How to Take Down a Review on Google

Recall about the last time you lot traveled. Later y'all arrived at your destination and checked in at your hotel, what did you do adjacent? If you lot're like me, you probably thought virtually where you were going to eat. But when y'all're new to an area, how practice yous discover a adept spot?

Rather than asking the hotel clerk — who'due south probably a local and has eaten at every place nearby — most of usa accept out our phones and practice a quick Google search. Studies testify 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 you choose to eat at a eatery.

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

In this mail, 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 we jump into how yous tin can delete Google reviews, we should first clarify what a Google review is. Other review sites tin be confused with the Google review interface. Google'southward review site is unique because it'southward integrated directly into the search engine every bit well as its apps and business tools.

To place whether the review y'all're looking at is a Google review or non, wait for the following elements:

• A hyperlink next to the star rating reads "Google reviews" or "# Reviews". This link will accept you to private reviews that users have written.
• There are no other company names on the review.
• A rating calibration numbered from one to five. This won't ever be visible, simply it tin can aid you recognize a Google review if you see one.

For case, take a look at the Google review page for HubSpot. You'll detect each of the elements we listed above. This review appears in Google Maps, so it's integrated into the Google interface which makes it more clear that information technology is a Google review.

Can you delete a Google review?

Unfortunately, Google doesn't offer a unproblematic "delete" option for its reviews. Instead, there are simply two means that a review can be removed. The person who posted the review tin delete it or your business organisation can "flag the review as inappropriate." Flagging the review alerts Google that the review is fake or that it doesn't comply with Google's review policies.

After that, you'll exist guided to the landing page below where you lot'll need to complete a brief report of the outcome and submit your email for follow-upward advice.

Prototype Source

It's important to notation that Google has congenital-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 atomic number 82 to negative perceptions of your business.

In this case, you lot'll want to take matters into your own easily and report the review yourself. Here'south 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 iii vertical dots to the right of the review.
4. Select the selection Written report Review.
5. Choose an choice for the question: What'southward incorrect with this review?
6. Written report the Google review.

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

2. Find the review on the Google reviews folio.

three. Click the three vertical dots to the right of the review.

4. Select the option Report Review.

5. Choose an selection for the question "What's wrong with this review?".

half-dozen. Report the review to Google.

When to Flag a Google Review

According to Google, the topics beneath are against its user terms and atmospheric condition. Therefore, if you notice a review that falls under one of these categories, your team can request to remove that content.

Irrelevant Comments

Google wants to make sure its users are getting accurate data virtually your business organisation. So, if you're seeing comments that don't pertain to your organization or a client's experience, y'all 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 e-mail addresses that sell illegal products. This also includes images that promote products or special offers.

Inappropriate/Offensive/Explicit Content

Google will remove any content that it views every bit "obscene, profane, or offensive." It will also remove reviews that are threatening or contain derogatory comments. If you lot come across any reviews like these, be certain to flag them immediately to protect your brand's image.

Conflicts of Interest

Google wants its reviews to be every bit unbiased as possible. Therefore, you can't postal service a review of a visitor that yous own or work for. You lot also can't post a review of your competitor, as this would let you to dispense their rating in your favor.

Impersonation

Google values the accuracy of its reviews as well. It doesn't want to misrepresent a business concern 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'southward behalf or pretend to exist someone else when submitting your review.

Disadvantages of Reporting a Google Review

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

The other major setback is that Google won't remove a review just because it's negative. The point 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'south stance, the odds aren't in your favor for a removal.

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

Ways to Handle Google Reviews

one. Respond to the client'southward review.

The nigh effective way to handle a negative customer review is to respond to it. If your team fabricated a mistake that inspired a negative review, a genuine apology can go a long style in changing the perception a potential customer has of your brand. If it's a positive review, an appreciative response makes an impact, too. Remember, these reviews are public for the customer as well as your business, and customers don't want to look similar the villain when your team responds underneath with a polite bulletin.

2. Ask the customer to delete it.

The customer may answer positively to your team's comment but choose to leave the review upward anyway. They may think the affair is closed and that other users will see the review as an example of your neat customer service. While nosotros appreciate the sentiment, you and I both know we'd rather accept the review removed so other customers only see the positive experiences at your company.

In these cases, reach out to the client to see if they will remove the review. If possible, message them on a private platform similar email, and then the client doesn't feel pressured by your asking. Thank them for reading your answer and inquire them if they volition consider the removal of the review in light of their recent experiences with your visitor. Be sure to remain patient and don't make any demands on the customer.

three. Solve the client's trouble.

This ane may seem obvious, but customers ofttimes go out negative reviews because their original need from your concern was never fulfilled. For example, you lot may enjoy the client service at a eatery but hate the food they serve you. Even though your beefiness — pun intended — isn't with the eating place'southward staff, your review still gets counted all the same.

It'southward important to recognize the problems that customers are reporting in your negative reviews and take activity to correct them. One time y'all do, follow upward with the customers who left poor reviews and run across if they're willing to try your product or service over again. Make it clear that you have taken steps to correct your past mistakes and you still value their relationship with your business. While you may not win every customer over, this promotes a client-centric civilization for your brand's reputation.

4. Follow up with customers.

One common statistic that customer service experts like to point out is that 85% of customers believe reviews older than three months are irrelevant. However, this stat neglects that these older reviews still count towards your business concern's overall rating on Google. That rating is extremely of import because 52% of customers will not purchase from a business if it has less than a 4-star rating.

Additionally, a lot tin can change with your business as you lot grow and develop over time. A Google review that was posted ii years ago may not be as accurate today. If the user is still active, try to contact them via the review and see if they would be willing to edit their post. Or, offer them an incentive to try your product or service over again in commutation for an updated review.

5. Cosign the review.

Believe it or non, some people on the internet are mendacious. It gets worse. Some people volition even write fake reviews to demolition their competitors' business concern.

If you're dubious of a review'south authenticity, look for signs that would confirm information technology is a fake. Fake reviews often lack details and seem like they could apply to virtually whatever business. Check to see if the reviewer has left any other reviews and if they take a movie listed with their account. Then respond to the review. If you lot don't get a response, flag the post as inappropriate and wait for Google to review your study.

The Power of Google Reviews is in Your Hands

Waiting for Google to remove a review from its search engine tin be time-consuming and tedious. However, the steps listed higher up should assistance your customer service squad quickly address negative Google reviews and improve your relationship with new and existing customers.

Editor's note: This mail 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

vazquezmingthe.blogspot.com

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

Share this post