of your review count, Case IDs, and any communication with Google.

Follow Google’s Review Recovery Process:

• Open Google Chrome and visit: support.google.com/business/gethelp.

• Ensure that you are logged into the right Google account connected to your business listing.

• In the "Which business do you need help with?" box, select your business listing (if you have more than one). 

• In the “Tell us what we can help with” type “Google Reviews Missing” and click “Next.”

• Then a new section opens up, in there choose “Review Missing.” and click on “Next Step”

• Click “Next Step” under "Resources."

• In "Contact options," choose your preferred language and select “Email.”

‍

• Fill in the required details: name, email, phone number, Business Profile ID, missing reviews count, timeframe, and reviewer names (if available). Describe the issue thoroughly.

• Submit your request and keep track of your case ID.
• Follow up with Google every few days for updates.
• If no resolution occurs within two weeks, reply to Google’s email stating that the issue remains unresolved.
• Google will escalate the issue to a specialist—continue following up until a resolution is reached.

What Not to Do (Crucial!)

• Never Buy Reviews: This violates Google's policies and can lead to penalties.
• Don't Offer Incentives: Offering discounts or rewards for reviews is also prohibited.
• Avoid Fake Accounts: Creating fake accounts to leave reviews is easily detected and harmful.

General Good Practices:

• Encourage Genuine Reviews: Ask satisfied customers to leave honest reviews.
• Make It Easy: Provide clear instructions and links to your Google Business Profile.
• Respond to Reviews: Engage with both positive and negative reviews to show you value customer feedback.
• Monitor Your Profile: Regularly check your review count and address any issues promptly.

Losing Google reviews is a serious concern, but it's often a temporary issue. By following these steps, you can increase your chances of getting your reviews restored and protect your online reputation.

We'll continue to update this article as more information becomes available.

‍

Let's get those reviews back for free!

Book a Call

Why Google My Business Matters for Local Traffic

When someone needs a service in your area, the first thing they do is pull out their phone and search on Google. That split-second decision could mean the difference between them walking into your business or your competitor's.

‍

If you want customers to always choose you, setting up your Google My Business (GMB) profile should be one of the first things on your checklist. It’s completely free and an incredibly effective way to boost your online visibility and attract potential customers.

‍

In this blog, we will explain how you can optimize your GMB profile to drive more local traffic to your business. 

Optimizing Your Google My Business Profile for Success

In order to give your GMB profile maximal visibility, you need to fill out all the necessary sections and make it as engaging as possible for someone scrolling through it.

‍

‍

1. Complete Every Section of Your Profile 

Provide accurate and up-to-date information in all fields, including business name, address, phone number, website URL, hours of operation, and products or services offered.

‍

Select the most relevant primary and secondary categories and write a compelling business description that highlights your unique value proposition and also includes a bunch of local keywords.

2. Add Engaging Photos and Videos

Upload high-quality images of your storefront or office, products/services, and staff members.

‍

Include videos like virtual tours of your business, product demos, and customer testimonials to further engage potential customers looking at your profile.

‍

Enhancing Your Visibility through Local SEO

You can create a lasting impression in the minds of local customers with a mix of uniformity, keyword targeting, and updating specific business details. 

1. Ensure NAP Consistency 

Your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) should be identical across all online platforms, including your website, Google My Business profile, and other online directories (Yelp, Facebook, and other industry-specific listings).

‍

Inconsistent NAP can confuse both customers and search engines like Google, ultimately hurting your local rankings.

2. Optimize for Relevant Local Keywords

Conduct local keyword research to identify the most common terms your target audience uses when searching for businesses like yours. 

‍

Blend these keywords into your business description, products/services, posts, responses to reviews, etc.

‍

Spend some time actually looking for relevant keywords instead of keyword stuffing with AI, and keep it authentic to the reader with a human touch.

3. Set Accurate Business Hours

Keep your hours of operation updated, including regular opening and closing times, holidays, and temporary closures.

‍

Incorrect hours can lead to false expectations, leaving customers frustrated and prompting them to leave negative reviews.

‍

Use Reviews to Build Trust and Engagement

Authentic customer reviews serve as a testament to the quality of your work. It is the voice of your customers that increases trust across a larger base of potential customers.

‍

‍

1. Proactively Request Reviews

Ask satisfied customers to leave a review on your GMB profile either in person after a positive interaction or via an email/text message post-purchase. 

‍

Make leaving a review as easy as possible by creating a direct link to your GMB review page and providing clear, concise instructions. 

