How to Remove Bad Reviews From Google Local

Remember about the last time you traveled. After you arrived at your destination and checked in at your hotel, what did you lot do next? If you're like me, you probably thought virtually where you were going to consume. But when y'all're new to an surface area, how exercise you detect a practiced spot?

Rather than request the hotel clerk — who's probably a local and has eaten at every place nearby — near of us take out our phones and do a quick Google search. Studies show that 82% of customers won't patronize a business until they've read the reviews. And, since Google is the preferred review site for 64% of consumers, that means just one poor review could determine whether or non yous choose to eat at a restaurant.

Every company hopes to receive positive feedback, merely the fact is that customers who have poor experiences are more likely to write an online review. It'due south your customer service team's job to proceed track of Google reviews and remove the negative comments that are harmful to your business concern.

In this mail service, we'll break down what a Google review looks like, how to delete them, and what to do if you can't.

What is a Google review?

Before nosotros leap into how you tin delete Google reviews, nosotros should first clarify what a Google review is. Other review sites tin can be confused with the Google review interface. Google'due south review site is unique because information technology's integrated straight into the search engine as well as its apps and business tools.

To identify whether the review you're looking at is a Google review or not, wait for the following elements:

• A hyperlink next to the star rating reads "Google reviews" or "# Reviews". This link will take you to individual reviews that users have written.
• In that location are no other company names on the review.
• A rating scale numbered from one to five. This won't e'er be visible, but information technology can assistance you lot recognize a Google review if yous encounter one.

For example, have a look at the Google review page for HubSpot. Y'all'll notice each of the elements we listed above. This review appears in Google Maps, then it's integrated into the Google interface which makes information technology more than clear that it is a Google review.

Can you delete a Google review?

Unfortunately, Google doesn't offering a simple "delete" option for its reviews. Instead, in that location are simply two means that a review tin be removed. The person who posted the review can delete it or your business can "flag the review every bit inappropriate." Flagging the review alerts Google that the review is imitation or that it doesn't comply with Google'south review policies.

Later on that, yous'll exist guided to the landing page beneath where y'all'll need to complete a brief report of the issue and submit your email for follow-up communication.

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It's important to note that Google has built-in spam checkers that automatically clarify a review for inappropriate, irrelevant, or misleading content. While this characteristic is pretty reliable, inaccurate reviews are sometimes overlooked which can lead to negative perceptions of your business organisation.

In this example, yous'll desire to take matters into your own hands and written report the review yourself. Here's how to do that.

How to Delete a Google Review

1. Open Google Maps and locate your business.
2. Find the review on the Google reviews folio.
3. Click the 3 vertical dots to the right of the review.
4. Select the option Study Review.
5. Choose an pick for the question: What's incorrect with this review?
6. Report the Google review.

1. Open up Google Maps and locate your business organization.

2. Find the review on the Google reviews folio.

3. Click the 3 vertical dots to the correct of the review.

4. Select the option Study Review.

five. Choose an option for the question "What's wrong with this review?".

6. Report the review to Google.

When to Flag a Google Review

According to Google, the topics below are confronting its user terms and conditions. Therefore, if you notice a review that falls nether ane of these categories, your team can request to remove that content.

Irrelevant Comments

Google wants to make sure its users are getting accurate information nearly your business. So, if you lot're seeing comments that don't pertain to your system or a client's experience, you should flag these reviews for Google to remove.

Illegal Content

Some businesses provide products or services that are illegal in sure locations. Google accounts for this by prohibiting users from posting reviews that contain links to websites or electronic mail addresses that sell illegal products. This also includes images that promote products or special offers.

Inappropriate/Offensive/Explicit Content

Google will remove whatever content that information technology views as "obscene, profane, or offensive." It will besides remove reviews that are threatening or contain derogatory comments. If you come up across any reviews like these, exist sure to flag them immediately to protect your brand'south image.

Conflicts of Interest

Google wants its reviews to be equally unbiased as possible. Therefore, you tin't post a review of a company that you own or work for. You also can't postal service a review of your competitor, as this would allow y'all to manipulate their rating in your favor.

