Learn How to Remove Google Reviews and What To Do If You Can't

When making informed decisions on where to stay or dine while in unfamiliar territory, Google reviews can be an invaluable resource. After all, 82% of customers won’t patronize a business until they’ve read the reviews. With just a few taps on your phone, you can quickly find out what other people have said about the restaurant or cafe you’re considering. You can get an idea of the atmosphere, the quality of food and service, and even whether or not it’s worth your time and money.

But what if you don’t like what you read? What if someone has left a negative review that doesn’t accurately reflect your experience? Unfortunately, there isn't always an easy way to delete Google Maps reviews. Depending on the platform, some reviews may be flagged for removed by moderators while others may remain untouched. If you are unable to delete a review yourself, then consider reaching out to the reviewer directly and asking them to remove it or update their opinion with more accurate information.

What is a Google Review?

If you own a local business, you know online customer reviews are an essential part of your online presence. Your Google Business Profile has its five-star review system, and these reviews are integrated into Google Maps and Search. Customers can leave one to five-star ratings and short written reviews that let customers explain what they liked or didn't like about a particular experience at your business.

Indeed, Google reviews are an invaluable tool for businesses as they showcase customer experiences to potential customers. In addition, they also help businesses to identify areas where they need to improve their services or products to better meet customer needs.

Reviews can also help businesses stand out from the competition. Reviews make businesses more visible on Google Search, Google Maps, and their Business Profile. Moreover, a recent study found that 49% of consumers say they trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. As such, it is important for businesses to actively encourage customers to leave reviews to maximize the benefits of having them.

What impact do negative Google reviews have on your business?

Having bad Google reviews for your business can be a scary prospect, but it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. In fact, having a few negative reviews mixed in with mostly positive ones is actually a good thing and shows that you are a real business. Studies have shown that customers are more likely to purchase from companies with 4.9 review ratings than those with perfect 5-star averages, so don’t worry about aiming for perfection.

{{blog-cta-delete-reviews="/features/product-updates"}}

Remember that review platforms like Google, Facebook, TripAdvisor, and others aim to deliver honest and unbiased online reviews. As such, it’s worth deleting any fake or policy-violating reviews to maintain your reputation. However, businesses cannot delete Google reviews simply because they disagree; instead, they should constructively manage negative feedback by responding politely and professionally. A few negative reviews can help businesses more than they hurt them; if handled correctly, they can show potential customers that you are open to feedback and willing to make improvements.

Can a business owner remove Google reviews?

Unfortunately, Google doesn't offer a simple "delete" option for its reviews. Instead, there are two ways that a review can be removed: the person who posted the review can 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 a form where you'll need to complete a brief report of the issue. Make sure that you are signed in to the email account linked to your Google My Business Profile. Google will then ask you the type of violation you want to report.

It's important to note that Google has built-in spam checkers that automatically analyze a review for inappropriate, irrelevant, or misleading content. This means that if you flag an inappropriate review, it may still remain on your page until Google manually reviews it and decides whether or not to remove it. While you're waiting for Google to make this decision, you can still address the issue with your customer and work toward a positive solution.

Why delete a Google Maps review?

Negative Google reviews can be extremely damaging to a business’s reputation. With Google being the most popular website in the world, it makes sense for businesses to want to know how to remove a negative review if it is having a negative impact on their reputation. According to online reviews statistics, Google is also number 1 on the list of top business review sites, and 63.6% of consumers say they are likely to check reviews on Google before visiting a business location — more than any other review site.

When should you delete a Google review?

When it comes to managing your online reputation, it is important to know when you should delete a Google review. Not every negative review your business receives is eligible for removal, and if a customer genuinely had a poor experience with your business and voices this opinion in the form of a review, you can't ask Google to remove this review. Instead, Google only removes reviews that are against their policies.

Luckily for businesses, Google takes its review removal process seriously, and there are quite a few types of content that it deems inappropriate. These include reviews that contain profanity or hate speech, reviews that are off-topic or irrelevant to the product or service being reviewed, reviews that contain personal information such as phone numbers or addresses, and reviews that are fake or fraudulent. If any of these criteria are met by a review on your page, then you can request for it to be removed from Google's platform.

These types of reviews are eligible to be deleted:

Adult content

Mature content is any type of material that is not suitable for all audiences. This includes explicit language, sexual themes, violence, and gore. Google has a strict policy against this type of content and will remove it from its platform if it violates its guidelines.

Google's mature content policy is designed to protect users from being exposed to inappropriate material. It also helps ensure that the content on their platform is appropriate for all ages.

Hazardous, illegal, or unregulated content

Google takes the safety of its users very seriously, and as such, has put in place regulations to ensure that content on its platform is appropriate and safe. Content with calls to action to products or services that may face local legal restrictions is eligible for removal by Google.

In addition, Google also removes any content that promotes dangerous activities or is not safe for a child to view. Reviews should not promote any illegal actions or items, and if you see any reviews that contain such issues, flag them with Google right away. By taking these steps, Google ensures that its platform remains a safe space for all users.

