How to get negative Google reviews deleted?

Google reviews already play a decisive role for many customers when choosing the right company. So it is crucial for the reputation of your business to collect as many positive but also authentic Google reviews as possible. But what if a customer has left a negative review? Of course, not everything always goes smoothly, so feedback from negative reviews can help improve processes and increase overall customer satisfaction. But if the customer's negative review isn't true or has even landed on your company profile by mistake, it can be a deterrent for other customers and lead to reputational damage for your business. In this blog article, we will show you how you can request the deletion of the Google review in such cases and thus avoid damage to your image.

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Have negative Google reviews deleted. Is that even possible?

The good news first: Yes! Under certain circumstances, it is possible to have a negative customer review deleted by Google. As a Google customer, you have the option of reporting the content of a review to Google and requesting a deletion. The following sections explain which requirements apply and how you proceed to delete a negative Google review.

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What are the requirements for removing negative reviews?

The deletion of negative Google reviews is subject to some criteria. Google thus wants to avoid that negative feedback is categorically deleted, and thus the reviews of companies are distorted. But which negative reviews can you now delete and which not? Basically, if a negative review violates applicable law, you are entitled to have it removed. The same applies if a negative review violates Google guidelines.

However, if a review does not violate Google's policies or the law, you will not be able to remove it. In such cases, you should follow the best practices we summarize below for dealing with negative Google reviews.

Now, if you have determined that there is a violation of Google's content guidelines on Maps or applicable law in their case, you can request deletion of their review in one of two ways:

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For an overview of Google's policies on reviews, follow this link.

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Request deletion of the review directly from Google

Requesting the deletion of a rating can be done either in Google Maps, in their Google My Business profile or via the form provided by Google. The request and the deletion in this way are free of charge for you, but can take some time. The processing time here can be several weeks in individual cases and depends on Google.

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Request deletion via the Google form

You can find the form via this link. Fill out the form with your information and specify the URL of the rating that should be deleted due to infringing content. After submitting, the process will be handled by Google. Again, it can be very fast, or take several weeks. It is difficult to estimate in advance how quickly the request will be processed.

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Request deletion via your Google My Business profile

Open your Google My Business profile and select the company and, if necessary, the correct location.
Under "Reviews", find the review you would like to delete.
Via the "three dots icon" and "report as inappropriate" you can request the deletion of the review.
Now the process will be handled by Google and you will receive feedback whether the rating has been deleted.

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Remove negative reviews about Google Maps

Open Google Maps on your smartphone.
Search for your company and the rating you want to delete.
Select the "three dots icon" and "report as inappropriate" here. Now the deletion of the rating is requested.
Now the process is handled by Google and you will receive feedback whether the rating has been deleted.

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Last resort: request removal of bad reviews by a lawyer

If Google has not responded to your request to delete a review, or you have received feedback that the review will not be deleted, there is one last way to implement a successful deletion: Engaging a lawyer.

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Note: Before you hire a lawyer to delete your case, make sure once again that the review actually violates the guidelines or applicable law.

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Lawyers specializing in Internet law are the right contact for you when it comes to successfully obtaining the deletion of a rating on Google. After the initial meeting, the lawyer will usually draft a legal letter to clarify your legal claim against Google.

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You should note here that a lawyer is of course associated with costs. These are usually around 150 euros for writing a lawyer's letter.

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Reading tip: In these articles you will get all the important tips for buying Google reviews and for responding correctly to negative reviews.

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The right way to deal with negative reviews

Even though negative reviews can be unpleasant, you should still pay attention to them. They often contain important feedback or information that can help you become even better and avoid mistakes in the future. Also, by how you handle negative reviews, you can show potential customers how you respond to problems and criticism and what kind of service they can expect as a customer. Below you will find 2 "Best - Practices" on how to deal with negative Google reviews.

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Tip 1: Respond to your customers

Respond to your customers' negative reviews. Thank them for their feedback, apologize for possible mistakes, or suggest a solution if the customer has a specific problem. This also shows other customers who read the review that you take critical feedback to heart and are always looking for a solution. In addition, if you are very angry about a review, it may make sense to do something else first or let some time pass before responding to the review. That way, you don't end up with frustration-laden responses that may only further annoy the customer.

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Tip 2: Make use of customer feedback

All feedback is important, because only through honest customer testimonials can you improve as a company. Therefore, take a close look at what your customers have to say in negative reviews, try to put yourself in their shoes and try to understand why they feel irritated. In this way, you will gain valuable insights into processes that do not yet satisfy your customers 100% at the moment and can improve them based on this.

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Better Google reviews with Mateo rating management

Even if you manage to delete bad reviews in some circumstances, more positive reviews are still the best answer to single negative ones. With Mateo, you collect 2-3 times more positive Google reviews on average. How does it work? You send automated targeted review requests via WhatsApp to satisfied customers. The more reviews you have, the better you will be found on Google, for example. Reviews also create trust in your business. In addition, the Mateo solution allows you to communicate with customers via WhatsApp in a DSGVO-compliant manner, to edit all message channels from a central inbox and to send Whatsapp newsletters.

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Does that sound exciting to you? Then book a 30-minute consultation appointment and learn more about the solution: Book appointment

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Low cost provider for WhatsApp Business API

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