Impersonation

Google values the accuracy of its reviews as well. It doesn't want to misrepresent a business or provide deceptive content to its users. Because of this, all Google reviews must be published by the person writing the review. You can't publish the review on someone's behalf or pretend to exist someone else when submitting your review.

Disadvantages of Reporting a Google Review

As you can imagine, this process is slow and doesn't guarantee that your review volition exist removed. And, even if Google does decide to remove it, there's no telling when it volition actually be taken down. In that fourth dimension, your business could lose thousands of customers if you wait for Google to handle the issue.

The other major setback is that Google won't remove a review just considering information technology'south negative. The betoken of Google reviews is to provide users with unbiased feedback from other customers' experiences. If those experiences are poor, Google wants its users to exist aware of them. So, if you're upset with a customer's opinion, the odds aren't in your favor for a removal.

Instead, your client service team needs to have activeness if you want to remove a negative Google review.

Ways to Handle Google Reviews

1. Answer to the customer's review.

The most effective way to handle a negative customer review is to answer to it. If your squad made a mistake that inspired a negative review, a genuine apology can go a long mode in irresolute the perception a potential client has of your brand. If it's a positive review, an beholden response makes an impact, besides. Remember, these reviews are public for the client equally well as your business, and customers don't desire to look like the villain when your team responds underneath with a polite bulletin.

2. Inquire the customer to delete it.

The customer may respond positively to your squad's comment but cull to leave the review upwards anyway. They may retrieve the matter is closed and that other users will encounter the review as an instance of your great customer service. While we appreciate the sentiment, yous and I both know nosotros'd rather accept the review removed so other customers only come across the positive experiences at your company.

In these cases, reach out to the client to meet if they will remove the review. If possible, message them on a private platform like email, so the customer doesn't experience pressured past your request. Thank them for reading your reply and enquire them if they volition consider the removal of the review in low-cal of their recent experiences with your visitor. Exist sure to remain patient and don't make any demands on the customer.

3. Solve the customer's problem.

This 1 may seem obvious, but customers oftentimes leave negative reviews considering their original need from your business was never fulfilled. For case, yous may enjoy the customer service at a eatery but hate the food they serve y'all. Even though your beefiness — pun intended — isn't with the restaurant'southward staff, your review notwithstanding gets counted nonetheless.

It's of import to recognize the issues that customers are reporting in your negative reviews and take activeness to correct them. Once you practice, follow up with the customers who left poor reviews and meet if they're willing to try your product or service once again. Brand it articulate that you lot have taken steps to correct your past mistakes and y'all still value their relationship with your business organisation. While y'all may not win every customer over, this promotes a client-centric civilization for your brand'southward reputation.

4. Follow up with customers.

Ane mutual statistic that customer service experts like to bespeak out is that 85% of customers believe reviews older than three months are irrelevant. However, this stat neglects that these older reviews withal count towards your business'southward overall rating on Google. That rating is extremely important because 52% of customers will not buy from a business concern if information technology has less than a 4-star rating.

Additionally, a lot can change with your business concern as you grow and develop over fourth dimension. A Google review that was posted ii years agone may not be equally authentic today. If the user is still active, try to contact them via the review and run across if they would be willing to edit their mail service. Or, offering them an incentive to try your product or service once more in exchange for an updated review.

5. Authenticate the review.

Believe information technology or not, some people on the internet are mendacious. Information technology gets worse. Some people volition even write fake reviews to demolition their competitors' business.

If you're dubious of a review's authenticity, wait for signs that would confirm it is a fake. Simulated reviews oft lack details and seem similar they could apply to almost whatsoever business. Bank check to run across if the reviewer has left whatsoever other reviews and if they have a moving-picture show listed with their business relationship. Then respond to the review. If you don't get a response, flag the post as inappropriate and await for Google to review your study.

The Power of Google Reviews is in Your Easily

Waiting for Google to remove a review from its search engine can be time-consuming and tedious. Yet, the steps listed above should assist your client service team apace address negative Google reviews and meliorate your relationship with new and existing customers.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in Jan 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

Originally published Sep 21, 2021 2:45:00 PM, updated November 12 2021

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Source: https://blog.hubspot.com/service/delete-google-reviews

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