Insulting language and hate speech

Google is committed to promoting civil discourse on its platform. It does so by prohibiting content that is offensive or contains hate speech, as well as any reviews containing personal information such as credit card details and medical records. This helps to ensure that users are able to express their opinions without fear of being attacked or harassed.

Google also encourages civil discourse by prohibiting content that is deliberately provocative. This means that users can engage in meaningful conversations without worrying about being trolled or insulted.

By taking these steps, Google ensures that its platform remains a safe space for constructive dialogue and debate. In addition, Google provides resources for users who may be experiencing online harassment or abuse, so they can get the help they need to stay safe while using the platform.

Misleading content

Deceptive content is a major issue in the digital world today. It can come in many forms, such as impersonation, misinformation, misrepresentation, and fake engagement. This type of content is not based on real experience or does not accurately represent a location or product. It can be used to mislead users and take advantage of them for financial gain. Google takes action against deceptive content to protect users from being misled.

Content with commercial bias or promotional content is also considered spam. Repetitively posting the same content in multiple places is another form of spam that can be identified by its obvious commercial bias or repetitive nature. Spam is often used to manipulate search engine results and increase visibility for certain products or services. Deceptive content like this are also taken down by Google so as they are fraudulent and misleading for consumers.

False information

To ensure the quality and authenticity of the content, Google has established a content policy that requires reviews to be based on experiences at a specific location. Reviews that are political in nature, a general rant, information related to COVID-19, or advertising a product/service/business are not allowed. If your review content includes any of the above, it is recommended to ask Google to remove the review.

How do I delete a Google review from my business?

Deleting a Google review can be a simple process if you know where to look. The first step is to open Google Maps and locate your business. Once you have found it, click on the reviews page to view all of the reviews that have been left for your business. From there, you can find the review that you want to delete and click on the three vertical dots to the right of it. This will bring up an option to report the review.

When reporting the review, you will be asked what is wrong with it. Depending on your reason for wanting to delete it, select one of the options provided and explain why you are reporting it.

After submitting your request, Google will review it and decide whether or not to remove the review from their website. If they do decide to remove it, then your business’s reputation will remain intact without any negative reviews being visible online.

How do I delete a Google review on phone?

Google My Business profile owners can’t delete a Google review on their phones. However, you can easily flag it for deletion if it violates Google Review Guidelines. To do this, log in to your business profile and look for your business listing via Google Maps or Google Search. Then, look for the review you wish to report.

How long does it take to remove a Google review?

The Google review process usually takes 2-3 business days. However, in some cases, the review would be subjected to manual review, which may take up to 5 business days.

What to do if you can't get a review removed

Negative reviews can be damaging to a business, but not all reviews are eligible for removal. In these cases, it is best to consider ways to mitigate the potential harm of a negative review.

One way to do this is by responding to all reviews, positive or negative, in order to maintain a good brand image. Following a reputation management guide can help improve customer satisfaction scores and rebuttal to bad reviews helps provide a neutral vision of what really happened.

1. Respond professionally to customer reviews.

When it comes to handling customer reviews on Google, the most crucial thing to do is respond. Whether the review is positive or negative, responding in a timely manner shows customers that you care about their opinion and are willing to take action. A genuine apology can go a long way in changing the perception of your brand if your team made a mistake that inspired a negative review. On the other hand, an appreciative response to a positive review will make an impact as well. It’s best to remember that these reviews are public for both the customer and your business, so customers don’t want to feel like they’re being attacked when your team responds with a polite message.

By responding quickly and professionally to customer reviews on Google, you can help build trust with potential customers and create an overall better experience for them. This will also help you maintain a good reputation online and ensure that customers have access to accurate information about your business. Taking the time to respond thoughtfully and courteously will show customers that you value their feedback and are committed to providing excellent service.

Fortunately, MARA's AI Reply Assistant offers a simple way for businesses to automate their response to customer reviews on Google. The tool uses machine learning technology to analyze the content of a review, determine whether it is positive or negative, and then generate an appropriate and personalized response.

{{blog-cta="/features/product-updates"}}

2. Request the customer to remove the review.

Reach out to customers who have left a negative review, even if they responded positively to your team's comment. While we appreciate the sentiment, it is best for other customers to only see positive experiences with your company. Therefore, it is important to ask the customer if they would be willing to delete the review.

When asking the customer to delete their review, it is best to message them on a private platform such as email. This way, they don't feel pressured by your request and can make an informed decision without feeling like their opinion is being disregarded. Thank them for reading your reply and explain why you are asking them to consider removing the review in light of their recent experiences with your company. Be sure to emphasize that you value their opinion and want them to have a positive experience with your business.

3. Provide a solution to the customer's issue.

Keep in mind that negative feedback isn't always bad. In fact, it can be very helpful when used appropriately. If you're looking for ways to improve your business or product, you need to listen to all feedback — even if it's negative. The trick is learning how to turn bad reviews into something positive.

