How to delete a Google review in 7 steps

Learn how to delete Google reviews and take control of your online reputation with our comprehensive guide.

In this article, we'll walk you through how to delete a Google review - or at least how to try. Unfortunately, there isn't a big red "delete" button that you can hit and delete a review so easily. We all understand that this would defeat the whole purpose of having customers leave reviews for local businesses. However, if you own a business that has received a review that violates Google's content policy, there are several ways in which you can delete the review.

We understand the importance of maintaining a positive online image for your business. Whether you have received a misleading or inappropriate review, we will provide you with the steps you need to manage this criticism and therefore your online reputation. Our comprehensive guide will take you step-by-step, ensuring you are ready to address this issue and, if necessary, request the removal of false reviews. Don't let a single negative review overshadow your hard-earned reputation - with our guidance, you can maintain a strong and positive online reputation!

Can you delete Google reviews?

In short, yes. There may be times when reviews contain false or slanderous comments, so you should be aware how to remove Google reviews. There are steps you can take if you believe your company has been wronged by a review or that a review is misleading, malicious or false.

The good news is that you can challenge a Google review. However, it's not an easy process and there is no guarantee that you will succeed in erasing it. Unfortunately, deleting a Google review is not that simple. You can't just visit the Google My Business your business profile on your Google account and simply delete the review yourself. Instead, you can contact Google and report the review in the hope that they will remove it, but there is no guarantee that they will listen to what you have to say and remove the review for you.

Google review policy

According to Google's policy, reviews, as well as other types of content such as photos and videos, can be removed for 7 reasons:

1. Off topic - The review does not refer to experience in or in relation to this business
2. Unwanted - The review is from a bot, fake account or contains advertisements and promotions
3. Conflict of interest - The criticism comes from a company affiliated with the company or a competitor's company
4. Profanity - The review contains abusive language, obscene language with sexual content or refers to graphic scenes of violence or other illegal activity
5. Aggressive behaviour or harassment - Criticism constitutes a personal attack on a specific person
6. Discrimination or hate speech - The criticism contains offensive language about a person or group of people based on their identity
7. Personal data - Contains personal information, such as an address or telephone number

Examples of reviews suitable for removal

In the realm of online reviews, it is vital for small businesses to distinguish between legitimate comments and reviews that violate Google's content policies. In this section, we will explore specific examples of reviews that meet the criteria for potential removal. Understanding these cases can help your business manage its reviews more effectively.

So all of the following are real examples where you can report a negative review

• A disgruntled employee makes a negative criticism of the business they work or used to work for because they don't get along with the owner. Either for personal or work reasons.
• A real customer who uses offensive language when talking about the business.
• A competitor leaves a fake review of your business in order to promote theirs.
• A criticism that has nothing to do with the company. An example might be a negative review of a beach umbrella rental business about the food, when in fact the food is provided by a beach bar which is a different business. Or for example negative criticism about the dirty beach in front of a restaurant when it is not in their jurisdiction.
• Posting a fake review just to bring the business to a higher or lower ranking in Google reviews

7 steps to delete a Google review

Deleting a review from your Google Company profile is pretty simple. First, log into your Google My Business account and locate the specific review you want to remove. Click "Manage Reviews" and then click "Report Review". Google will review the review and may remove it if it violates its content policies. Keep in mind that you can't delete reviews directly, but this method allows you to report any inappropriate or fraudulent reviews for possible removal.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to delete Google reviews for your business:

Sign in to Google Business.

Locate the review.

Point out the criticism.

Submit your review report.

Wait for the Google audit.

Google will review your report and decide whether the review violates its policies. This may take some time.

Contact Google Support (if needed).

If Google does not remove the review and you believe that Google is still violating its policies, please contact Google Business support for further assistance.

Troubleshoot the Problem (if necessary).

If the criticism is not removed, consider responding to it professionally and address any concerns or misunderstandings with the client. This will not only help reduce the impact of a negative review but can also work in your favour as you can read in our article on strength of responses to Google reviews.

89% of users said that after reading a professional business response to a negative review, their image of that business improved.

TripAdvisor Study

Remember that Google does not always remove reviews and the process may take some time. It's important to maintain professionalism and follow Google's guidelines throughout the process.

How to delete or edit your own Google reviews

If you've left a business review on Google and want to make changes or delete it, you're in the right place! Below, we'll walk you through the process of editing or deleting your own review, whether you're using a web browser or the Google Maps app.