2. Respond to All Reviews, Positive or Negative

Thank customers who leave positive reviews by showing your appreciation for their business and valuable feedback in the form of genuinely heartfelt replies.

‍

Address negative reviews constructively by acknowledging the customer's concerns and offering to make things right. If things escalate, take the conversation offline to cool things down.

‍

Responding to these reviews, regardless of their nature, shows you value feedback and are committed to customer satisfaction.

‍

Utilizing Google My Business Features for Engagement

GMB provides more than enough features that you can use to increase customer outreach and induce a positive sentiment toward your business. 

1. Create Engaging Google Posts

Share updates, announce the launch of new products/services, promote sales or special offers, and showcase upcoming events. Highlight customer stories directly on your GMB profile with regular posts. 

‍

Posts can include text, photos, videos, and call-to-action buttons. 

2. Your Q&A Section is a Goldmine

Identify the most commonly asked questions customers have about your business and post these questions and their answers in the Q&A section of your GMB profile.

Upvote the most helpful answers to increase their visibility.
‍

By seeding it with frequently asked questions, you can save time answering repetitive inquiries, ensure accurate information is provided, and highlight your key selling points and differentiators.

3. Enable Messaging for Direct Communication

Turn on the messaging feature in your GMB dashboard—your direct line to ready-to-buy customers. This simple GMB feature lets local customers instantly book appointments and get answers about your services—right when they're most interested. 
‍

Turn on notifications and assign dedicated staff to promptly respond to incoming messages. 

‍

When someone finds your business, make it easy for them to become your next customer with one-click messaging. 

‍

Making Data-Driven Improvements with GMB Insights

Google My Business also provides you with a lot of insights (backed by crystal clear data) to analyze your online presence and accordingly make tweaks to further improve your overall standing on the internet.

‍

1. Track Customer Actions on Your Listing

Track insights to identify the gap in your funnel. Analyzing how customers interact with your GMB profile. 

‍

Look for these key metrics:

- Direct searches for your business name
- Discovery searches for your products/services.
- Clicks to your website
- Requests for directions
- Phone calls
- Messages
- Bookings  

‍

For example, if you notice a high number of direction requests but low actual visits, it could indicate issues with your listed address or pin location. Ensuring your address is accurate and easy to locate can help translate more of those searches into real foot traffic.

2. Assess Search Query and Conversion Data 

See which search terms your business appears for. Track both discovery queries that display your listing and direct queries that drive visits to your website or location.
‍

Boost your listing’s performance with high-converting keywords in your business description, products/services, and posts.
‍
Top it all with monitoring search terms over time to adapt to shifting customer needs and preferences.

3. Regularly Audit Your Performance

Use GMB insights along with other analytics tools (for example, Google Analytics) to continually evaluate your business listing's performance.
‍

Look for trends, opportunities, and areas needing attention, like changes in search volume/query type, spikes/dips in customer actions, and differences in performance across locations (for multi-location businesses).
‍

Make data-driven optimizations to your listing by adjusting keywords and categories, refining your description and products/services, and updating photos and posts.

‍

Bringing It All Together 

Your GMB profile is the digital storefront that turns searches into sales. This is where your potential customers meet you for the first time.

‍

Strategic optimization and activity management on your GMB profile can yield exponential growth for your business. Gushwork makes it easy—our dedicated SEO managers (exclusively assigned to you) handle everything. Whether you want to set up Google My Business from scratch or optimize your existing profile, our end-to-end service ensures your business stands out when local customers are searching for you.

‍

Grow your Local Business with AI-Assisted SEO!

Explore Plans & Pricing

NotebookLM, Google’s new AI-driven note-taking app, has officially been launched to users across 200 countries. Originally introduced as "Project Tailwind" at Google I/O in 2023, NotebookLM aims to redefine how we interact with our notes and documents by leveraging advanced AI capabilities. 

‍

Whether you need to summarize lengthy texts, generate personalized study guides, or even transform written content into podcasts, NotebookLM promises to be a valuable tool for both students and professionals.

‍

In this article, we'll explore in detail what NotebookLM is and how it can enhance your research and learning experience, making these activities more dynamic, intuitive, and engaging.

Let’s grow your business
with AI-Assisted SEO.

Thank You!

We will get back to you soon. You can also book a call directly 
with us here.

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Trusted by 100+ Growth Leaders.

What is Notebook LM?

