
How To Remove Bad Reviews From Google
Recently, I was working as a Fractional SEO Director for a Canadian-based home service company. This local service business is quite popular in Hamilton and its neighboring cities. We manage multiple Google Business Profiles (GBPs) for each of these cities, and one day, I received a message through our business email from a review seller. He claimed to have conducted detailed research on our profiles and even shared the URLs for some of the GBPs we we manage. After introducing himself, he proceeded to blackmail us, threatening to leave negative reviews unless we hired him for his ” fake review services.” The audacity was unbelievable. This person even mentioned that he had successfully turned many other business owners into clients through similar blackmail tactics.
The review seller specifically targeted our business because of the high visibility we have in those regions. When he realized that we didn’t entertain the type of services he was pushing, he sent a follow-up email, clearly trying to pressure us into a deal despite our refusal. Since, as marketing consultants, we know how to deal with spammers like these, we were able to handle the situation effectively. But this is just one example—many of you, as business owners, have likely faced similar situations as well.
So what is the best to deal with them? In cases like these, it is important to learn how to remove bad reviews from Google My Business. To be honest, there are steps you can take to protect your online reputation and remove those negative reviews that don’t reflect your business’s values or services.
Before we go into the details, here is screenshot how to respond back to these scammers
Steps to Remove Bad Reviews From Google My Business
To remove, bad reviews from GBP, the following steps are essential to follow:
1. Flag the Review in the Google Business Profile (GBP) Dashboard
To flag the reviews on Google, you have to follow the given steps:
- Go to your Google Business Profile (GBP) dashboard by either searching for your business name on Google or visiting this link: https://business.google.com/locations.
- Once you’re in your dashboard, click on “Read Reviews.”
- Find the review you believe violates Google’s guidelines. Next to it, you’ll see three dots (also called the “kebab menu”).
- Click the three dots and select “Report Review” to flag it for removal.
2. Check the Status of Your Google Review
- After flagging the review, you’ll need to wait three business days before checking the status.
- Do not contact Google before the three days are up, as they will ask you to wait.
- After the waiting period, go to the Google Review Tool to check the status of your flagged review. You can access this tool by searching for your business name and clicking on the “Listing Name” field.
- If the review hasn’t been reviewed yet, the status will show “Decision Pending.” If it was removed, it will show “Removed.” If it wasn’t removed, it will say “No Policy Violation.”
Also Read: How Do I Find My Google Business Profile URL
3. Submit an Appeal to Remove the Negative Google Review
- If Google denies your request to remove the review, you have the option to submit an appeal.
- Click on the “Appeal” button at the bottom of the page, where you’ll explain why you believe the review violates Google’s policies.
- Once submitted, you’ll receive an email confirmation containing a case ID number. Keep this number safe!
- After a few days, Google will inform you via email whether your appeal was approved (the review was removed) or denied.
4. Post on the Google Business Profile (GBP) Forum
- If your appeal doesn’t result in the review being removed, you can post the issue on the Google Business Profile Forum.
- Be sure to include the case ID number in your post. The forum moderators, who are not Google employees but experienced community members, can escalate the issue to Google if they agree that the review violates guidelines.
- Hopefully, the review will be removed after this final step!
5. Contact a Top-Rated Local SEO Company/Expert
- If the above steps don’t work, consider reaching out to us. I have expertise in managing Google Business Profiles and we can handle review disputes in appropriate way. A trusted SEO partner like me can provide guidance and take further steps to resolve the issue.
By following these steps, you can significantly increase the chances of getting harmful or irrelevant reviews removed from your Google Business Profile. Remember, the process may take time, but with persistence and proper action, your business can maintain a strong online reputation.