Edit a review from your browser

To edit a review from your web browser, sign in to your Google account and go to Google Maps. Click on the 3 dashes going left and then select "Your Contributions" and then "Reviews". Locate the review you want to edit, click on the three dots (more options) and select "Edit Review". Here you additionally have the option to delete your review or add a photo. Make your changes and click the "Post" button.

Edit a review from the Google Maps app

If you prefer to use the Google Maps app, open it on your mobile device and tap your profile picture. Select "Your contributions" and then "Reviews". Find the review you want to edit, tap on it and select "Edit Review". Make your changes and save your review.

What to do if you can't remove a review

Not all assessments are suitable for abolition. And, in some cases, Google may decide not to remove a review even if you think it should. Here are a few things you can do to reduce the potential harm of a negative review:

Respond to the review

If a negative review is legitimate, one of the first steps a business owner should take is to respond to the customer. In some cases, the customer may choose to remove the Google review on their own, so this is something worth considering.

This way you will reduce the damage, as other potential clients will be able to see your side of the story and understand your level of professionalism and your respect for your clients' opinions.

That said, never ask a customer to delete a legitimate, negative review of your business unless it violates Google's content policy. Here are some tips to keep in mind when responding to a negative review:

• Answer politely.
• Don't get defensive and don't make it personal.
• Apologise if necessary and offer to fix it.
• Keep the answer short and to the point.
• Transfer the conversation to a private channel, such as a text message or email.

These tips could be key and could make the difference between a customer retracting a bad review or retaining it. Ask the person to contact the business so you can explore the issue that caused them to leave the bad review in the first place.

How to respond to a Google review.

Not sure how to log in to reply to the review? Google makes it pretty simple. Follow these steps:

Claim your business registration:

Visit google.com/business and enter your business details to claim your business listing on Google. This step is vital as it gives you access to respond to reviews and edit business information.

Sign in to your Google Company Profile:

Sign in to your Google Company Profile account. If you haven't set up this account yet, you can do so during the claim process in the previous step.

Select the location of the business (if any):

If you have businesses in multiple locations, select the one where the review you want to respond to took place.

Go to the "Reviews" section:

In the menu, find and select the "Reviews" option.

Select the review to reply:

Locate the specific review you want to address and click on "Reply" next to that review.

Think about your answer:

Type your answer in a polite and professional manner. Address the reviewer's concerns, offer solutions if necessary and aim to maintain a positive tone throughout. Make the response personalised and tailored and make the customer feel that you are really 'listening'.

Submit your answer:

Once you have written your answer, click on the "Submit" button to publish it.

By following these steps, you can interact effectively with your customers and manage your online reputation on Google.

How to downplay negative reviews

We have written a detailed guide on the how businesses should respond to negative reviews. What you can also do to downplay negative reviews are the following strategies:

• Calmly clarify the situation in your response to the negative criticism.
• Reconcile the situation and then politely ask your client (offline) if they are willing to update their negative review to reflect the positive outcome.
• Ask for and promote more positive customer reviews, which has the effect of pushing the few negative reviews towards the bottom of the search results.

Any business is impossible to receive 100% 5 star reviews. There will always be a customer who had a less than fantastic experience with your business. These types of reviews don't require removal, but that doesn't mean you want them to carry much weight when people are considering becoming your customer. Besides, a business with dozens and hundreds of 5-star reviews looks more suspicious than reputable.

How bad are the "bad" reviews about your business?

Ultimately, having both bad and good reviews on Google is perfectly normal. In fact, having a few negative reviews mixed in with mostly positive ones is a good thing-it shows that you're a real business and that you weren't just begging your friends and family to say nice things about you. Even the highest rated businesses in your area will have a small percentage of negative reviews. Sometimes you just can't please everyone - and some things are out of your control.

As we mentioned a moment ago, studies have shown that a perfect average 5-star rating is not as ideal a scenario as an average rating of 4.9. In other words, a small percentage of negative reviews probably won't deter customers from choosing you over a competitor. As we mentioned in the article with user behaviours with regard to Google reviews, if you have 4 stars or more you are in the 64% user's choice and if you have more than 3 you are in the 34%.

That said, in the case of a false review or a review that violates Google's content policy, it is worth deleting the review.

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