5 Actionable Tips to Remove a Google Review

posted byPatrick Chemoul10/12/2020

Is there a method to remove a Google review?

Yes there is, not one but many!

Because a negative review on Google is an imperfection to your online reputation.

How to remove a Google Review?

A negative review on the world’s most popular search engine is a terrible thing for your business.

As it directly reflects your brand’s trust and credibility score, according to many SEO experts.

Thankfully, there are various ways in which you can get rid of them.

In this article, we present you a total of 5 tips to remove a bad Google review.

1. Request the Customer to Edit their Review

Want to have a better chance of deleting or editing the review?

Then make sure that you always respond to reviews in a responsive and efficient manner.

This will help you in retaining the client and changing his opinion about your business.

Address explicit issues raised by the customer and let them realize that you're focused on providing them with a solution.

Moreover, remember to thank the client for setting aside the effort to share their considerations.

As their criticism is incredibly profitable to your business. Why?

Because they point you in the right direction & help you improve the quality of your customer service.

To other potential clients, when a business responds to negative Google review it provides a caring image of your business.

The customers realize that your business listens to its customers and tries to resolve their issues.

Remember, Google reviews are not ever-lasting.

Any customer who has reviewed your business can erase or change their review, however, you'll need to alter their perspective first.

In the first place, decide if this is a sensible individual who really could alter their perspective.

However, the customers won’t likely change their perspective if:

  • They left an extensive rundown of complaints.
  • Or your service does not suit them.

But you still have to respond to their review in a polite fashion.

As this will make a good impression of your business to other potential clients.

On the other hand, there are clients who leave a bad review because of other reasons.

Like something just went wrong or they didn’t get a good vibe from your business.

Or maybe the client left an awful review as your business was just having an off day or something.

These are reviews that are well on their way to be fixed.

Attempt the accompanying procedure to fix them:

  • Respond
  • As mentioned above, responding to any review, whether good or bad is crucial in getting more positive Google reviews.

    In case of a bad review, express gratitude towards them for setting aside the effort to compose a review.

    And apologize for your mistake. Address and resolve their concern.

  • Deliver
  • If the customer contacts you personally or visits your business, make sure you make it up to them.

    Provide them with your contact info and request them to revisit for a special offer.

  • Follow Up
  • Following up after resolving their problem is a great way to convert a negative review into a positive one!

    Make sure you have resolved your client's issues.

    Then feel free to inquire as to whether they still feel negatively about your business.

    Make follow-up calls. Send an email. Urge them to revisit your business.

    Have you successfully won them over? If so, well done!

    These are the customers that can become the “Golden Goose” for your business.

    As their feedback can make them your business’ most dominant business promoters. These will also make sure that you often get high star rating for your business.

Make sure to instruct your customers on the process of deleting a Google Review.

To delete a Google review follow these steps:

  • Sign in from the Google account from which the review was posted.
  • Now open Google Maps.
  • Click “Menu” present in the upper left corner.
  • Now click "Your reviews" and then select "Reviews."
  • Alongside the review you need to alter or erase, click “More”.
  • Now pick an option and adhere to the instructions.

2. Flag & Respond

A negative review can stain the online standing of your business.

This is true, particularly if the review highlights in a Google search result when a user searches your business on Google.

If the reviewer doesn't look or sound authentic, then there’s a chance that it might be a fake Google review.

SEO experts recommend that you see your records, and check whether you have worked with this individual.

Additionally, check the other reviews that the person has left on other business listings.

Fake reviews will in general be vague, while genuine reviews will incorporate insights concerning that customer’s experience.

In case you're genuinely sure the Google review is fake do the following things:

  • First mark it as spam and report it.
  • Upon flagging the review as ‘spam’ a message will show up saying “This review has been flagged and reported to Google"

    It will act as a signal to other potential customers to not pay attention to this review.

  • React to the review and express that you are unable to identify the reviewer as a client.
  • And if the reviewer has made any false statements then you have to refute them in a calm manner.

When business owners report the fake online review, Google will check it and may delete it.

Be that as it may, there are a many Google Business listings throughout the world.

