Think about the last time you traveled. After you arrived at your destination and checked in at your hotel, what did you do next? If you're like me, y'all probably thought about where you were going to eat. But when yous're new to an area, how do y'all find a adept spot?

Rather than request the hotel clerk — who's probably a local and has eaten at every place nearby — well-nigh of us take out our phones and do a quick Google search. Studies show that 82% of customers won't patronize a business organisation until they've read the reviews. And, since Google is the preferred review site for 64% of consumers, that means just one poor review could determine whether or not y'all choose to eat at a restaurant.

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'south task to proceed track of Google reviews and remove the negative comments that are harmful to your business.

In this post, we'll break downward what a Google review looks similar, 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, look for the post-obit elements:

  • A hyperlink next to the star rating reads "Google reviews" or "# Reviews". This link volition take you to individual reviews that users have written.
  • There are no other company names on the review.
  • A rating scale numbered from 1 to five. This won't always be visible, but it can aid you recognize a Google review if y'all see one.

For example, accept a expect at the Google review page for HubSpot. You'll notice each of the elements we listed in a higher place. This review appears in Google Maps, then it's integrated into the Google interface which makes it more than articulate that it is a Google review.

how to find google reviews

Can you delete a Google review?

Unfortunately, Google doesn't offering a simple "delete" pick for its reviews. Instead, there are but ii ways that a review tin can be removed. The person who posted the review tin delete it or your business organization tin "flag the review as inappropriate." Flagging the review alerts Google that the review is faux or that it doesn't comply with Google'due south review policies.

After that, you lot'll exist guided to the landing page below where you'll need to complete a brief report of the issue and submit your email for follow-upward communication.

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It's of import to notation that Google has born spam checkers that automatically analyze a review for inappropriate, irrelevant, or misleading content. While this characteristic is pretty reliable, inaccurate reviews are sometimes disregarded which can lead to negative perceptions of your business organization.

In this instance, you'll desire to accept matters into your ain hands and study the review yourself. Here'southward how to practise that.

i. Open Google Maps and locate your business.

Find the review on the Google reviews page

ii. Find the review on the Google reviews page.

3. Click the three vertical dots to the correct 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'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

According to Google, the topics below are confronting its user terms and weather condition. Therefore, if yous notice a review that falls under one of these categories, your squad can request to remove that content.

Irrelevant Comments

Google wants to make certain its users are getting accurate information virtually your business. So, if you're seeing comments that don't pertain to your organization or a customer'southward experience, you lot 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 comprise links to websites or email addresses that sell illegal products. This as well 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 besides remove reviews that are threatening or contain derogatory comments. If you come across any reviews like these, be sure to flag them immediately to protect your brand'south image.

Conflicts of Interest

Google wants its reviews to be as unbiased as possible. Therefore, y'all can't postal service a review of a company that you own or work for. You also tin't mail service 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 also. 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 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

As yous tin can imagine, this process is tedious and doesn't guarantee that your review will exist removed. And, fifty-fifty if Google does decide to remove it, there'southward no telling when it will actually be taken down. In that time, your business concern could lose thousands of customers if you lot wait for Google to handle the upshot.

The other major setback is that Google won't remove a review just because it'due 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 yous're upset with a customer'due south stance, the odds aren't in your favor for a removal.

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

Means to Handle Google Reviews

1. Reply to the client'south review.

The virtually effective way to handle a negative customer review is to respond to it. If your team fabricated a mistake that inspired a negative review, a genuine apology tin go a long mode in irresolute the perception a potential customer has of your make. If information technology's a positive review, an beholden response makes an bear on, besides. Remember, these reviews are public for the customer likewise as your business, and customers don't want to look like the villain when your squad responds underneath with a polite message.

ii. Ask the customer to delete it.

The customer may reply 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 see the review every bit an example of your nifty customer service. While we appreciate the sentiment, you and I both know we'd rather accept the review removed so other customers only see the positive experiences at your company.

In these cases, reach out to the customer to run into if they will remove the review. If possible, message them on a private platform similar email, and so the client doesn't feel pressured by your request. Thank them for reading your reply and ask them if they will consider the removal of the review in light of their contempo experiences with your company. Be sure to remain patient and don't brand any demands on the customer.

iii. Solve the customer's problem.

This one may seem obvious, merely customers ofttimes leave negative reviews because their original demand from your business was never fulfilled. For example, you may relish the customer service at a eating place simply hate the food they serve you. Even though your beefiness — pun intended — isn't with the restaurant'south staff, your review still gets counted all the aforementioned.

It's important to recognize the problems that customers are reporting in your negative reviews and take activeness to correct them. One time you do, follow upwards with the customers who left poor reviews and run into if they're willing to try your product or service once more. Brand it clear that you have taken steps to correct your past mistakes and y'all still value their relationship with your concern. While you may not win every customer over, this promotes a customer-centric civilisation for your make'due south reputation.

4. Follow upwardly with customers.

One common statistic that customer service experts similar to indicate out is that 85% of customers believe reviews older than three months are irrelevant. Yet, this stat neglects that these older reviews withal count towards your business's overall rating on Google. That rating is extremely important because 52% of customers will not buy from a business if it has less than a 4-star rating.

Additionally, a lot tin modify with your business equally you lot grow and develop over time. A Google review that was posted 2 years agone may not be equally accurate today. If the user is all the same 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 try your product or service again in commutation for an updated review.

5. Authenticate the review.

Believe information technology or non, some people on the internet are deceitful. It gets worse. Some people volition even write faux reviews to demolition their competitors' business.

If you're dubious of a review's actuality, await for signs that would confirm it is a simulated. Faux reviews often lack details and seem like they could apply to about any concern. Cheque to see if the reviewer has left any other reviews and if they accept a picture listed with their account. Then respond to the review. If you don't get a response, flag the mail every bit inappropriate and await 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 above should aid your customer service squad rapidly accost negative Google reviews and amend your relationship with new and existing customers.

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

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