Our online reputation can have a significant impact on our personal and professional lives. Negative information or reviews that appear online can cause significant damage to our reputation, leading to loss of business, job opportunities, and even personal relationships. It is estimated that one negative search result can lead to a 22% decrease in business, while three negative search results can lead to a 59.2% drop in business.
The impact of negative information online can be devastating, as it can spread rapidly and reach a wide audience. Negative reviews, comments, or articles can appear on social media platforms, review sites, and search engine results pages, making it difficult to control or remove the information. Even if the information is untrue or outdated, it can still have a lasting impact on our reputation.
Removing negative information from the internet can be a challenging and time-consuming process. In some cases, it may not be possible to remove the information at all. For example, if the information is posted on a third-party website, the website owner may not be willing or able to remove it. Additionally, even if the information is removed, it may still be accessible through web archives or other sources.
However, there are steps that can be taken to mitigate the damage caused by negative information online. One approach is to create positive content that can push negative information down in search engine results. This can include creating social media profiles, writing blog posts, and publishing articles or press releases. By generating positive content, it is possible to bury negative information further down in search engine results and reduce its visibility.
Another approach is to actively engage with customers or clients and encourage them to leave positive reviews or feedback online. By responding to negative reviews or comments in a professional and courteous manner, it is possible to demonstrate a commitment to customer service and address any issues that may have led to the negative review in the first place.
However, these approaches can be time-consuming and may not always be effective. In some cases, it may be necessary to enlist the help of a professional reputation management company like Reputation Ace. Reputation Ace offers a range of services that can help individuals and businesses manage their online reputation and remove negative information from the internet.
One of the key services offered by Reputation Ace is online reputation management. This involves monitoring online mentions and reviews of individuals and businesses and responding to any negative information in a timely and professional manner. Reputation Ace can also help to remove negative information from the internet by working with website owners and search engines to have the information removed.
Another service offered by Reputation Ace is search engine optimization (SEO). This involves optimizing content to improve its ranking in search engine results, which can help to push negative information further down in search engine results pages.
Reputation Ace also offers social media management services, which can help to build a positive online presence on social media platforms. This can include creating and managing social media profiles, generating positive content, and engaging with followers to build a positive online reputation.
In conclusion, negative information online can have a significant impact on our personal and professional lives. While there are steps that can be taken to mitigate the damage caused by negative information, these approaches may not always be effective. Enlisting the help of a professional reputation management company like Reputation Ace can be the best bet in removing negative information and protecting your online reputation. With their range of services, Reputation Ace can help individuals and businesses manage their online reputation and protect their reputation from negative information.
Trustpilot is a popular online review platform that allows consumers to leave reviews about businesses. While having positive reviews can be a great way to attract new customers, negative reviews can have the opposite effect and damage your reputation.
Here are some steps you can take to remove bad reviews from Trustpilot:
Respond to the review: Before trying to remove a bad review, it’s important to respond to the reviewer and try to address their concerns. This shows that you care about your customers and are willing to work to resolve any issues they may have had.
Flag the review: Trustpilot allows businesses to flag reviews that violate its content guidelines. This includes reviews that are defamatory, fraudulent, or contain hate speech. If you believe a review violates these guidelines, you can flag it and request that it be removed.
Request a second opinion: If you feel that a review is unfair or inaccurate, you can request a second opinion from Trustpilot’s content integrity team. This team will review the review and determine whether it should be removed.
Use a reputation management service: Reputation management services like Reputation Ace can help you remove bad reviews from Trustpilot and other online review platforms. Our team of experts can work with you to develop a customized strategy for removing negative reviews and improving your online reputation.
It’s important to note that removing bad reviews from Trustpilot can be difficult and may not always be possible. In some cases, the best course of action may be to focus on improving your products or services and generating more positive reviews to outweigh the negative ones. By providing great customer experiences and actively seeking out positive feedback, you can build a strong online reputation that attracts new customers and helps your business grow.
As technology advances, our digital footprint continues to grow and evolve. The rise of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and blockchain is set to transform the way we interact with our digital identity. In this article, we’ll explore the future of your digital footprint and the implications of these new technologies.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI is changing the way we interact with our digital footprint. With the ability to analyze vast amounts of data, AI can provide insights into our online behavior and help us understand our digital identity. This could lead to more personalized experiences, targeted advertising, and improved security.
One example of this is chatbots, which are becoming increasingly popular in customer service. They use AI to provide a more personalized experience by understanding the customer’s needs and preferences. This level of personalization can be extended to other areas of our digital footprint, such as social media and online shopping.
