Call up about the last time you traveled. After y'all arrived at your destination and checked in at your hotel, what did y'all do adjacent? If you're similar me, you lot probably thought well-nigh where yous were going to consume. Only when you lot're new to an area, how do you find a good spot?

Rather than asking the hotel clerk — who's probably a local and has eaten at every place nearby — most of us accept out our phones and exercise 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 merely one poor review could determine whether or not you cull to eat at a eating house.

Every company hopes to receive positive feedback, but the fact is that customers who have poor experiences are more probable to write an online review. It's your customer service team'southward job to keep runway of Google reviews and remove the negative comments that are harmful to your business organization.

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

Download Now: 20 Review Response Templates

To identify whether the review you're looking at is a Google review or not, wait for the following elements:

  • A hyperlink next to the star rating reads "Google reviews" or "# Reviews". This link volition take you to individual reviews that users accept written.
  • There are no other company names on the review.
  • A rating scale numbered from ane to five. This won't ever be visible, but information technology can assistance yous recognize a Google review if you see one.

For instance, take a look at the Google review folio for HubSpot. You lot'll notice each of the elements nosotros listed above. This review appears in Google Maps, and so it'southward integrated into the Google interface which makes it more articulate 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" choice for its reviews. Instead, there are only 2 ways that a review tin be removed. The person who posted the review can delete information technology or your business tin "flag the review every bit inappropriate." Flagging the review alerts Google that the review is fake or that information technology doesn't comply with Google'south review policies.

Later on that, you'll be guided to the landing page beneath where you'll demand to consummate a cursory report of the issue and submit your email for follow-upward communication.

Prototype Source

It's important to notation that Google has congenital-in spam checkers that automatically analyze a review for inappropriate, irrelevant, or misleading content. While this characteristic is pretty reliable, inaccurate reviews are sometimes overlooked which tin can atomic number 82 to negative perceptions of your business.

In this case, yous'll desire to take matters into your ain easily and written report the review yourself. Here'southward how to practise that.

1. Open up Google Maps and locate your business concern.

Find the review on the Google reviews page

ii. Find the review on the Google reviews page.

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

select the option to report the google review

four. Select the option Report Review.

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

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

half dozen. 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 weather condition. Therefore, if yous notice a review that falls under one of these categories, your team tin request to remove that content.

Irrelevant Comments

Google wants to make sure its users are getting accurate information about your business. So, if you're seeing comments that don't pertain to your organization or a customer's experience, y'all 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 incorporate 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 any content that it views equally "obscene, profane, or offensive." It will too remove reviews that are threatening or contain derogatory comments. If you come across whatever reviews similar these, be sure to flag them immediately to protect your make'southward prototype.

Conflicts of Interest

Google wants its reviews to be as unbiased equally 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, equally 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. Considering of this, all Google reviews must be published by the person writing the review. You tin 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 can imagine, this procedure is deadening and doesn't guarantee that your review will exist removed. And, even if Google does decide to remove it, in that location'due south no telling when it will actually be taken downwardly. In that time, your business organization could lose thousands of customers if y'all wait for Google to handle the outcome.

The other major setback is that Google won't remove a review simply because 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 enlightened of them. So, if y'all're upset with a customer'south stance, the odds aren't in your favor for a removal.

Instead, your customer service team needs to take action if y'all want to remove a negative Google review.

Ways to Handle Google Reviews

i. Respond to the client's review.

The well-nigh constructive fashion to handle a negative customer review is to respond to it. If your team made a fault that inspired a negative review, a 18-carat apology can go a long way in changing the perception a potential client has of your brand. If it's a positive review, an appreciative response makes an affect, likewise. Remember, these reviews are public for the customer equally well as your business organization, and customers don't want to look similar the villain when your team responds underneath with a polite message.

2. Ask the customer to delete it.

The customer may reply positively to your squad'south comment merely choose to leave the review up anyhow. They may recall the matter is closed and that other users will see the review as an case of your slap-up customer service. While we appreciate the sentiment, you and I both know nosotros'd rather have the review removed so other customers simply 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 private platform like email, so the client doesn't feel pressured by your request. Give thanks them for reading your reply and ask them if they will consider the removal of the review in calorie-free of their recent experiences with your visitor. Exist sure to remain patient and don't make whatsoever demands on the client.

iii. Solve the client's problem.

This one may seem obvious, but customers oft get out negative reviews considering their original need from your business was never fulfilled. For instance, you may savor the customer service at a restaurant but hate the nutrient they serve yous. Even though your beefiness — pun intended — isn't with the restaurant's staff, your review still gets counted still.

It's of import to recognize the problems that customers are reporting in your negative reviews and have action to correct them. Once you do, follow upwards with the customers who left poor reviews and run across if they're willing to effort your product or service again. Arrive clear that you take 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 customer-centric culture for your make'due south reputation.

4. Follow upwards with customers.

Ane common statistic that customer service experts like to point out is that 85% of customers believe reviews older than three months are irrelevant. Even so, this stat neglects that these older reviews still count towards your business organization'due south overall rating on Google. That rating is extremely of import considering 52% of customers volition not buy from a business if information technology has less than a 4-star rating.

Additionally, a lot can modify with your business as you abound and develop over time. A Google review that was posted two years ago may not exist every bit accurate today. If the user is still agile, try to contact them via the review and come across if they would exist willing to edit their mail service. Or, offering them an incentive to try your product or service once more in exchange 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 demolition their competitors' concern.

If you're dubious of a review's authenticity, look for signs that would confirm it is a simulated. False reviews oftentimes lack details and seem like they could apply to about any concern. Check to meet if the reviewer has left whatsoever other reviews and if they have a picture listed with their business relationship. Then reply to the review. If y'all don't get a response, flag the post every bit 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 can be time-consuming and tedious. However, the steps listed to a higher place should assist your customer service team quickly address negative Google reviews and improve your relationship with new and existing customers.

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

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