Think about the final fourth dimension yous traveled. Afterwards you arrived at your destination and checked in at your hotel, what did yous practise next? If you're similar me, you probably thought near where you were going to eat. But when you're new to an area, how do you find a skilful spot?

Rather than asking the hotel clerk — who's probably a local and has eaten at every identify nearby — about of us have out our phones and do 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 just ane poor review could determine whether or non y'all cull to swallow at a eatery.

Every company hopes to receive positive feedback, merely the fact is that customers who accept poor experiences are more than likely to write an online review. It's your client service squad's job to continue track of Google reviews and remove the negative comments that are harmful to your business.

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

Download Now: 20 Review Response Templates

To identify whether the review y'all're looking at is a Google review or not, look for the following elements:

  • A hyperlink next to the star rating reads "Google reviews" or "# Reviews". This link volition accept y'all to individual reviews that users have written.
  • In that location are no other visitor names on the review.
  • A rating scale numbered from one to five. This won't ever be visible, only it tin can help you recognize a Google review if you see ane.

For example, take a await at the Google review page for HubSpot. Y'all'll detect each of the elements nosotros listed above. This review appears in Google Maps, then it's integrated into the Google interface which makes it more than clear that it is a Google review.

how to find google reviews

Can you delete a Google review?

Unfortunately, Google doesn't offer a simple "delete" option for its reviews. Instead, there are only ii means that a review can exist removed. The person who posted the review tin delete information technology or your business can "flag the review equally inappropriate." Flagging the review alerts Google that the review is fake or that it doesn't comply with Google's review policies.

Subsequently that, you'll be guided to the landing page beneath where y'all'll need to complete a cursory report of the effect and submit your email for follow-up communication.

Paradigm Source

It's of import to notation that Google has congenital-in spam checkers that automatically analyze a review for inappropriate, irrelevant, or misleading content. While this feature is pretty reliable, inaccurate reviews are sometimes overlooked which tin pb to negative perceptions of your business.

In this case, you'll want to take matters into your own easily and study the review yourself. Hither's how to practice that.

1. Open Google Maps and locate your business.

Find the review on the Google reviews page

2. Find the review on the Google reviews page.

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

select the option to report the google review

iv. Select the option Report Review.

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

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

six. 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 confronting its user terms and conditions. Therefore, if yous detect a review that falls under one of these categories, your team can request to remove that content.

Irrelevant Comments

Google wants to brand sure its users are getting authentic information most your business. So, if you lot're seeing comments that don't pertain to your organization or a customer'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 besides includes images that promote products or special offers.

Inappropriate/Offensive/Explicit Content

Google will remove whatsoever content that it views as "obscene, profane, or offensive." It volition 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 paradigm.

Conflicts of Interest

Google wants its reviews to exist as unbiased as possible. Therefore, you can't post a review of a company that you own or work for. You too can't post a review of your competitor, every bit this would allow 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 or provide deceptive content to its users. Because of this, all Google reviews must exist published past the person writing the review. Y'all tin't publish the review on someone'due south behalf or pretend to be someone else when submitting your review.

Disadvantages of Reporting a Google Review

Every bit you lot can imagine, this process is slow and doesn't guarantee that your review will be removed. And, fifty-fifty if Google does decide to remove it, at that place's no telling when it volition actually be taken down. In that time, your business could lose thousands of customers if y'all wait for Google to handle the result.

The other major setback is that Google won't remove a review simply 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's opinion, the odds aren't in your favor for a removal.

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

Ways to Handle Google Reviews

1. Respond to the customer's review.

The nearly effective way to handle a negative customer review is to respond to information technology. If your squad made a fault that inspired a negative review, a genuine apology can go a long way in changing the perception a potential customer has of your brand. If information technology'due south a positive review, an appreciative response makes an impact, too. Remember, these reviews are public for the customer equally well every bit your business, and customers don't want to wait like the villain when your team responds underneath with a polite bulletin.

2. Ask the customer to delete information technology.

The client may respond positively to your team'due south comment but choose to leave the review up anyway. They may think the matter is closed and that other users volition encounter the review equally an example of your slap-up customer service. While we appreciate the sentiment, you and I both know nosotros'd rather take the review removed so other customers only see the positive experiences at your company.

In these cases, reach out to the customer to see if they will remove the review. If possible, message them on a individual platform like email, so the customer doesn't experience pressured by your request. Thank them for reading your respond and inquire them if they will consider the removal of the review in light of their recent experiences with your company. Be sure to remain patient and don't brand any demands on the customer.

3. Solve the client'southward problem.

This one may seem obvious, but customers often leave negative reviews considering their original need from your business was never fulfilled. For example, you may enjoy the client service at a restaurant only hate the nutrient they serve you. Even though your beef — pun intended — isn't with the eating place's staff, your review still gets counted all the same.

Information technology'south important to recognize the problems that customers are reporting in your negative reviews and take action to correct them. Once you exercise, follow up with the customers who left poor reviews and see if they're willing to try your production or service again. Make it clear that yous have taken steps to correct your by mistakes and yous yet value their human relationship with your business. While yous may not win every customer over, this promotes a customer-centric culture for your brand's reputation.

4. Follow up with customers.

I 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's overall rating on Google. That rating is extremely of import because 52% of customers will not buy from a business concern if it has less than a iv-star rating.

Additionally, a lot can change with your business as y'all 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 meet if they would be willing to edit their post. Or, offering them an incentive to endeavour your production or service again in commutation for an updated review.

5. Authenticate the review.

Believe it or not, some people on the internet are mendacious. It gets worse. Some people will even write fake reviews to sabotage their competitors' business organisation.

If you're dubious of a review's authenticity, look for signs that would ostend it is a false. Fake reviews often lack details and seem similar they could apply to almost any concern. Cheque to encounter if the reviewer has left any other reviews and if they have a pic listed with their account. Then respond to the review. If you don't get a response, flag the mail as inappropriate and wait for Google to review your report.

The Ability of Google Reviews is in Your Hands

Waiting for Google to remove a review from its search engine can exist time-consuming and slow. Notwithstanding, the steps listed above should help your client service team chop-chop accost negative Google reviews and better your relationship with new and existing customers.

Editor'south annotation: This post was originally published in January 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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