Internet of Things (IoT)
The Internet of Things refers to the increasing number of connected devices we use in our daily lives.
This includes everything from smart home devices to wearables. As these devices become more ubiquitous, they have the potential to collect and share more data about us.
This could lead to a more comprehensive digital footprint, which could be used to improve our daily lives. For example, IoT devices could use data to optimize our energy consumption, reduce waste, and improve our health.
However, there are also concerns about the privacy and security implications of this technology. As more devices become connected, the risk of cyberattacks increases, and our data could be vulnerable to hacking.
Blockchain is a decentralized ledger that is used to record transactions.
It has the potential to revolutionize the way we store and share data, making it more secure and transparent. This could have a significant impact on our digital footprint, as it could provide a secure and immutable record of our online activity.
One example of this is the use of blockchain in digital identity systems. These systems could provide a secure and decentralized way of managing our online identity, making it easier to verify our identity and protect our personal information.
However, there are also concerns about the potential misuse of this technology. As with any emerging technology, there are risks and uncertainties, and it’s important to ensure that the potential benefits are balanced against the potential risks.
The future of our digital footprint is an exciting but uncertain prospect.
Emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, and blockchain have the potential to transform the way we interact with our digital identity, but they also bring new challenges and risks.
As these technologies continue to evolve, it’s important to consider the ethical implications of our digital footprint and ensure that we have control over our data. By staying informed and engaged, we can ensure that we are prepared for the future of our digital identity.
To ensure that your digital footprint is secure, it’s important to work with reputable companies that understand the complexities of digital identity. At Reputation Ace, we specialize in helping individuals and businesses manage their online reputation and protect their digital footprint. Contact us today for a free quote and learn how we can help you protect your online identity.
Your online reputation is a crucial aspect of your personal or professional life, and it can have a significant impact on your success.
The information that appears about you or your business online can shape people’s perceptions, and it’s important to be proactive in managing and controlling this information.
Negative information, such as poor reviews, negative comments, or false information, can spread quickly and have a lasting impact on your reputation. On the other hand, positive information, such as positive reviews and testimonials, can help build trust and credibility, and enhance your online reputation.
That’s why online reputation management is essential.
It helps you monitor and control the information that appears online about you or your business, and provides you with the tools and strategies you need to enhance your online reputation.
At Reputation Ace, we understand the importance of online reputation management, and we are here to help.
Our team of experienced SEO specialists is dedicated to helping you achieve your online marketing goals, and we offer a range of services designed to enhance and protect your online reputation.
Whether you’re looking to improve your personal or professional brand, or you’re trying to mitigate the impact of negative information, Reputation Ace can help.
Contact us today at 0800 088 5506 or email info@reputationace.com to learn more about our services and how we can help you manage and enhance your online reputation. #reputationManagementCompany
In today’s digital age, your online reputation is more important than ever. A quick Google search can reveal personal information, professional accomplishments, and any negative information that may be associated with your name. It’s crucial to protect and improve your online reputation, but with so many challenges and pitfalls, it can be difficult to know where to start.
In this article, we’ll explore 5 proven strategies for improving your online reputation and protecting your search results. These strategies can help you take control of your online presence and ensure that your personal and professional reputation remains positive and accurate.
Monitor Your Online Presence:
The first step in improving your online reputation is to monitor your online presence. This means regularly searching for your name on Google and other search engines to see what information appears. By monitoring your online presence, you can quickly identify any negative information that may be affecting your reputation and take steps to address it.
Claim Your Online Profiles:
Another strategy for improving your online reputation is to claim all of your online profiles. This means creating profiles on social media sites, business directories, and professional networking sites, and ensuring that they are accurate and up-to-date. By claiming your online profiles, you can take control of the information that appears about you online.
Create Positive Content:
A proven strategy for improving your online reputation is to create positive content about yourself. This could be blog posts, articles, or social media updates that highlight your professional accomplishments and showcase your expertise. By creating positive content, you can push negative information further down the SERPs and improve your overall online reputation.
Address Negative Information:
If negative information about yourself appears online, it’s important to address it quickly and effectively. This may involve contacting the website or individual responsible for the information, requesting a correction, or taking legal action. By addressing negative information, you can prevent it from spreading and damaging your reputation.
