Removing a Google Review 101

Reviews are an integral part of having a business. With Google being one of the most used search engines, Google reviews can lead to your business thriving or ending. There are many ways to get more Google reviews if that’s what you’re searching for, and there are also ways to remove Google reviews. In this article, you will learn about what Google reviews are, their importance, and how to remove a Google review.

What is a Google review?

In this digital age, online reviews can make or break your business. Now more than ever, it’s important for businesses to get Google reviews. Business reviews appear next to your business profile and maps and search. These help your business stand out on Google. When a customer finds your business on Google, they can see every review that is left underneath it. Having a Google review also adds to your ranking on a website search. When a customer or potential customer is searching for a business like yours, they will be able to see your ratings as well as all of your reviews. The more positive reviews that you have, the higher that your rating will be. This will also determine how high you are in the search. customers and potential customers will also tend to filter their searches from highest ranking to lowest ranking. Having positive reviews, as well as a high ranking will allow potential customers to see what services you have to offer and how you handle customer service. These will all impact your business in a significant way.

Google search screen

Significance of a Google review

Google reviews are important because customers want detailed first-hand information from their online peers, whom they trust, to help them make decisions and become informed by the customers’ experiences. Google reviews are extremely important to your business, especially in the age of technology. Customers rely heavily on people’s prior experiences with businesses in order to determine whether or not they will interact with a business. Having positive reviews will allow your customer to not only see your quality of business, but they will also be able to determine whether or not they want to go through your ratings. Google reviews do a few different things, and here are three reasons why they are so important.

Increases local search ranking

Google reviews improve local search ranking. Knowing how to improve your local SEO is important because if customers can’t find your business when they’re actively searching, they are unable to make a purchase from you. Having Google reviews helps with your rankings and revenue. Online reviews in your Google maps listing help your business stand out from the crowd. This is the best way for you to make an impact. It also means your business is highlighting the fact that you offer great services or products.

Trust and credibility

Google reviews increase trust and credibility. A vast majority of 18 to 34-year-olds trust online reviews as much as recommendations for family and friends. In this digital age, people rely heavily on others in order to see what their experiences are like. This is especially true with new businesses. When a business first opens, the first experiences that they have with their customers can determine whether or not they will make it. Having positive interactions with your customers through reviews and with your business directly will allow potential customers to see exactly what type of experience they should expect when interacting with your business.

Influence consumer decisions

Consumer decisions can be influenced by many things, the most common of which is Google reviews. When a customer is looking for a new nail salon, for example, they will look at reviews for pictures that may be posted by both the business and customers. When customers are looking for a new business, they want to see the whole picture of your business. They want to know exactly what to expect when they walk in and having positive reviews about different customer experiences in your business will allow potential customers to understand what they’re walking into. Google reviews can be just what a consumer needs to push them from consideration to purpose. Many times, when consumers are reading the reviews, they are looking for confirmation that they are making the right decision. Positive online reviews can give the validation consumers are seeking and help them make a choice. However, the opposite can also be true. If your business has a low-star rating or a lot of recent negative Google reviews, customers could be pushed toward the competition instead.

Why remove a Google review?

There are a few different reasons why you would remove a Google review. These reasons are that it is a negative review, an inappropriate review, or an illegal review. It’s important for you to remember that you are not the only one seeing these reviews. Customers and potential customers are also seeing them. This means that every interaction that you have with people who leave reviews on Google about your business will be public. This is especially important when thinking about what type of interactions you want to have with your customers who leave reviews. If there is a negative review, and you as the business owner respond to this comment in a negative manner, customers will see that. This could make or break whether or not a potential customer comes to your business or a potential customer comes back.

There are certain types of reviews that Google prohibits such as fake reviews and spam. Other prohibited reviews that Google takes down are off-topic, restricted content, illegal content, offensive content, and impersonation. All these different types of reviews fall under Google’s prohibited reviews policies.

Negative review

With a negative review, you have a few different options. The first one is to ignore it, but this can come with consequences. If your customers or potential customers are seeing that you are not responding to negative reviews, it may show that you don’t care about your customers’ experiences. This can lead to more negative reviews, as well as sway people away from going to your business. The best way to deal with a negative review is to respond to your customer.

Google reviews

Removing a Google review

When you are removing a Google review, you first have to assess what type of review you want to remove. Decide whether it is a negative review, spam, or illegal review. Assessing what type of review you want to remove will determine the route to take to delete that review. Google has different systems in place in order to remove different types of reviews. If it is an illegal review, then there’s a different route that you will take as a business owner to report that review than if it is a fake or spam review. When there is a negative review, the best way to interact with that is to respond.

Fake or spam review

There are many people who will choose to post fake reviews on Google of businesses. Luckily, Google has steps in place in order to remove this type of content. Google does not allow spam, off-topic, and conflict of interest content to be posted on Google reviews, Google photos, or Google videos. If someone has written a review of your business that includes any of these, you can request to have it removed from Google search results. The first step is to check the Google policy, this way you can be sure that the review is not allowed by Google. Then, you have to flag the review in your account.

Illegal review

If you find an illegal review, such as slander against you or your brand, Google can remove it. In order to report an illegal review, go to the content removal tool and select Google My Business. Then, Google will ask you questions about the review and your complaint about the content. Google takes these complaints very seriously because they are potentially dealing with illegal activity.

Negative review

Ignoring a bad review can make things even worse. This can also show other people that are looking at business on Google that you don’t care about your customers’ experience. The best way to handle a negative review, after assessing if it’s spam, is to respond to the review. You first want to consider the customer’s concerns and see if it’s something that can be fixed.

After your assessment of the review, respond to the customer’s Google review. Your response should include a recognition of the customer’s problem, be sympathetic, and try to fix or correct the situation as soon as possible. In an ideal situation, the customer will respond and you can have a conversation to remedy the situation. After fixing the problem, then you can nicely ask them to edit or remove their negative Google review. Usually, the customer will oblige, but if they don’t, then the comment section will show that you tried to address this problem. This will show that your business cares about their customer experience and did what they could to fix the problem. While this approach may take more time and effort, it can be beneficial for your business. When done successfully, the reviewer will delete the negative review and you may have even converted the customer back into your business.

Get better Google reviews

Removing Google reviews is something that businesses must do from time to time. However, it’s best to spend your time and energy on getting positive Google reviews. Let SEO Design Chicago help you manage your online reputation and increase your visibility, build your brand, and generate advocacy.

Google adwords help phone number

FAQ

  • What is a Google Review?
  • How do I remove a spam Google review?
  • What is the importance of a Google review?
  • What is an illegal Google review?
  • How can Google reviews improve local SEO?

Contact Us Today!


Call Now