{"id":20673,"date":"2019-10-09T22:21:39","date_gmt":"2019-10-10T05:21:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vds.vmgagencysites.com\/?p=20673"},"modified":"2024-01-18T16:25:48","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T23:25:48","slug":"lively","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/lively\/","title":{"rendered":"Google reviews and how to remove them"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Google<\/p>\n

Google reviews are a valuable asset for an SMB (SMB is an abbreviation for small and medium-sized businesses) in an ever-evolving online world. Reviews are a window into real-world customers\u2019 views and opinions of services and products. They are an integral part of online shopping but also essential for local businesses. More and more users check reviews before deciding if a local store is what the customer wants. High review scores and low review scores could make the difference for a business, in terms of more customers vs. the competitors swaying the customer\u2019s choice. So how do we manage these reviews to help a location keep up with what sometimes may seem like \u201ctoo many options\u201d?<\/span><\/p>\n

In any given metro to suburban area, restaurants are popping up in every corner of commercial space. Options range from dine-in, take-out, delivery, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, family-owned, franchises, and the list goes on and on. Deciding what you crave is only the beginning.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once a potential customer does a search for a specific type of business, the locations that come up on Google Maps or Google Search can seem daunting. So how does a customer decide? Proximity? Images? Reviews? All of the above right?<\/span><\/p>\n

As Google users utilize more options, Google places more weight on certain aspects of their product. With the most recent Google Algorithm update, reviews have taken a higher percentage on whether a business ranks well or not. Google likes user feedback, and the strongest signal for this falls into Google reviews.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So how does a business, especially SMB location, compete with larger franchises which have more revenue to spend on SEO and Review Management services? It starts with word of mouth, but beyond asking customers to leave a review, it can get complicated. Good and Bad reviews can make or break an SMB. Asking for reviews doesn\u2019t always get the positive results a business owner wants. A bad night for a waiter, busy nights which make the customer touch more difficult and higher expectations due to complicated digital words can change what seems like a good experience into a bad one. Businesses also have to deal with politics, PC \u201cShut it down culture\u201d and reviewers looking to leave a bad review more based on \u201cfeelings\u201d instead of service.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So what can be done in these negative situations?<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Google<\/p>\n

Google Review Policy or Review Police?<\/span><\/p>\n

Google has a strict review policy, and although that may sound like a good thing, it can become a nightmare when trying to remove inaccurate, negative reviews. We are going to discuss <\/span>Google policies<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>replying to reviews<\/span><\/a> as well as how we can <\/span>remove reviews<\/span><\/a> that violate policy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Google\u2019s Review policy is as follows;<\/span><\/h3>\n

Spam and fake content<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your content should reflect your genuine experience at the location and should not be posted just to manipulate a place\u2019s ratings. Don\u2019t post fake content, don\u2019t post the same content multiple times, and don’t post content for the same place from multiple accounts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Off-topic<\/strong><\/p>\n

Only post content based on your experience or questions about experiences at a specific location. Maps are not meant to be a forum for general political, social commentary, or personal rants. Content that does not meet this standard will be removed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Restricted content<\/strong><\/p>\n

For some products or services subject to controls and local regulations, you must follow certain guidelines when posting content. The content you upload may not feature calls to action or offers for the sale of products or services that are subject to local legal regulations. This includes, but is not limited to, alcohol, gambling, tobacco, guns, health and medical devices, regulated pharmaceuticals, adult services, and financial services.<\/span><\/p>\n

The content shouldn\u2019t display:<\/span><\/p>\n