Think virtually the concluding time you traveled. After y'all arrived at your destination and checked in at your hotel, what did you do next? If yous're like me, you lot probably idea about where you were going to swallow. But when y'all're new to an expanse, how practice you notice a good spot?

Rather than asking 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 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 simply one poor review could determine whether or non you choose to swallow at a restaurant.

Every company hopes to receive positive feedback, but the fact is that customers who have poor experiences are more than likely to write an online review. Information technology'southward your customer service team's job to go along track of Google reviews and remove the negative comments that are harmful to your business.

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

Download Now: 20 Review Response Templates

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

  • A hyperlink next to the star rating reads "Google reviews" or "# Reviews". This link volition have you to individual reviews that users have written.
  • At that place are no other company names on the review.
  • A rating scale numbered from ane to five. This won't always exist visible, but information technology can assist you recognize a Google review if y'all see 1.

For instance, take a wait at the Google review page for HubSpot. You'll observe each of the elements we listed above. This review appears in Google Maps, so information technology'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 lot delete a Google review?

Unfortunately, Google doesn't offer a simple "delete" option for its reviews. Instead, there are merely two means that a review can be removed. The person who posted the review can delete it or your business concern can "flag the review as inappropriate." Flagging the review alerts Google that the review is fake or that it doesn't comply with Google'due south review policies.

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

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Information technology'southward important to notation that Google has built-in spam checkers that automatically clarify a review for inappropriate, irrelevant, or misleading content. While this feature is pretty reliable, inaccurate reviews are sometimes overlooked which tin can pb to negative perceptions of your business.

In this case, you'll want to accept matters into your own hands and report the review yourself. Here'due south how to do that.

1. Open up Google Maps and locate your business.

Find the review on the Google reviews page

ii. Detect 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

4. Select the choice Report Review.

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

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

6. Study 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 you notice a review that falls under one of these categories, your team can asking to remove that content.

Irrelevant Comments

Google wants to brand sure its users are getting accurate information nearly your business. So, if you're seeing comments that don't pertain to your organisation 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 too includes images that promote products or special offers.

Inappropriate/Offensive/Explicit Content

Google will remove any content that information technology views as "obscene, profane, or offensive." It will also remove reviews that are threatening or comprise derogatory comments. If you come across any reviews like these, exist sure to flag them immediately to protect your brand's paradigm.

Conflicts of Interest

Google wants its reviews to be as unbiased as possible. Therefore, you tin't postal service a review of a company that you ain or piece of work for. Y'all as well tin't post a review of your competitor, as this would allow you to dispense their rating in your favor.

Impersonation

Google values the accuracy of its reviews as well. Information technology 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's behalf or pretend to be someone else when submitting your review.

Disadvantages of Reporting a Google Review

Equally you can imagine, this process is boring and doesn't guarantee that your review volition be removed. And, even if Google does make up one's mind to remove it, at that place's no telling when it will really be taken down. In that time, your business could lose thousands of customers if you lot wait for Google to handle the issue.

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

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

Ways to Handle Google Reviews

one. Answer to the customer's review.

The most effective mode to handle a negative customer review is to respond to information technology. If your team fabricated a mistake that inspired a negative review, a genuine amends can go a long way in irresolute the perception a potential client has of your brand. If it'southward a positive review, an appreciative response makes an impact, too. Think, these reviews are public for the client too as your business, and customers don't want to await similar the villain when your team responds underneath with a polite bulletin.

ii. Ask the customer to delete information technology.

The customer may respond positively to your team's comment but choose to leave the review upward anyway. They may think the matter is closed and that other users will run across the review as an instance of your great client service. While we appreciate the sentiment, yous and I both know we'd rather have the review removed so other customers only run into the positive experiences at your company.

In these cases, accomplish out to the customer to see if they will remove the review. If possible, bulletin them on a private platform like email, then the customer doesn't feel pressured by your request. Thank them for reading your reply and enquire them if they will consider the removal of the review in low-cal of their recent experiences with your visitor. Be certain to remain patient and don't make any demands on the customer.

iii. Solve the client's problem.

This one may seem obvious, but customers often leave negative reviews considering their original demand from your business was never fulfilled. For case, you may enjoy the customer service at a restaurant simply detest the food they serve you. Even though your beef — pun intended — isn't with the restaurant's staff, your review still gets counted all the same.

It'southward of import to recognize the issues that customers are reporting in your negative reviews and take activeness to correct them. Once you do, follow up with the customers who left poor reviews and meet if they're willing to try your product or service again. Get in articulate that y'all have taken steps to correct your past mistakes and you still value their relationship with your business. While yous may not win every client over, this promotes a customer-centric culture for your brand's reputation.

four. Follow upwards with customers.

Ane common statistic that client 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 concern'south 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 can modify with your business as y'all grow and develop over fourth dimension. A Google review that was posted 2 years agone may not be as accurate today. If the user is withal active, endeavour to contact them via the review and encounter if they would be willing to edit their mail. Or, offering them an incentive to effort your product or service once again in exchange for an updated review.

5. Authenticate the review.

Believe it or non, some people on the cyberspace are deceitful. Information technology gets worse. Some people will even write imitation reviews to sabotage their competitors' business.

If you're dubious of a review's authenticity, look for signs that would ostend it is a fake. False reviews often lack details and seem like they could apply to about whatsoever business. Check to see if the reviewer has left whatever other reviews and if they accept a film listed with their account. And so respond to the review. If you don't go a response, flag the mail service as inappropriate and look 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 be time-consuming and ho-hum. Withal, the steps listed above should aid your client service team speedily accost negative Google reviews and improve your human relationship with new and existing customers.

Editor's notation: This postal service 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