How Do I Get a Google Review Removed
Call up about the last time you traveled. Subsequently you arrived at your destination and checked in at your hotel, what did you practise next? If you're like me, you probably idea well-nigh where you were going to consume. Merely when you're new to an area, how do y'all notice a expert spot?
Rather than request the hotel clerk — who's probably a local and has eaten at every place nearby — most of us take out our phones and practice 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 ways just one poor review could determine whether or not you choose to eat at a restaurant.
Every visitor hopes to receive positive feedback, but the fact is that customers who have poor experiences are more than likely to write an online review. It'due south your customer service squad's chore to go along track of Google reviews and remove the negative comments that are harmful to your business concern.
In this post, we'll break down what a Google review looks like, how to delete them, and what to do if you tin't.
What is a Google review?
Before we spring into how you tin can delete Google reviews, we should first analyze what a Google review is. Other review sites can be confused with the Google review interface. Google's review site is unique because it'due south integrated directly into the search engine also as its apps and business tools.
To identify whether the review you're looking at is a Google review or not, look for the post-obit elements:
- A hyperlink next to the star rating reads "Google reviews" or "# Reviews". This link will take y'all to individual reviews that users have written.
- At that place are no other company names on the review.
- A rating calibration numbered from one to five. This won't always be visible, but information technology tin help y'all recognize a Google review if you lot come across one.
For example, take a look at the Google review page for HubSpot. You'll notice 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.
Tin you delete a Google review?
Unfortunately, Google doesn't offer a unproblematic "delete" pick for its reviews. Instead, there are just 2 ways that a review can be removed. The person who posted the review tin can delete information technology or your business organisation tin "flag the review as inappropriate." Flagging the review alerts Google that the review is fake or that information technology doesn't comply with Google's review policies.
After that, you'll exist guided to the landing page below where you'll demand to complete a brief report of the effect and submit your electronic mail for follow-upwardly communication.
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It'due south important to note that Google has built-in spam checkers that automatically clarify a review for inappropriate, irrelevant, or misleading content. While this feature is pretty reliable, inaccurate reviews are sometimes overlooked which tin lead to negative perceptions of your business.
In this case, you'll desire to have matters into your ain hands and report the review yourself. Here's how to practice that.
How to Delete a Google Review
- Open up Google Maps and locate your business concern.
- Discover the review on the Google reviews page.
- Click the iii vertical dots to the correct of the review.
- Select the choice Report Review.
- Choose an pick for the question: What's incorrect with this review?
- Written report the Google review.
1. Open Google Maps and locate your business organisation.
2. Find the review on the Google reviews folio.
3. Click the three vertical dots to the right of the review.
4. Select the option Report Review.
five. Cull 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 lot notice a review that falls under one of these categories, your squad can asking to remove that content.
Irrelevant Comments
Google wants to make certain its users are getting accurate information most your business. And then, if you'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 certain locations. Google accounts for this by prohibiting users from posting reviews that contain links to websites or email 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 information technology views as "obscene, profane, or offensive." It will also remove reviews that are threatening or comprise derogatory comments. If you come across any reviews like these, be sure to flag them immediately to protect your brand'south image.
Conflicts of Interest
Google wants its reviews to be as unbiased as possible. Therefore, yous can't post a review of a visitor that you own or work for. You as well can't postal service a review of your competitor, as this would let you to manipulate their rating in your favor.
Impersonation
Google values the accuracy of its reviews also. It doesn't want to misrepresent a business organization 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 be someone else when submitting your review.
Disadvantages of Reporting a Google Review
Equally you tin imagine, this process is slow and doesn't guarantee that your review will be removed. And, even if Google does decide to remove it, at that place'south no telling when it will actually be taken down. In that time, your business organization could lose thousands of customers if y'all wait for Google to handle the issue.
The other major setback is that Google won't remove a review just considering it's negative. The indicate 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 customer service squad needs to have action if y'all desire to remove a negative Google review.
Ways to Handle Google Reviews
1. Respond to the client'due south review.
The well-nigh constructive fashion to handle a negative customer review is to respond to it. If your squad made a error that inspired a negative review, a genuine apology can go a long mode 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 concern, and customers don't want to look similar the villain when your team responds underneath with a polite message.
2. Inquire the client to delete information technology.
The client may respond positively to your team's comment but choose to leave the review upward anyway. They may think the thing is closed and that other users will see the review equally an example of your great client service. While nosotros appreciate the sentiment, you and I both know nosotros'd rather have the review removed so other customers only meet the positive experiences at your company.
In these cases, attain out to the customer to see if they will remove the review. If possible, message them on a private platform similar email, and then the customer doesn't feel pressured by your asking. Give thanks them for reading your answer and enquire them if they volition consider the removal of the review in lite of their recent experiences with your company. Be sure to remain patient and don't brand any demands on the customer.
3. Solve the customer'south problem.
This one may seem obvious, but customers often leave negative reviews because their original need from your business was never fulfilled. For case, you may enjoy the customer service at a restaurant but hate the nutrient they serve you lot. Even though your beefiness — pun intended — isn't with the eating place's staff, your review even so gets counted all the same.
It's important to recognize the issues that customers are reporting in your negative reviews and take activeness to correct them. Once you exercise, follow up with the customers who left poor reviews and run across if they're willing to try your production or service 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 non win every customer over, this promotes a customer-centric culture for your brand'due south reputation.
4. Follow upwards with customers.
One common statistic that customer service experts similar 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'southward overall rating on Google. That rating is extremely important considering 52% of customers will not purchase from a concern if it has less than a 4-star rating.
Additionally, a lot can alter with your business organization as you abound and develop over time. A Google review that was posted ii years agone 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, offering them an incentive to try your product or service over again in exchange for an updated review.
5. Authenticate the review.
Believe it or non, some people on the internet are mendacious. Information technology gets worse. Some people will even write fake reviews to sabotage their competitors' business.
If you're dubious of a review's authenticity, look for signs that would confirm information technology is a simulated. Fake reviews often lack details and seem like they could utilize to almost any business. Check to see if the reviewer has left any other reviews and if they take a picture listed with their account. Then reply to the review. If you don't get a response, flag the mail service as inappropriate and wait for Google to review your report.
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. Withal, the steps listed above should help your customer service team quickly address negative Google reviews and improve your relationship with new and existing customers.
Editor'south note: This post was originally published in January 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.
Originally published Sep 21, 2021 ii:45:00 PM, updated Nov 12 2021
Source: https://blog.hubspot.com/service/delete-google-reviews
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