As business owners, we all know how difficult it is to get a bad review. It affects many things, from our organic traffic, potential customers, down to our search engine optimization and ranking! I've had many people ask me for advice on how to remove negative Google reviews, filled with a ton of frustration and sadness.
If they did their best in providing their services and products, I can't blame them. But remember that criticism is inevitable and there shouldn't be any shame in receiving one, just a way to learn for your business.
Fortunately, there is a possibility to fix the negative reviews you receive, especially when it was put in ill fate. Here are the simple steps to fix bad reviews on Google!
Simple Steps to Fix Bad Reviews on Google
Can false or negative reviews be deleted or turn to great reviews? Here are the ways to fix it:
- Plan Out Your Response
Before anything else, you need to collect yourself and be acquainted with the official policy on reviews by Google themselves.
Remember that you should NOT act emotionally, as what you say can leave lasting effects. Not only to your products but as a business owner, too. You have to find a solution to the situation as quick and professional as possible, using a mature strategy. With that, planning is crucial!
Take a step and go back to the transaction. Look into what happened and what you can do to fix it, or find a remedy that will work for your clients to stay satisfied.
- Determine How Genuine the Review Is
The second step is to check if the review is as legitimate as it is made out to be. After all, there are a ton of fakes and frauds on the Internet, and we never know what trolls are out to just wreak havoc to anyone's company.
Also, you never know that the review you got was given by competition or someone you've had personal issues back then. Because of this, it's highly recommended to see if this reviewer truly transacted with you.
You may want to check your records and ask people (if a physical store) to see what happened and to get any more details of what happened.
- Responding to Fake or False Reviews
Received a fake review? Unfortunately, you'll still need to act professionally the entire time. This is to let customers and potential clients know that you are all about proper customer service.
Here is a good template to follow:
- Reply with an apology right away ant that you would like to rectify the issue.
- Note in the review that you can't verify the situation, which affects the process of resolving the matter.
- Then, leave your contact details so you are able to get any additional details if there are.
After that, it's time to flag the review and report it!
- Flagging the Fake or Inappropriate Review
Here is the step-by-step procedure in flagging an inappropriate or fake review:
- Log on to your Google My Business account dashboard and find all the business reviews.
- Identify the troll or fake review and start taking the next step to report it.
- Click on the three dots on top of the said review and then select “Flag as Inappropriate.”
- And you're done! However, you can also contact Google via their support contact number or their support.
While there's no sure guarantee as to when Google will remove the bad review, at least you did your part in deleting it.
- Responding to the Negative Review
If the review is genuine and you found the error in the transaction, then it's best to respond as professionally as possible to ensure that you care and leave a positive impact despite what happened.
Stay calm and collected, also reassuring the entire time. Don't be shocked or appalled and set the apologizing tome immediately. Also, be action-oriented and create an offer to rectify the issue, may it be a gift card or refund.
Finish it off with your appreciation for them and conclude with another formal apology. And that's that!
Wrapping It Up
While bad reviews can feel embarrassing for your business, it isn't the end of the world! There are ways on how you can fix such negative reviews and even learn from them to improve your Search engine optimization and business. Just make sure that you handle it professionally and take the right steps to fix it.
Hopefully, this article on the simple steps to fix bad reviews on Google gave you an idea of what to do. So don't wait any longer and follow these tips now.
If you have any questions or want to share your tips and experiences on receiving negative reviews, do comment below. Your thoughts are much appreciated!
Author Bio – Joel House is a founder of Joel House Search media along with it he is an author and entrepreneur. Joel has over 10 years experience in Search Engine Optimization and Digital Marketing. Many small and medium business contact him to rank in google.