Work with a Reputation Management Company:
Finally, working with a reputable reputation management company can be an effective way to improve your online reputation. With the expertise and experience in online reputation management, a reputable company can help you monitor your online presence, claim your online profiles, create positive content, address negative information, and continuously monitor your online reputation.
Improving your online reputation and protecting your search results can be a complex and challenging process, but by following these 5 proven strategies, you can take control of your online presence and ensure that your personal and professional reputation remains positive and accurate.
If you’re looking for professional support in improving your online reputation, contact Reputation Ace, a leading reputation management company. With a team of experts, they can help you protect and improve your online reputation. Contact them at 0800 088 5506 or email info@reputationace.com and start protecting your online reputation today! #reputationManagementCompany
Are you struggling with a negative online presence that is damaging your reputation? If so, you’re not alone. Many individuals and businesses face the same issue, and it can be overwhelming to try to tackle it on your own. But there’s good news – Reputation Ace is here to help.
At Reputation Ace, we understand the importance of maintaining a positive online image, and we are dedicated to helping our clients achieve just that. Our team of experienced reputation management specialists will work with you to repair and improve your online reputation.
Here’s how we can help:
Monitor your online presence: Our team will regularly monitor your online presence to identify any negative or damaging content that needs to be addressed.
Remove negative content: Our team will work to remove negative or harmful content from the internet, including but not limited to bad reviews, false information, and harmful posts.
Promote positive content: We will create and promote positive content about you or your business to help bury the negative content and improve your online reputation.
Protect your online reputation: Our team will continuously monitor your online presence and take proactive measures to protect it from further damage.
We understand that every client is unique and their needs may vary. That’s why we offer customized reputation management services tailored to meet your specific needs and budget.
Our average monthly cost for reputation management services starts at £495. However, the actual cost may vary depending on the extent of your reputation management needs.
If you’re interested in our reputation management services, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team will be happy to provide you with a customized quote and answer any questions you may have. Call us free on 0800 088 5506 or email us info@reputationace.com
The single most common question I receive in doing Local SEO is “How can I delete a Google review?.”
The email is typically laden with frustration, tears, and often, a fear of leaving the house.
Negative reviews on Google can make you feel as though you are wearing a Scarlet letter everywhere you go.
Feelings of shame over your first negative review are understandable. It should not serve as a time for hiding out in your closet.
boy with 2 thumbs down leading
1-star rating, left by an unhappy customer
Bad reviews happen, to everyone.
Your first 2-star review could be well-deserved, it might be competitor sabotage, but it is never the end of times.
All the same, things are not as easy as just summoning remove negative Google review to the Internet Gods and going about your day.
You are going to have to make considerations, potentially be humble, and always take action. I finally decided to start offering reputation management services.
Negative Online Google Reviews Can Cripple A Small Business
A poor online reputation can spell doom for any business, large or small. I consider it a form of negative SEO.
Online reputation and brand management are critical to business success. These days, every potential client and consumer is only a search away from finding your dirty laundry spilled all over a review site. Read my post on Tools for managing your reputation online.
When a consumer considers a product or service they are more likely than ever to Google the product or manufacturer’s name.
The potential customer is often looking for specific bad reviews because they want to see how you handle dilemmas.
Here are a few likely consumers to leave bad reviews:
Product malfunctions
Incomplete or poor services rendered
Inaccurate charges
Incorrect orders
Potential customers like to know that when they spend their money, on the off-chance that things go wrong, the business owner will make things right.
As a business owner, you cannot expect to avoid negative Google reviews, but you can aspire to make sure they not only don’t hurt you, but they work to your benefit.
Wait, what? Can false reviews be turned into good positive reviews?
Things just got confusing, but don’t worry, we are going to iron all of this out below.
Let us dive in and.
1. Bad Google Online Review – Plan Your Response
Read the official policy on reviews, from Google.
an image that shows how to remove bad reviews from google local
Before we get started on what you SHOULD do as a business owner who is faced with a bad Google review, let’s talk about what you should not do.
You should not immediately react emotionally. Whatever you do or say may have lasting effects on your product and your reputation as a business owner. While you do need to rectify the situation with immediacy, it is best to formulate a professional and mature strategy first.
Unless you know for sure, for example, that you delivered the utterly wrong order to Hilda’s house for her Superbowl Sunday party and ruined her life, you are best to take a few steps back and honestly examine what happened.
Even in cases such as the hypothetical one I have posed with Hilda, whereas you are sure you are wrong, you still need to take a moment and gather your thoughts to ensure you make the most professional response possible.
