Think about the last fourth dimension you lot traveled. Afterwards you arrived at your destination and checked in at your hotel, what did you exercise next? If you're like me, you probably idea virtually where yous were going to eat. But when you're new to an surface area, how practise you lot find a skilful spot?

Rather than asking the hotel clerk — who'southward probably a local and has eaten at every place nearby — about of the states take out our phones and practice a quick Google search. Studies bear witness 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 only one poor review could determine whether or not you lot 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. It's your customer service team's task to go on track of Google reviews and remove the negative comments that are harmful to your business organisation.

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

Download Now: 20 Review Response Templates

To place whether the review you're looking at is a Google review or not, look for the post-obit elements:

  • A hyperlink side by side to the star rating reads "Google reviews" or "# Reviews". This link will take you to individual reviews that users have written.
  • At that place are no other company names on the review.
  • A rating scale numbered from 1 to v. This won't e'er be visible, but it can help y'all recognize a Google review if you see 1.

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, and so it'southward integrated into the Google interface which makes it more clear that it is a Google review.

how to find google reviews

Can you lot delete a Google review?

Unfortunately, Google doesn't offering a simple "delete" selection for its reviews. Instead, there are only two ways that a review can be removed. The person who posted the review can delete it or your business concern tin can "flag the review every bit inappropriate." Flagging the review alerts Google that the review is simulated or that it doesn't comply with Google's review policies.

After that, you'll be guided to the landing page below where you'll need to consummate a brief report of the outcome and submit your electronic mail for follow-up communication.

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It's important to annotation 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 disregarded which can pb to negative perceptions of your concern.

In this case, you'll want to take matters into your ain hands and report the review yourself. Here'southward how to exercise that.

ane. Open Google Maps and locate your concern.

Find the review on the Google reviews page

2. Detect the review on the Google reviews page.

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

select the option to report the google review

iv. Select the choice Study Review.

5. Choose an pick for the question "What'southward wrong with this review?".

choose the correct option for "what's wrong with this review?"

6. Written report the review to Google.

report the google review thank you page

When to Flag a Google Review

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

Irrelevant Comments

Google wants to brand sure its users are getting accurate information about your business organisation. So, if you lot're seeing comments that don't pertain to your system or a client's experience, yous 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 too includes images that promote products or special offers.

Inappropriate/Offensive/Explicit Content

Google will remove any content that it views as "obscene, profane, or offensive." It will also remove reviews that are threatening or contain derogatory comments. If you run into any reviews like these, exist sure to flag them immediately to protect your brand's image.

Conflicts of Interest

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

Impersonation

Google values the accuracy of its reviews likewise. It doesn't want to misrepresent a business or provide deceptive content to its users. Considering of this, all Google reviews must exist published by the person writing the review. You tin't publish the review on someone's behalf or pretend to be 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 will exist removed. And, even if Google does determine to remove it, in that location's no telling when it will actually exist taken downwardly. In that time, your business could lose thousands of customers if you await for Google to handle the consequence.

The other major setback is that Google won't remove a review but because information technology'south 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 be 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 client service team needs to have action if you desire to remove a negative Google review.

Means to Handle Google Reviews

1. Respond to the customer's review.

The most constructive way to handle a negative client review is to respond to it. If your team made a fault that inspired a negative review, a genuine apology can get a long fashion in changing the perception a potential customer has of your brand. If it's a positive review, an appreciative response makes an bear upon, as well. Remember, these reviews are public for the customer as well every bit your business organisation, and customers don't want to wait like the villain when your team responds underneath with a polite message.

ii. Inquire the customer to delete it.

The customer may respond positively to your team'southward annotate merely cull to get out the review upwardly anyway. They may think the matter is airtight and that other users will see the review as an instance of your great customer service. While we appreciate the sentiment, you lot and I both know we'd rather have the review removed then other customers only meet the positive experiences at your company.

In these cases, achieve out to the customer to see if they volition remove the review. If possible, bulletin them on a private platform like e-mail, so the customer doesn't feel pressured past your request. Thank them for reading your reply and enquire them if they volition consider the removal of the review in calorie-free of their recent experiences with your company. Be sure to remain patient and don't make whatever demands on the customer.

3. Solve the customer'southward problem.

This one may seem obvious, but customers often leave negative reviews because their original need from your business was never fulfilled. For example, you may enjoy the customer service at a eating house merely hate the food they serve you. Even though your beef — pun intended — isn't with the restaurant'south staff, your review still gets counted nonetheless.

It's important to recognize the problems that customers are reporting in your negative reviews and have action to correct them. One time you do, follow upward with the customers who left poor reviews and see if they're willing to try your product or service once more. Make it clear that yous accept taken steps to correct your past mistakes and you all the same value their human relationship with your business organisation. While you may non win every customer over, this promotes a customer-centric civilisation for your brand's reputation.

iv. Follow up with customers.

1 mutual statistic that customer service experts like to signal 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's overall rating on Google. That rating is extremely important because 52% of customers will not buy from a business organisation if it has less than a iv-star rating.

Additionally, a lot can change with your concern as you lot abound and develop over fourth dimension. A Google review that was posted two years ago may not be as accurate today. If the user is still active, try to contact them via the review and encounter if they would be willing to edit their post. Or, offer them an incentive to attempt your product or service again in exchange for an updated review.

5. Authenticate the review.

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

If y'all're dubious of a review'southward authenticity, expect for signs that would confirm information technology is a fake. Fake reviews oftentimes lack details and seem similar they could apply to most whatever business organisation. Bank check to meet if the reviewer has left whatsoever other reviews and if they have a picture listed with their business relationship. Then answer to the review. If you don't get a response, flag the postal 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 deadening. However, the steps listed above should assistance your customer service squad quickly address negative Google reviews and improve your relationship with new and existing customers.

Editor'due south note: This mail was originally published in January 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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Originally published Sep 21, 2021 two:45:00 PM, updated Nov 12 2021