And, that is why if the survey is clearly not inappropriate or abusive then, it's probably not going to be deleted.

A solution to it would be to flag the review a number of times.

And most importantly taking your case to Google Community forums.

3. Bury Bad Reviews

Did you know the vast majority of people read under 6 reviews of a business?

This implies, that if you are unable to remove a bad review, then you have a solution.

Which is to get more positive reviews to push that negative review way down.

For example, if you get six positive reviews, the vast majority of people won't see the one bad one.

And, if you get 10 positive reviews then for 90% of the customers, the one bad review will become non-existent.

But now the question is how do you get more Google reviews?

It won’t happen overnight, but it is possible to do so by following these steps.

Set up a survey accumulation booth in the store.

  • Make it a routine to request clients to leave reviews for your business.
  • Put a review request demand at the end of receipts.
  • Begin a review contest or campaign.
  • Email clients to and request a review.
  • Follow up on your emails to increase your chance of getting reviews.
  • Train your employees to request Google reviews.
  • Contact previous consumers to review your business.

To make the process smoother, create a direct link for Google reviews.

4. Rebrand your Business

Huge companies that have had genuine PR disasters know the incentive in rebranding.

WorldCom, the biggest accounting fraudster in U.S. history, progressed toward becoming MCI Inc (later Verizon Communications).

Marlboro producer Phillip Morris rebranded to Altria to separate themselves from deadly cigarettes.

Several other major and minor organizations have rebranded in comparable ways.

Rebranding is a great choice to consider when:

  • You have a great deal of bad reviews on Google and other platforms.
  • You don't see any other viable solution.

Note: Rebranding your business will take your current business off the map.

So this should just be done as a final retreat.

A rebrand implies physically and carefully changing your business.

This implies changing your business name, logo, and site, completely.

By doing this, you'll have to close your Google Business listing and educate Google that the past business has shutdown.

You'll see this choice in your Google Business account.

And you can likewise utilize the "Feedback" alternative at the base of your search results card.

This will raise a message box to "mark as closed, non-existent, or duplicate."

It will set aside some effort for Google to confirm this. However, the posting will in the long run vanish from indexed lists.

At that point, you'll have to enlist another Google Business account.

Then add your new business name, telephone number, site, address, and other data.

This implies beginning from a fresh start, so assembling great reviews directly from the beginning will be significant.

Exercise Caution: Keep in mind this is a step that will totally change your business.

And you’ll begin with a spotless notoriety.

This isn't an approach to just deceive Google, stunt clients, and keep the remainder of your business the equivalent.

"Closing" your business so as to dispose of awful reviews and afterward reviving it again under the same name won't work.

And you might be banned from Google as you will come under someone who violate Google’s terms of administration.

A full-scale rebrand is a major endeavour. Consider this choice cautiously and contemplate on fixing your online business’s reputation first.

5. Take Legal Action

At times, you may realize the reviewer is clearly making false accusations.

They might be an irate ex-worker, a competitor, or somebody who holds enmity towards you.

For this situation, you might need to take legal action. Here’s how this should be done:

  • To start with, react and flag the review.
  • Then if you are sure you know the person who posted the review, send them a message. Ask them, pleasantly yet in a solid tone, to remove the bogus review.
  • If you accept the review is fundamentally harming your business, you might need to make a legal move.
  • Composing false explanations about an individual or business can qualify as libel or injurious falsehood. And might be reason for a civil suit. To do this, you should be able to prove that the statements are false.
  • Simply send the reviewer a cease and desist notice through an attorney. This will most likely persuade the reviewer in deleting the review. This will eliminate the need of a full legal case altogether.

Remember, the reputation of your business is a sacred thing.

And, the most ideal approach to secure it is to maintain a legitimate business. Despite the fact that it might appear glaringly evident sometimes.

On the other hand, replying to negative reviews is also a major factor in increasing your business’ reputation.

Because in this way, potential clients will realize that you care what your customers have to say.

It's additionally a smart thought to normally ask clients with positive encounters to review your business.

This will allow you to get more Google reviews and boost your business in a positive manner.

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