3. Determine Authenticity Of The Review
The Internet is a land of fakes and frauds, that much we know, so it should come as no surprise that negative reviews are sometimes the work of weak competition or, your ex-spouse.
Do your due diligence on the complainer by checking to see if this person was someone who purchased your products or services.
Your business may not lend itself to easily identifying past customers, but that does not mean you cannot contact, say, your restaurant’s host for the afternoon in question and inquire of him or her that day’s to-go orders.
There are savvy ways to figure out if a bad Google review at least has the potential to be authentic.
Here’s the bad news: You are going to have to respond professionally.
I know, that is a tough pill to swallow, however, when we look at how to remove fake reviews on Google a bit down, you will see that the process does not happen incredibly quick.
While I do recommend that you not respond to any reviews in emotional haste, you also can’t allow them to sit there unresolved because unfortunately, potential customers gleaning over your Google business listing will have no idea that Google review is fake.
3. How To Respond To A Fake or False Review
how do you reply to a negative review
My cheat sheet on how to reply to a fake review.
Your goal when responding to negative reviews is to show your potential customers and clients who are considering your business that you are on top of customer service.
Because you have determined that the Google review is, in fact, likely a fraud, there is a bit of a different approach you should take.
Reply immediately with an apology. Make it obvious that you understand the depth of the complaint and that you feel legitimately bad and want to rectify the problem or issue.
Note that you are not able to verify the situation and this is harming your process to resolve the matter further; both in preventing a future incident from occurring and potentially in rectifying the customer’s bad experience in refunds or future discounts. Remember, the review is fake, you are essentially asking them to reveal themselves privately to you under the guise that you are going to help them out.
Leave your personal/business email address, phone number, and any relevant contact information and request the reviewer contact you so that you can get the additional details needed to resolve the issue.
Now for the fun part: Flag the review.
shut off google reviews isnt an option so you need to report
4.How To Flag a Fake Google Review
This is often the best way to delete a Google review.
First, log into your Google My Business account dashboard.
Display all your business reviews. You will see them on the left side of the screen
Find the evil fraudster who’s giving you grief.
Stare at it for a moment and place a hex on the evil person who lied (hey, it never hurts to try).
Now, you will see three dots stacked on top of one another, click those.
flag a review as inappropriate
You will now have the option to “flag as inappropriate.”
report a policy violation in google my business
Simple form to report a policy violation in Google My Business
Now, you have completed the necessary steps in divorcing yourself from this outlandish review, but you can do more to help expedite the process.
Pick up the phone. Google has a support contact number that allows businesses who have grievances call them. Visit your Google My Business account and look down on the left side for “support.” Click that.
Google also allows you to report reviews through legal means here
This is more relevant for reviews that slander your business.
Here’s the bad news: There is no guarantee that Google will remove the review promptly, or ever, no matter how many of these hoops you jump through.
However, you have hedged your bet in the matter by leaving a professional response to the negative review so it should never appear you do not attempt to rectify dissatisfied customers.
5. How To Respond To A Negative Review | The Real, Deserved Ones
A negative review could be both real and underserved, so forgive my headline which seems to assume all reviews are legit.
Situations happen, and we are all human, which leads us to our own unique conclusions over circumstances. Part of being a business owner is attending to reputation management beyond everything, and this happens by sucking up your pride and apologizing in most cases (deserved or not deserved).
Remember when we did not freak out.
That was the start of how to respond. At this juncture, we need to react and make sure that we preserve the goodness of our brand and product.
Let Us Talk About Online Reputation Management
Your reputation is built faster when you respond to criticism then it is when you celebrate in all your glories.
Consumers always want to know what will happen if they purchase your services or products and aren’t satisfied.
A negative Google review might be more of a blessing than a curse because it gives you the immediate opportunity to show your willingness to resolve issues that are related to your business.
women with one thumb down with a reputation management tshirt on
You may need a professional review management company.
The time to not freak out is over; now it is time to reply.
Here are those steps:
Be calm, collected, patient and reassuring. Don’t act shocked entirely or appalled in the intro of your response. You immediately want to set the tone that you are “apologizing.”
Be action oriented. Now its time to offer to rectify the matter. This may come in the way of an immediate refund, a free product or service for the future, or even a gift card. Keep it short and sweet.
You can now be a little overdramatic, appalled, or what have you. Tread lightly or not at all. Telling disgruntled customers that something has “never happened” can sometimes sound condescending. Whatever you say needs to make sure it keeps the blame on you, not the customer. The last thing you want is a hostile exchange between your business and an already upset customer breaking out.