The first step to solving a customer's problem is to recognize the issue they are reporting in their negative reviews. It is important to take the time to read through each review and identify what the customer was unsatisfied with. Once you have identified the issue, it is essential to take action and make changes that will ensure customers are satisfied with your product or service. This could include improving customer service, changing ingredients in food, or providing better quality products.

Once you have taken steps to correct any mistakes, it is important to follow up with customers who left poor reviews and let them know that you value their relationship with your business. Showing customers that you care about their experience and are willing to go above and beyond to make sure they are happy can help turn a negative review into a positive one.

4. Follow up with clients.

The importance of following up with customers who have left reviews of your business, even if those reviews are older than three months, cannot be overemphasized. This is because Google ratings are extremely vital for businesses, as 52% of customers will not buy from a business that has less than a 4-star rating. Additionally, a lot can change with your business over time, so an old review may not accurately reflect the current state of your business.

If you find an old review that you would like to update or revise, try to contact the user who posted it and see if they would be willing to edit their post. You can do this by responding directly to the review or sending them a message through their profile page. If they agree to update their review, make sure that you thank them for taking the time to provide feedback and let them know how much you appreciate their input.

5. Verify the review.

The internet can be a great resource for finding reviews and opinions on products and services, but unfortunately, it can also be a breeding ground for deceitful people. It is not unheard of for people to write fake reviews in order to sabotage their competitors' businesses. If you are suspicious of the authenticity of a review, there are certain signs that you should look out for. Fake reviews often lack details and seem generic enough that they could apply to almost any business. Additionally, if the reviewer has left multiple reviews or has an accompanying profile picture, this could be an indication that the review is genuine.

On the other hand, if the reviewer only has one review listed or does not have a profile picture associated with their account, this may be an indication that the review is not authentic. In these cases, it is best to take the review with a grain of salt and do further research before making any decisions based on it. Ultimately, it pays to be vigilant when reading online reviews as some people will go to extreme lengths in order to sabotage their competitors’ businesses.

What happens when I report a Google review?

Once you report a review, Google will notify you that they have received your request. The review process may take up to 5 business days. After this, Google will send you an email with the subject line “We have deleted a review of your business profile.” they deleted the review. However, if they decide that the review didn’t violate any guidelines, you won’t be notified, and the review will continue appearing on your business profile.

How many reports needed to delete Google review?

You only need to flag a review once for Google to subject edit to their review process. However, this doesn’t guarantee the deletion of the review. Note that the number of times a review is flagged doesn’t affect Google’s review process.

Respond to Google Reviews effortlessly with MARA

Instead of removing Google Reviews, especially negative ones, you can opt to craft personalized and optimized responses to them through our AI Review Assistant, MARA. This intuitive tool is designed to ease your Online Reputation Management process, making it more efficient, personalized, and time-saving. It offers the best and most personalized AI for responding to and analyzing your guest reviews.

Review Inbox:

One of the key features of this tool is the Review Inbox, which is particularly important when responding to Google Reviews. Your review inbox makes responding to reviews as simple as hitting "Generate reply" and clicking "Send". The Review Inbox connects to multiple review sources, including Google, Booking.com, and Tripadvisor, giving you a panoramic view of all your reviews. And you can even configure review response automation: Why not allow MARA to automatically respond to simple reviews, like 5-star Google reviews with no text, ensuring you never miss a review? Daily notifications about new reviews keep you updated and in control.

Review Analytics:

While negative Google Reviews can affect your online ratings, they can provide authentic guest feedback that will help you improve your operations. To help you understand and analyze the multitude of reviews, the Review Assistant also incorporates Review Analytics. This provides actionable, easy-to-understand insights that are tailored exclusively to your business. With MARA, you can quickly get the gist of all your reviews without needing to read each one. The analysis is so detailed that you can find out about specific issues like "water in the pool is too cold" or "lack of vegan breakfast options”. These insights help optimize guest experience without requiring you to be a data expert.

The most personal response AI:

MARA's AI isn't just about efficiency; it's about personalization too, which is significantly essential when responding to negative Google Reviews. The Brand Voice feature allows the AI to adapt to your tone, making sure your responses sound authentically you. Plus, with Smart Snippets, you can "teach" the AI how to respond to recurring praises or complaints. Your AI then incorporates this information into its responses, but always with different words, providing more personalized, relevant replies.

This review response assistant has quickly become a game-changer for over 2000 customers. Its promising capacity to elevate your overall rating, amplify response rates, glean insights from customer feedback, and economize both time and money, is the reason behind its growing popularity.

Final Thought

While deleting negative or fake reviews isn't always possible, there's a powerful alternative: MARA AI Review Assistant. With MARA, you can craft personalized and optimized responses to all types of reviews, enhancing your Online Reputation Management process. Boost response rates, glean insights from feedback, and save time and money in the process. Register for a FREE ACCOUNT today and take control of your online reputation with MARA.

This is one of the hero content pieces on “Mastering Google Reviews - A Complete Guide".