Can You Report a Google Account for False Reviews

Think about the concluding fourth dimension you traveled. After you arrived at your destination and checked in at your hotel, what did you lot practise next? If you're like me, y'all probably idea about where you were going to eat. But when you're new to an area, how do yous find 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 concern 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 make up one's mind whether or not you choose to eat at a eatery.

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's job to keep rail of Google reviews and remove the negative comments that are harmful to your business.

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

What is a Google review?

Earlier nosotros leap into how you can delete Google reviews, we should first analyze what a Google review is. Other review sites tin exist confused with the Google review interface. Google's review site is unique considering it's integrated directly into the search engine too as its apps and business tools.

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

• A hyperlink side by side to the star rating reads "Google reviews" or "# Reviews". This link will take you to individual reviews that users have written.
• There are no other company names on the review.
• A rating calibration numbered from one to five. This won't e'er be visible, but it can help you recognize a Google review if you see i.

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

Can y'all delete a Google review?

Unfortunately, Google doesn't offer a simple "delete" option for its reviews. Instead, in that location are only two ways that a review can be removed. The person who posted the review tin delete it or your business can "flag the review as inappropriate." Flagging the review alerts Google that the review is fake or that it doesn't comply with Google's review policies.

After that, you'll be guided to the landing folio below where you'll demand to consummate a brief report of the issue and submit your email for follow-upwardly communication.

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It's 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 overlooked which tin can lead to negative perceptions of your business.

In this example, y'all'll desire to have matters into your ain hands and study the review yourself. Hither'southward how to do that.

How to Delete a Google Review

1. Open Google Maps and locate your business.
2. Find the review on the Google reviews page.
3. Click the three vertical dots to the right of the review.
4. Select the selection Report Review.
5. Choose an option for the question: What'southward incorrect with this review?
6. Report the Google review.

ane. Open Google Maps and locate your business organization.

2. Detect the review on the Google reviews folio.

3. Click the 3 vertical dots to the right of the review.

4. Select the option Report Review.

5. Choose an selection for the question "What's wrong with this review?".

6. Report the review to Google.

When to Flag a Google Review

According to Google, the topics beneath are confronting its user terms and atmospheric condition. Therefore, if you notice a review that falls under one of these categories, your squad tin can asking to remove that content.

Irrelevant Comments

Google wants to brand sure its users are getting accurate information about your business. So, if you're seeing comments that don't pertain to your organisation or a client'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 incorporate 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 volition remove whatsoever content that it views as "obscene, profane, or offensive." It volition likewise remove reviews that are threatening or incorporate derogatory comments. If yous meet any reviews like these, be certain to flag them immediately to protect your brand's image.

Conflicts of Interest

Google wants its reviews to be as unbiased as possible. Therefore, yous can't mail service a review of a company that you ain or piece of work for. You also tin't post a review of your competitor, as this would allow you lot to manipulate 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 lot tin 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

As you can imagine, this process is boring and doesn't guarantee that your review volition be removed. And, fifty-fifty if Google does decide to remove information technology, there'south no telling when it volition really be taken down. In that fourth dimension, your concern could lose thousands of customers if you await for Google to handle the issue.

The other major setback is that Google won't remove a review simply because it's negative. The bespeak 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 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 action if y'all want to remove a negative Google review.

Ways to Handle Google Reviews

1. Answer to the customer's review.

The almost effective manner to handle a negative customer review is to respond to information technology. If your squad made a error that inspired a negative review, a genuine apology can go a long way in irresolute the perception a potential customer has of your brand. If it'southward a positive review, an appreciative response makes an impact, 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 team responds underneath with a polite message.

2. Ask the customer to delete it.

The customer may respond positively to your squad's comment but choose to leave the review up anyhow. They may recall the matter is airtight and that other users will run into the review as an example of your not bad customer service. While we appreciate the sentiment, you and I both know nosotros'd rather take the review removed and so other customers simply meet the positive experiences at your company.

In these cases, reach out to the customer to see if they volition remove the review. If possible, bulletin them on a private platform like e-mail, so the customer doesn't feel pressured by your request. Give thanks them for reading your reply and ask them if they volition consider the removal of the review in lite of their recent experiences with your company. Exist certain to remain patient and don't make whatsoever demands on the customer.

iii. Solve the client'southward problem.

This ane may seem obvious, merely customers oft leave negative reviews considering their original demand from your business organisation was never fulfilled. For case, you may savor the customer service at a restaurant but hate the food they serve you. Fifty-fifty though your beef — pun intended — isn't with the restaurant's staff, your review withal gets counted nonetheless.

Information technology's important to recognize the bug that customers are reporting in your negative reviews and take action to correct them. Once you lot do, follow up with the customers who left poor reviews and see if they're willing to try your product or service again. Go far clear that you have taken steps to correct your past mistakes and y'all all the same value their relationship with your business organisation. While you may not win every client over, this promotes a customer-centric culture for your make's reputation.

iv. Follow upwards with customers.

Ane mutual statistic that client 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 still count towards your concern'south overall rating on Google. That rating is extremely of import because 52% of customers volition not buy from a business if it has less than a iv-star rating.

Additionally, a lot can change with your business as yous grow and develop over time. A Google review that was posted two years ago may not be as accurate today. If the user is nonetheless agile, attempt to contact them via the review and run across if they would be willing to edit their post. Or, offer them an incentive to effort your product or service again in commutation for an updated review.

v. Authenticate the review.

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

If you lot're dubious of a review's authenticity, look for signs that would ostend it is a false. Fake reviews often lack details and seem like they could utilize to virtually whatsoever business. Bank check to see if the reviewer has left any other reviews and if they take a moving-picture show listed with their account. And then respond to the review. If you don't become a response, flag the mail service as inappropriate and await for Google to review your study.

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 in a higher place should help your customer service team quickly address negative Google reviews and better your human relationship with new and existing customers.

Editor's note: This mail service was originally published in Jan 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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

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Source: https://blog.hubspot.com/service/delete-google-reviews

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