Tell them how much you appreciate their business and conclude with a second formal apology.
Let’s put these steps to work in an example response:
Hi Hilda,
I want to first and foremost apologize for the mistake we made on Superbowl Sunday. I can’t imagine how upset I personally would have been over such a mistake and to think that my business caused such a thing causes me sadness.
I know I can’t make up for ruining such an important event, however, I would like to offer to make it up to you by not only refunding Sunday’s catering bill (that goes without saying) but also by comping you the same amount for a future day of your choosing.
I’m truly upset this happened to you and that my business was the cause. While mistaken orders are a rare occurrence with us, I can never not feel terrible when it does effect a great customer like yourself.
Your business is appreciated and we hope to earn it back. Again, apologies, please contact me at EMAIL or PHONE so I can work out the details expressed above.
Google Policy Update in 2019
Google is not entirely unaware of the power that business reviews can yield.
Last December, Google disallowed employees from leaving negative reviews about their past jobs.
Over the years, Google has increased its policies regarding consumer reviews as a way to fight back against the growing trend of leaving fake reviews to disparage a business without merit or spamming.
Google’s algorithm does work to snuff these cases out before they ever see the light of day. Unfortunately, there is no longer a way to turn off reviews in your Google Local GMB account.
Now you know how to dispute a Google review
Learning how to handle poor online reviews is essential knowledge for a business owner.
However, nothing trumps having a business reputation management strategy, not only with rogue negative reviews but also all over the web. Focus on building good reviews; they will overshadow the random bad ones.
I recently helped a roofing company clean up several reviews left by former employees.
Fortunately, you do not have to go it alone if you do not want to. At SEOExpertbrad.com, I not only help clients gain increased positions in Google search, but I also support businesses and companies with critical brand management.
I can provide a free consultation.
Also, if your business is plagued with legitimate bad reviews online, I am not that kind of a fixer.
Clients are taken on a case by case basis and only if I am sure I can help you grow. If you need to remove or delete a facebook review, I covered that in this post.
Amazon product reviews… the lifeline that boosts sales into success celebrations or kicks listings all the way back into the bane of page 20. When sellers launch a product, reviews shorten the lag time between unknown and popular. Product reviews influence conversion rates so strongly that they are a sellers’ powerful tool of transformation from zero to quit-my-day-job income.
There are basic pro-active steps sellers take to make sustainable success possible:
A high-quality product that earns rave product reviews;
An outstanding product detail page that leaves no buyer doubts; and,
Customer service fit for royalty.
Knowing these elements are in your hands makes you an empowered seller. On the premise that you have mastered the above three, let’s move forward.
The Achilles heel of every seller is negative reviews and in a previous article about how to deal with them, I focussed on how to learn, grow and benefit from all types of reviews, even the negative ones. Amazon will not remove negative product reviews just because it makes you unhappy. But what if you have some negative product reviews that don’t seem like fair play? It’s time to investigate if a bad product review is TOS compliant and actually warrants their presence.
Knowing The Difference Makes A Difference
It may seem like a tedious task, however, you could discover an Amazon-approved reason for requesting product review removal in these two areas: Customer Feedback ratings (aka Seller Feedback) versus Product Reviews.
Some buyers write Customer Feedback content as a bad Product Review and visa versa. That is actually grounds for removal submission in both cases.
Acceptable Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback covers the issues of delivery, packaging, the condition of the product or container (opened, leaked, cracked, broken, etc.) and customer service (rating their experience with the merchant). These ratings directly impact your overall account health.
FBA sellers can get negative customer feedback comments about low ratings for delayed, damaged goods or return issues removed since Amazon handles all of this on your behalf.
Whether you are an FBA or FBM Seller, if a low customer feedback rating is only about the product; you have an absolutely valid reason to request removal since that content doesn’t belong there.
Check out this real-time example:
product review
I contacted Seller Central Support to notify them of the above issue on behalf of a fellow seller.
seller support
Because these were product reviews written as Customer Feedback, that was an Amazon acceptable reason to request removal. Amazon responded at 7:55 a.m. (yes, that’s 3 minutes later):
07:55 AM
Greetings from Amazon Seller Support,
Thank you for contacting us. I am happy to help you with the issue related to removal of the feedback.
I have checked all the details and found that the feedback is related to a product review that was provided by the buyer and it had nothing to do with your performance or your services. As per your request,I have removed the buyer’s feedback.
