Think about the last time you traveled. After you arrived at your destination and checked in at your hotel, what did you do side by side? If you're similar me, you probably thought about where you were going to swallow. But when you're new to an area, how practise yous find a good 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 do a quick Google search. Studies testify 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 simply i poor review could make up one's mind whether or non y'all choose to eat at a restaurant.

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

In this post, we'll break down what a Google review looks similar, how to delete them, and what to practise if you lot tin 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 post-obit elements:

  • A hyperlink adjacent 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 one to five. This won't ever exist visible, merely it tin aid you recognize a Google review if you see one.

For instance, take a look at the Google review folio for HubSpot. You'll notice each of the elements we listed to a higher place. This review appears in Google Maps, and so information technology's integrated into the Google interface which makes it more clear that it is a Google review.

how to find google reviews

Tin yous delete a Google review?

Unfortunately, Google doesn't offering a simple "delete" option for its reviews. Instead, there are simply two ways that a review can exist removed. The person who posted the review can delete information technology or your business organization can "flag the review as inappropriate." Flagging the review alerts Google that the review is fake or that information technology doesn't comply with Google'south review policies.

After that, you lot'll be guided to the landing page below where you'll need to consummate a cursory study of the event and submit your e-mail for follow-upward advice.

Epitome Source

It'south important to note that Google has built-in spam checkers that automatically analyze a review for inappropriate, irrelevant, or misleading content. While this feature is pretty reliable, inaccurate reviews are sometimes disregarded which can lead to negative perceptions of your business.

In this case, y'all'll want to take matters into your own easily and report the review yourself. Here's how to practice that.

1. Open up Google Maps and locate your concern.

Find the review on the Google reviews page

2. Find the review on the Google reviews page.

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

select the option to report the google review

4. Select the selection Written report Review.

5. Choose an option for the question "What'due south 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

Co-ordinate to Google, the topics below are against its user terms and conditions. Therefore, if you notice a review that falls nether ane of these categories, your team can request to remove that content.

Irrelevant Comments

Google wants to make sure its users are getting accurate data nigh your business organisation. So, if you're seeing comments that don't pertain to your organization or a customer'due south 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 incorporate 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 volition remove any content that it views as "obscene, profane, or offensive." It will too remove reviews that are threatening or comprise derogatory comments. If you lot come across whatever reviews like these, be certain to flag them immediately to protect your brand's image.

Conflicts of Interest

Google wants its reviews to exist as unbiased every bit possible. Therefore, you tin't mail service a review of a company that you lot own or work for. You likewise can't postal service a review of your competitor, as this would allow you to manipulate their rating in your favor.

Impersonation

Google values the accuracy of its reviews besides. It doesn't want to misrepresent a business or provide deceptive content to its users. Because of this, all Google reviews must be published by the person writing the review. You lot can't publish the review on someone'southward behalf or pretend to be someone else when submitting your review.

Disadvantages of Reporting a Google Review

Equally you can imagine, this process is tiresome and doesn't guarantee that your review volition be removed. And, even if Google does decide to remove information technology, there'southward no telling when it will actually exist taken down. In that time, your business could lose thousands of customers if you lot await for Google to handle the issue.

The other major setback is that Google won't remove a review but 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. Then, if y'all're upset with a customer'southward stance, the odds aren't in your favor for a removal.

Instead, your customer service squad needs to have action if you desire to remove a negative Google review.

Means to Handle Google Reviews

one. Respond to the customer's review.

The most effective fashion to handle a negative customer review is to answer to information technology. If your team made a mistake that inspired a negative review, a genuine apology tin go a long way in irresolute the perception a potential customer has of your brand. If it'south a positive review, an beholden response makes an impact, likewise. Call back, these reviews are public for the customer as well as your business, and customers don't want to look like the villain when your team responds underneath with a polite message.

two. Ask the customer to delete information technology.

The customer may respond positively to your team'south annotate but choose to leave the review upward anyhow. They may think the matter is closed and that other users volition see the review as an example of your great client service. While we capeesh the sentiment, yous and I both know we'd rather have the review removed so other customers merely encounter the positive experiences at your company.

In these cases, reach out to the client to see if they will remove the review. If possible, bulletin them on a private platform similar email, so the customer doesn't feel pressured past your request. Thank them for reading your answer and enquire them if they will consider the removal of the review in light of their recent experiences with your visitor. Exist certain to remain patient and don't brand any demands on the customer.

iii. Solve the customer's problem.

This ane may seem obvious, merely customers oftentimes leave negative reviews because their original need from your business organisation was never fulfilled. For case, you may enjoy the customer service at a eating house simply detest the food they serve you. Even though your beef — pun intended — isn't with the restaurant's staff, your review nonetheless gets counted yet.

Information technology's important to recognize the problems that customers are reporting in your negative reviews and accept action to correct them. Once yous exercise, follow up with the customers who left poor reviews and see if they're willing to attempt your production or service again. Go far articulate that you have taken steps to correct your past mistakes and y'all however value their relationship with your business. While you may non win every customer over, this promotes a customer-centric culture for your make'south reputation.

four. Follow up with customers.

One mutual 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 notwithstanding count towards your concern's overall rating on Google. That rating is extremely important because 52% of customers will not purchase from a concern if information technology has less than a 4-star rating.

Additionally, a lot tin change with your business as you grow and develop over time. A Google review that was posted ii years ago may non exist as accurate today. If the user is still active, try to contact them via the review and see if they would exist willing to edit their post. Or, offer them an incentive to effort your production or service again in exchange for an updated review.

5. Authenticate the review.

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

If you're dubious of a review's authenticity, await for signs that would confirm it is a fake. Fake reviews often lack details and seem like they could use to almost whatsoever business organisation. Check to run across if the reviewer has left any other reviews and if they have a motion-picture show listed with their business relationship. So respond to the review. If yous don't go a response, flag the mail 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. Notwithstanding, the steps listed to a higher place should help your customer service squad rapidly address negative Google reviews and improve your relationship with new and existing customers.

Editor's notation: This mail 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