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Google Play Store reviews greatly influence a potential user’s decision-making and either boost or break an app’s brand image. However, there are multiple efforts underway to advocate for app reviews, especially when users opt to express their discontent through posting extremely negative comments and assigning low ratings in the app store reviews.

So, to manage these circumstances and save the reputation of the well-established apps, Google will post the reviews only after 24 hours, giving ample time for the Google Play algorithm and the app developers to respond and take measurements. 

Do you Know Google Play Store review policy

  • The new app reviews will not be visible to the public; an app developer will be able to see them. This will give you time to respond and fix the users’ potential issues before the review is made public.
  • The new policy will be stringent in detecting “suspicious” ratings. It will detect the involvement of an exaggerated review campaign to prevent unjust negative reviews from being shown to the public.
  • Google Play will also have enough time to identify and stop apps that use paid positive reviews. The 24-hour delay in the processing reviews will give time for Google Play Store to detect and prevent these campaigns.

Would I be penalized? | Google play store fake reviews

Google Play store app considers fake, inaccurate or a review posted multiple times as spam. It encourages the participants of the app market to follow the guidelines to facilitate the app developers and users a positive experience. Therefore, strict action will be taken against those who misrepresent their identity or source to post reviews.

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Key updates to Google Play store reviews and ratings 

  • A buffer time of 24 hours will be available for the Google Play store and the app developers before the new reviews go public. You can use this time effectively to identify the source, the authenticity, and the key issues affecting the app’s brand image and take the necessary action.
  • While a usual scenario will not need this scrutiny, it becomes vital when there is a sudden surge of reviews (positive and negative). It becomes imperative for you to identify the source and intention of the new reviews and filter them. 
  • By doing this, superficial app reviews get discarded, and the integrity of the app review system is retained. The new update to the Google Play store’s review policy ensures the interest and image of the app developers, app store users, and Google’s review system gets safeguarded.
  • Another major update that Google announces is users will now be able to see app reviews and ratings that are from similar devices. While the app will have the same ratings across platforms, different metrics will be considered depending on the form factor. This means a user using the app on Google’s Pixel Tablet and one using it on chrome will experience the app differently, giving the user a better impression of what to expect from their devices.

Conclusion.

Generally, it is advantageous for you to encourage your users to leave reviews and ratings to know how they like or dislike your app and its service. While a positive review or constructive feedback can benefit the app’s image and user experience, a negative review or a low rating can be detrimental to the app’s growth.

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Unfortunately, there are several ways by which reviews get manipulated and become highly adverse. However, the latest Google Play Store policy update is a step forward to weed the fake and malicious reviews and sustain your brand image in the app market.