And voilà! By the way, this seller had a “Fair” Account Health rating. After two low ratings were removed; it returned to a 5-star “Good” status once again.
Moving On To Product Reviews
As a general rule of thumb, Amazon doesn’t make a habit of removing product reviews. However, reviews containing Customer Feedback details and nothing about the product itself are possible removal candidates. Amazon lists these criteria as well:
Inappropriate Content
Hate Speech & Offensive Content
One-word-reviews
Promotion of Illegal Conduct
Promotional Reviews
Amazon would also consider removing at least one review when “a buyer, unhappy with their purchase, posts multiple negative reviews for the same product.” Some people do this through multiple accounts. Why they would go out of their way to post more than once, is beyond me.
Grounds for Product Review Removal
Here is an example of a product review worthy of removal consideration… notice how this person just wanted to rant. If anything, this falls into the Customer Feedback ratings, and as you can see, the review has nothing to do with the product itself.
Remove product review
Take a look at this one. In this case, no one can tell if the reviewer even took the product out of the box it came in.
1 star review
Customer Opinions
Product reviews are opinions. And Amazon likes every customer to have one. To be clear, just because a review is negative but it’s about the customer’s experience with the product – Amazon won’t even consider removing it. That type of review is legit.
Assuming you have an Amazon approved reason, no one knows if Amazon will actually accept it nor how long it could take for them to respond. I understand that Seller Central transfers such cases: “The team that owns this feature is outside of Seller Support and does not use the case system. So your case will appear closed in Seller Central… results of investigations are not shared.”
Remember, the only guaranteed outcome is that nothing will happen if you don’t try.
The How-Tos
There are two ways to go about submitting non-compliant negative product review removal requests: Report abuse and/or contact Seller Support. I will include both ways. I don’t believe this is an either/or option, so I recommend using both.
Report Abuse
Next to the “Was this review helpful to you? Yes – No, click on “Report abuse”.
report abuse
This window will show up:
Inappropiate product review
Write clear, authorized reason(s) why the content is inappropriate (just stick to Amazon’s guidelines). Then submit by clicking on the orange Report as inappropriate button.
Contact Seller Support
This option allows for much more information to build your removal case.
Before you go wild reporting every 1-star review, remember that Amazon may, or may not delete the ones with real content violations so don’t waste everyone’s time trying to get legitimate negative ones removed.
Amazon
Can Negative Product Reviews Be Changed?
For some sellers, 3-stars or less is a source of frustration. Others recognize that multiple 2 or 3-star valid testimonials are perceived as more authentic feedback. Consumers find a mixture helpful. That’s why they read both.
Consider that having a few negative reviews isn’t going to be your demise. Let’s say that you have compliant negative product reviews that Amazon would easily refuse to remove; you could try reaching out to the customer. Just do so wisely. At no point can you ever state or imply that if a customer improves their product review, you will give them a gift, discount on their next order, refund or anything other than a genuine “Thank you.”
Sometimes a reviewer simply doesn’t understand how to properly use a product (even with included carefully crafted instructions). Generally, prospective buyers discern that it’s a limitation of the reviewer versus the product itself. As the seller, taking time to respond in a professional, friendly (non-defensive) way on the detail page for everyone to see, counterbalances those negative reviews and builds confidence in your name/brand. In many cases, answering questions leads to a customer changing their review of their own inspired volition.
While it may be tempting to take your customer interaction offline: Don’t. It works in your favour to keep Amazon in the proverbial loop. When Amazon sees that a seller is responding to product issues, they smile upon it. Prevent getting busted for misunderstood resolutions attempted off of Amazon’s platform. Even the best intentions may come back with haunting repercussions if a buyer ends up writing about how you contacted them by phone or directly via a personal email, then offered x, y, z to get their negative feedback removed. If reading that makes your palms sweat because the thought had crossed your mind; take it as a think twice sign.
Instead, take confident steps via Amazon and remember to leave a trail so that they know your efforts are genuine.
Reducing Recovery Time
One way to make up for drops in conversion rates resulting from multiple compliant negative reviews is to actually acquire more reviews. This is easily accomplished by running promotions or sponsored product ads or review campaigns.
Proactively Prevent Negative Reviews on Amazon
Want to increase your Amazon seller feedback score? For a limited period, register your interest in FeedbackExpress below to receive a 30-day free trial which includes 10,000 free messages! What have you got to lose?!