NotebookLM is an AI-powered note-taking app created by Google to help users get more out of their documents and notes. It works by combining the capabilities of advanced language models with your existing content, acting as a virtual research assistant that can provide concise summaries, simplify complex topics, and even generate new ideas based on your input. 

‍

It’s designed to enhance how you interact with and understand your own information, making the research process faster and more efficient. It can handle a context window of up to one million tokens, allowing for complex, nuanced discussions based on a large amount of information.

How is NotebookLM Different from Other Standard AI Chatbots?

NotebookLM stands out from other AI chatbots due to its ability to be "grounded" in your specific content. Unlike standard chatbots, which provide general answers based on large datasets, NotebookLM allows users to upload or link it to their documents, such as Google Docs, to create a tailored and context-aware AI assistant.

This approach transforms NotebookLM into a research companion that understands the exact information you’re working with.

‍

Also, NotebookLM’s integration within the Google ecosystem gives it a significant edge over standalone AI bots. Since it connects seamlessly with Google Docs, it brings AI assistance directly where your information is stored, allowing for a smoother workflow without the need to switch between multiple apps or platforms.

‍

Key features of NotebookLM

The Notebook Guide

One of the standout features of NotebookLM is the "Notebook Guide," a central dashboard designed to help you make the most of your documents in an organized and insightful way. When you upload a document, the Notebook Guide presents you with an overview that makes engaging with the content easy and more productive.

‍

Here’s what you’ll find in the Notebook Guide:

‍

• Quick Summary: At the core of the Notebook Guide is an automatically generated summary of your uploaded content. This gives you a clear and concise understanding of the key points, saving you the time of sifting through long documents. It’s useful for quickly familiarizing yourself with the material and understanding the major takeaways at a glance.
  
  
• Suggested Questions: The guide provides a set of tailored questions that you might want to explore based on the content you uploaded. This feature encourages deeper engagement with your material and helps you think about new angles or details that might otherwise be overlooked.
  
  
• Quick Actions for Content Creation: Several options for creating useful summaries are available with just a click. You can create FAQ pages, study guides, tables of contents, timelines, or briefing documents from the uploaded content.
  
  
• Deep Dive Conversation: Another powerful feature of the Notebook Guide is the "Deep Dive Conversation" tool, which allows you to generate a discussion-style content format involving two hosts, available in English. This feature turns the information into a podcast-style conversation, where two hosts explore the material in a detailed and engaging manner.

Asking Questions

NotebookLM provides the ability to ask questions in natural language about your uploaded documents, making it more than just a static note-taking app. This transforms your documents into an interactive experience, allowing you to gain insights, clarify doubts, or explore specific areas of interest easily.

‍

“I’d say more like talking to your documents.”

‍

You can ask questions to NotebookLM by:

‍

1. Clicking Suggested Questions: On the right side of the Notebook Guide, you'll find a list of suggested questions automatically generated based on the content of your uploaded document. Clicking on any of these questions will provide you with an in-depth response, helping you to start your exploration effortlessly.
   
   
2. Typing Your Own Questions: At the bottom of the page, there's a bar where you can type in your own question. This makes it easy to ask anything that comes to mind regarding the content, offering a flexible and intuitive way to interact with your documents.

‍

For instance, if you type "How is Gushwork revolutionizing the growth for businesses using AI?" the chat feature will generate a relevant and insightful response based on the uploaded content.

‍

‍

The answers provided include specific citations that indicate exactly where the information came from within your document or website. These references appear as small numbers in grey ovals beside the answer text.

‍

When you click or hover over a reference number, the "Source Guide" opens, highlighting the specific section of your document that supports the answer. This feature allows you to verify the information easily.

‍

Creating Podcasts

Currently, NotebookLM offers a "Deep Dive Conversation" option, where the two AI hosts discuss the most important parts of your content in a podcast-style format. To create one, simply click "Generate" under the Audio Overview section, and after a few minutes, your personalized podcast will be ready.

‍

Unlike standard text-to-speech tools, this feature goes a step further by creating an engaging conversation between two AI voices. These voices discuss the key points of your document in a natural, human-like tone, making it feel just like you’re listening to an actual podcast. It’s an innovative way to absorb information, especially for those who prefer listening over reading.

‍

The length of the generated podcast can be anywhere between 6 and 15 minutes, but it’s always focused on summarizing the most significant information, rather than covering every detail.

‍

This feature has great potential for both individuals and businesses.

