Why is the review showing "by a Google User" when the person has a Google+ Profile

[Nick.SEOSpark]

Why is the review showing "by a Google User" when the person has a Google+ Profile

Hi All,

Today, one of my clients acquired a new review from someone and we walked it through with them (at their location). They filled out their Google+ profile during the process (including name and photo)......They then completed the review and published it.

However, on the Google+ Local page, the review is visible but says "By a Google User" instead of their name.

- Any idea why this has happened?
- Is it a bug?
- Is it a problem? - It seems better having people's name on the reviews.
- Is this from a new update?

Many thanks in advance - Really don't want to get caught out on this!

Nick

 

[Linda Buquet]

Re: Why is the review showing "by a Google User" when the person has a Google+ Profil

Hi Nick,

I just posted about this issue in my bug report. See this post from this AM.

http://localsearchforum.catalystema...oogle-local-bugs-problems-roundup-report.html

ANONYMOUS REVIEWS SHOWING
I've seen several reports of this at the Google forum and have seen some in the wild as well. Should not be able to do anonymous reviews any more, but for some reason they are showing up lately. Here are a couple threads with examples. Why there still are anonymous reviews (new reviews) in our Google+ Local page? and Anonymous review left 2 weeks ago! How?

Jade in this thread says they are investigating. There is speculation these are coming in via mobile.

But we ARE trying to figure out what's causing it. Some speculation is that the reviews are from a certain mobile app.

Can you find out exactly how they left the review? Mobile or what browser, etc?

 

[Nick.SEOSpark]

Re: Why is the review showing "by a Google User" when the person has a Google+ Profil

Thanks for the quick reply Linda. i can give full details:

- Review done on a laptop (connected to home wifi)
- Internet Explorer
- Entered as a brand new Google+ user.
- Her profile shows up correctly on her page (photo and everything)

Hope that helps - It's a strange one!

---------- Post Merged at 06:05 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 06:01 PM ----------

Also, just to add: This is the 2nd review that has become "anonymous" for this client. The first one happened in December just before Christmas.

 

[Linda Buquet]

Re: Why is the review showing "by a Google User" when the person has a Google+ Profil

Thanks for the extra details Nick.

 

[Nick.SEOSpark]

Re: Why is the review showing "by a Google User" when the person has a Google+ Profil

Anyone else been suffering from this problem recently?

I'm not sure if it's still "in effect". Last week, I left a review for a business that I use from my own G+ Profile, and there was no problem of any kind. However, my G+ profile is used on a regular basis....It's not a newly setup account.

Can anyone report any recent occurrences of this bug?

 

[Linda Buquet]

Re: Why is the review showing "by a Google User" when the person has a Google+ Profil

I'm seeing a few reports trickling into the G forum about this recently so think it's still an issue.

 

[Nick.SEOSpark]

Re: Why is the review showing "by a Google User" when the person has a Google+ Profil

Thanks Linda - I will keep an eye on it myself.

Interesting that it didn't effect "myself doing a review". I have a Google+ profile that is updated/engaged every day.

It could possibly be targeted at brand new profiles. That would be sooooooo irritating!

 

[Andrew Sawyer]

Re: Why is the review showing "by a Google User" when the person has a Google+ Profil

Thanks Linda - I will keep an eye on it myself.

Interesting that it didn't effect "myself doing a review". I have a Google+ profile that is updated/engaged every day.

It could possibly be targeted at brand new profiles. That would be sooooooo irritating!

I've seen this show up on the Review crew linda write about in another thread. I suspect it happens when the Review profile for a G+ page is being suspended/monitored or otherwise scrutinized. I also think it could be when Google believes the profiles don't actually represent the person on the profile (ie fake profile). Has anyone seen someone post that their own review has showed up like this? Or is it just that businesses are 'surprized' that reviewers to their page are now anonomized?

 

[Nick.SEOSpark]

Re: Why is the review showing "by a Google User" when the person has a Google+ Profil

Hi Andrew. What you say is interesting. I really hope it isn't true as that will make "gettin reviews" far more difficult than it is currently. It will rely on customers giving reviews "all having fairly active" G+ profiles. As we know, G+ is struggling with mainstream users.

Anyway, I've seen the problem occur with new profiles even if they have gone ahead and select a profile photo. Something strange is going on and I hope it isn't what we are thinking!