First Thing’s First—Don’t Panic
A bad review, especially one that is particularly cruel, can be hard to read. When you get a bad review, try these steps first. We’ll go through each one in more detail later in the post.
Don’t panic, and don’t react immediately. Read the review, take a breath, and leave it alone for a bit. Maybe go into another room, or do something else for a while.
Once you’re clear-headed, determine if the review is real or fake. Do you recognize the poster? If you don’t, it might be a fake review.
Respond. If the review is fake, flag it, and state why you think it is fake. If it is real, try to solve the problem, or provide another calm, reasonable response.
Change the customer’s mind. If the review was real and the reviewer reasonable, try to fix the problem and change their mind. Then, ask them to edit their review. With a bit of luck, you’ve removed your bad Google review.
How to Remove Google Reviews—The Details
It’s important to understand what Google reviews are and why they exist. The reviews submitted to Google, which appear in a search along with your location, hours, and other information, are attached your Google Business profile. You can claim your profile and make a Google Business account for free at any time, but this profile and the attached reviews will exist either way.
Google Business reviews are primarily for customers using the Google search engine. Just like the search engine itself, the goal of the reviews is to provide information and help customers make decisions.
Google reviews are supposed to be honest accounts of an experience by a real customer. However, this is not always the case. Competitors, spammers, former employees or other disgruntled people may write a bad review when they never even used your products or services. Since these reviews are false, you have options you wouldn’t have for true reviews. For this reason, we’ll divide this post into tips to remove true and false Google reviews.
Business Owner’s Guide to Google Reviews
Minimize the effect of negative reviews by building a raving collection of Google reviews. Get your direct link for sending requests with our Google Review Link Generator, and download the Business Owner’s Guide to Google Reviews for review request templates and more.
Tips to Remove a Real Google Review
What is a real Google review? It’s pretty simple; a real Google review is a truthful review of your business from a real customer.
First thing’s first; you can’t remove a review simply because it’s bad. If that were the case, every review would be positive and reading Google reviews would be pretty pointless. However, there’s still hope for removing bad Google reviews, even if they’re true.
1. Ask the Customer to Edit Their Review
Google reviews are not permanent. The original reviewer can delete or change their review, but you’ll have to change their mind first.
First, determine whether or not this is a reasonable person who actually could change their mind. If the reviewer left a long list of emotionally-charged complaints, or it’s clear that the product or service simply isn’t for them (for example, a quiet person at a noisy bar or a meat-lover at a vegan restaurant), they probably won’t change their mind. Respond to their review respectfully, but remember that there are a few positive effects of negative reviews.
Perhaps the customer left a bad review because something just went wrong—the service was slow, the chef was having an off day, or a defective product somehow fell into the customer’s hands. These are reviews that are most likely to be fixed. Try the following strategy:
Respond to the review. Thank them for taking the time to write, and apologize for the mistake. Inform them the situation has been rectified, and you’d like a chance to make it up to them. Give them your contact information or ask them to visit again for a special offer.
If they contact you or visit, make sure you deliver what you promised. Be friendly, and thank them for visiting or using your service again.
Finally, follow up and ask them if they would change their review. Emphasize the importance of reviews, and give them instructions on how they can change it.
A customer can edit their review pretty easily. Follow these steps.
Go to Google Maps. You can search any location to get there.
In the upper left-hand corner, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines).
Click “Your contributions.” Click “Reviews”
Find the review in question, and click the three vertical dots near the business name.
Click “Edit review” and rewrite or change the review.
remove google review
2. Push the Review Down
Most people read less than 6 reviews of a business. This means, though you may not be able to actually remove the review from your listing, you can essentially remove the Google review from sight by adding other positive reviews. If you get six more positive reviews, most people won’t see the bad one. If you get 10, you’ve effectively removed the Google review for 90% of customers.
How do you get more Google reviews? It won’t happen overnight, but you can make a focused effort to add more reviews over a short time frame. Start a testimonial collection promotion to rally your customers and get more reviews. Use Boast to get more Google Business Reviews and save time by automating this process. Try some of the following methods to gather reviews fast;
Set up a review collection kiosk in the store.
Periodically ask customers in the store to leave a review.
Put a review request at the bottom of receipts
Start a review collection campaign or contest
Ask customers for a review at the end of a meeting, or when your business together has concluded.
Include review requests with packages.
Start a review request email campaign.
Contact previous customers where possible to ask reviews.