Podcast Creation Using NotebookLM for Businesses

Businesses can now create their own podcasts based on articles they’ve already been publishing, turning existing written content into a dynamic audio experience. Imagine converting your blog posts, guides, or detailed reports into an engaging conversation that clients, team members, or readers can listen to anytime.

Podcast Creation Using NotebookLM for Individuals

Just the other day, an X (formerly Twitter) user uploaded all the SEBI board meeting notes into NotebookLM and created a podcast out of it. This is just one of many creative uses, showing how NotebookLM’s podcast feature brings convenience and accessibility to content consumption.

‍Organizing and Structuring Different Content Pieces

NotebookLM also helps you organize and structure your notes in a variety of useful formats. This capability makes it easier to present and retrieve information, whether you’re preparing for a study session, putting together a briefing, or creating an FAQ.

‍

There are a few ways to structure your content using NotebookLM:

‍

• Preset Formatting Tools: Within the Notebook Guide, there are five preset buttons FAQ, Study Guide, Table of Contents, Timeline, and Briefing Doc. You can use these to easily generate these different types of structured content. Simply clicking on one of these buttons allows you to instantly transform your document into a neatly organized format that meets your needs.
  
  

‍

• Saving Generated Notes: When you create a structured note, such as an FAQ, NotebookLM saves it as a new note with a blue “Saved Response” label. This helps you keep track of all the AI-generated notes for easy reference. While you cannot edit the specific content of the saved response, you can customize the title to keep everything organized as per your preference.

‍

All your saved responses can be collectively viewed, as shown in the image below.

‍

How to use NotebookLM?

Here’s a quick guide to help you begin:

‍

1. Sign In: Head to the NotebookLM website and log in using your Google account.
   
   
2. Create Your First Notebook: After logging in, you’ll see a guide prompting you to create your first notebook. Click on the “Create” button.
   
   
3. Upload a Document: After creating a new notebook, you can upload a document.
   
   NotebookLM offers five different ways to add content/some text:
   • Upload files from your computer in PDF, .txt, or Markdown formats.
   • Link directly to a website by entering its URL.
   • Copy and paste text directly into the notebook.
   • Link a Google Doc.
   • Link a Google Slideshow.

There is a limitation of uploading a maximum of 50 files, each containing up to 500,000 words. This is a current constraint because NotebookLM is still in its early stages, but these capabilities are likely to expand as the platform continues to develop.

‍

Where Can NotebookLM Make the Biggest Impact?

NotebookLM is a game changer for careers that are heavily reliant on thorough research, document analysis, and maintaining technical or legal accuracy. Here are some examples of roles where NotebookLM could provide significant benefits:

Legal Professionals (Lawyers, Paralegals)

Documentation: Legal research, case law, contracts, court rulings.

Why: Reviewing and drafting legal documents for compliance and case preparation can be time-consuming. NotebookLM can help summarize and quickly reference key legal points.

Technical Writers

Documentation: Manuals, user guides, software documentation.

Why: Understanding complex technical specs and transforming them into user-friendly guides becomes easier with structured summaries and generated study notes.

Compliance Officers/Regulatory Specialists

Documentation: Regulations, industry standards, compliance reports.

Why: Analyzing complex legal and regulatory texts is simplified by NotebookLM’s ability to generate FAQs and summaries for easy reference.

Research Scientists

Documentation: Academic journals, experimental protocols, grant proposals.

Why: Conducting literature reviews and documenting experimental results is more manageable with NotebookLM’s ability to generate concise summaries and study guides.

Medical Professionals (Doctors, Medical Coders, Pharmacists)

Documentation: Medical histories, pharmaceutical guidelines, medical codes.

Why: Reviewing medical research or guidelines efficiently helps medical professionals stay up-to-date and provide accurate patient care.

‍

There are many other areas where NotebookLM can be extremely helpful, such as for Project Managers, Patent Examiners, Quality Assurance Specialists, Archivists, Insurance Underwriters, and countless other professions that deal with extensive documentation and need organized, insightful summaries.

‍

Conclusion

NotebookLM can save you time, boost your productivity, and offer fresh perspectives on your work. The best way to see how NotebookLM can impact your workflow is to try it out yourself.

Experience firsthand how it takes your documents to the next level, simplifies complexity, and makes research and note-taking something to look forward to. Give it a try, and you might find it reshapes how you approach learning and working with content.

‍

Grow your B2B Business

with AI-Assisted SEO!

Explore Plans & Pricing