Google reviews are a huge factor when it comes to a company’s website ranking and overall online presence.
The search engine giant has suggested that at least 89% of online users will go to the reviews section to decide whether or not to buy the product or service that this particular company has to offer. However, many companies have noticed that there is little stopping them from manipulating their star rating by submitting fake reviews.
Google has recently agreed to do more in an effort to prevent this from happening by removing fake reviews and sanctioning any individuals or businesses found guilty of manipulating Google reviews. Warnings will also be displayed on any profiles of businesses that use fake reviews.
This agreement has been put in place after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation in 2021 over Google breaching consumer law by failing to take action against fraudulent behavior on their platform. CMA chief executive, Sarah Cardell, stated:
“Fake reviews damage people’s trust and leave businesses who do the right thing at a disadvantage.”
Following these concerns, Google must now report to the CMA over a three-year period to ensure their compliance.
If you are a business that utilises Google’s reviews section as part of your Google Business profile, it will definitely be worth checking your reviews to ensure that they are all genuine and that you are not running the risk of failing to comply with these requirements. For more advice on how you get revolutionise your approach to digital marketing, get in touch with Engage Web today.
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