Include a review request at a check-out line or waiting room
Include a review request with a follow-up email
Business Owner’s Guide to Google Reviews
Minimize the effect of negative reviews by building a raving collection of Google reviews. Get your direct link for sending requests with our Google Review Link Generator, and download the Business Owner’s Guide to Google Reviews for review request templates and more.
3. Rebrand
Big companies that have had serious PR debacles know the value in rebranding. WorldCom, the biggest accounting fraudster in U.S. history, became MCI Inc (later Verizon Communications). Marlboro maker Phillip Morris rebranded to Altria to distance themselves from deathly cigarettes. Hundreds of other major and minor companies have rebranded in similar ways. If you have a lot of bad reviews and you don’t see a way to repair your reputation, this is an option to consider. However, it will take your existing business literally off the map, so this should only be a last resort.
how to remove google review
A rebrand means physically and digitally changing your business. This means changing your business name, logo and website, at the very least. With this complete, you’ll need to close your Google Business account and inform Google that the previous business has closed. You’ll see this option in your Google Business account, if you have one, and you can also use the “Feedback” option at the bottom of your search results card. This will bring up a message box to “mark as closed, non-existent, or duplicate.” It will take some time for Google to verify this, but the listing will eventually disappear from search results.
Then you’ll need to register a new Google Business account, inputting your new business name, phone number, website, address (where possible) and other information. This means starting from a clean slate, so gathering good reviews right from the start will be important.
Remember that this is a strategy to completely change your business and start with a clean reputation. This is not a way to simply trick Google, trick customers and keep the rest of your business the same. “Closing” your business in order to get rid of bad reviews and then reopening it again under the same won’t work, and you may be banned from Google completely for violating their terms of service.
A full-scale rebrand is a big undertaking. Consider this option carefully and consider repairing your business reputation first.
Tips to Remove a Fake Google Review
What is a fake Google Business review? Also pretty simple. It’s a review that is not truthful and/or not written by a real customer.
It is possible to remove these Google reviews, though proving they are fake can be difficult. All of the previous strategies may work with a fake review as well, though getting a fraudulent poster to change their review is unlikely.
4. Flag and Respond
If the reviewer doesn’t look or sound familiar, they may be fake. Check your records if you can, and see if you have done business with this person. Also, check the reviewer’s other reviews. Fake reviews tend to be non-specific, while real reviews will include details about that person’s experience.
tips to remove google review – flag and report
If you’re fairly certain the review is fake, first flag it as spam and report it. This signals Google staff to look it over and remove it if it is obviously fake. It will also show the message, “This review has been flagged and reported to Google.” This signals to other prospective customers not to take the review seriously.
Respond to the review and state that you do not recognize the reviewer as a customer. If they made false statements, refute them calmly. Though it is frustrating to be defamed this way, try to avoid emotional statements. Stick to the facts.
When you report the fraudulent review, Google will check it and may remove it. However, there are millions of Google Business listings all over the world. Unless the review is clearly abusive or inappropriate, it’s unlikely to be removed. Try flagging the post multiple times, appealing to customer service reps on Twitter @GoogleSmallBiz, or taking your case to the Google Community. You’ll need proof that the reviewer wasn’t a customer, could not have made the review, or is being paid to review, which could be tough.
5. Legal Action
In some cases, you may know the reviewer making false statements. They may be an angry ex-employee, a competitor, or someone who personally dislikes you. In this case, you may want to take legal action.
First, respond and flag the review. Then, if you are certain you know the reviewer and can send them a message, do so. Ask them, politely but firmly, to remove the false review.
If you believe the review is significantly hurting your business, you may want to take legal action. Writing false statements about a person or business can qualify as libel or injurious falsehood (AKA trade libel), and may be grounds for a civil suit. To do this, you’ll need to be able to prove the statements are false and prove who wrote them. However, a cease and desist notice from a reputable attorney may be enough to persuade the reviewer to delete the review, and a full legal case won’t be necessary.
Business Owner’s Guide to Google Reviews
Minimize the effect of negative reviews by building a raving collection of Google reviews. Get your direct link for sending requests with our Google Review Link Generator, and download the Business Owner’s Guide to Google Reviews for review request templates and more.
Your business reputation is a valuable thing. Though it may seem obvious, the best way to protect it is to run a reputable business. It’s also a good idea to regularly ask customers with positive experiences to write reviews. This way, if you have to displace or remove a Google review, customers will still know who to trust.
2
Get everything you need to collect online reviews and leverage them to grow your business.
Check Out the Business Owner’s Guide to Online Reviews
