Nowadays, more people are online than ever before. And people search for reviews more regularly. One of the ways a business can get a review is through Google Reviews.

In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about the process of deleting a Google Review. But for a more updated information, you can always check Google’s policy on Reviews.

Why Would You Want to Delete a Google Review?

A Google Review is a feedback, comment, or evaluation given by a customer to a certain business. 

Getting a Google Review can be helpful for a company, especially when it is a positive and valuable one, as it can influence a potential customer’s decision. And have an impact on a company’s reliability and credibility.

It can also be used as a factor to increase your visibility in local search results, which leads to more potential customers seeing your business. 

A negative, spammy, old and outdated review can be harmful to your business’s online reputation. So deleting them can be an option.  

But bear in mind, that a few “bad” reviews are not actually bad, as they give you some credibility too.

Can You Delete Google Reviews?

Google Reviews are essential to any business. When deleting an online review, you must know that there are limitations. You can’t directly remove a review, but you can still take appropriate actions. If your business receives a negative feedback, you need to check first the authenticity of the review. If it seems like a wrong comment or if it’s hurting your online reputation and violates Google’s policy, you can flag it for removal. 

There are ways to remove it, you can either ask the customer to delete the review on their end, send a report to Google, or respond to the customer’s review. A Reddit user wrote that you can respond respectfully to the negative comment. (Reddit, R/SEO). It’s an excellent move if you can turn their negative comment into a positive one by presenting your point while also considering theirs. It demonstrates that you are open to criticism and are willing to improve as a business. 

It is also a helpful option to politely reach out to the person who made the review and ask them to remove it personally. Also, make sure that you do address their concerns first if it’s directly about your business. However, if it isn’t possible, you can flag the review for removal through Google.

Here are the Steps to Delete, Flag or Report A Google Review For Removal:

1. Sign in to your Google Account and open Google Maps.
2. Go to your Business Profile and then the reviews section.
3. Find the review you would like to report/flag. 
4. Click the “Report review” button. 
5. Select from the options for the reasons based on the comment.
6. Then click “Report”.
7. Done! 

Or you can go to the Google Review Reports Page

But keep in mind that while Google has the authority to review and assess them, not all reviews that are flagged or reported can be deleted. Google only removes reviews that violate their policies and guidelines.

Why Google Reviews Matter

Google Reviews influence customer’s decisions as it helps build credibility and trust in a business. When a customer is considering a business to engage with or try, they often start by checking the reviews and feedback online. Which can directly influence in their decision-making process. 

A positive Google Review can help build trust and an online reputation. A negative Google Review, on the other hand, can potentially lose a prospective customer, and hurt the business. However, handling negative feedback on a Google Review can also show that the business is willing to make improvements and value the customer’s input. 

A Reddit user shared that he prefers to respond positively to a Google review, address the issue, and turn it into a positive one. (Source: Reddit, r/SEO). Engaging in both the negative and the positive reviews can help with your business’ visibility. It also shows the customers that you are responsive and is committed to helping them.

Understanding Google Review’s Policy

What is Google’s Policy on Reviews?

According to Google on their policy on reviews, "Your content should reflect your genuine experience of a product, and should not be posted just to manipulate a product’s ratings. Don’t post fake content, don’t post the same content multiple times, and don't post content for the same product from multiple accounts." (Google, 2025).

What Reviews can be removed?

Google has guidelines when writing a review. While as a business owner, you can’t directly delete a negative Google Review, you can make a report by flagging or reporting it to them, especially if you feel that it violates Google’s policy and guidelines- or if it includes a comment that is not related, spammy, or offensive to the company. Google will assess, and then take the appropriate action. 

The Importance of Authentic Reviews:

Authentic reviews offer numerous benefits for your business. Having more positive reviews can significantly help potential customers to make their decisions easily. It also helps to enhance your online visibility and build trust. Google emphasizes that customer-contributed reviews are most valuable when they are honest and unbiased. (Google). Encouraging your satisfied customers to leave a feedback on your Google Business Profile is a great way to help potential customers explore your offers. Also, note to make it easy for them to access it directly by providing clear instructions or even a link for them to review your page. These kinds of reviews build trust and credibility for your business.

Ways to Respond to a Negative Google Review

It is important to respond to a negative review as it can directly affect the reputation of your business online. A lot of good reviews can be beneficial, but negative reviews can be damaging. Addressing these negative comments can lessen the harm it does to your business. 

You can deal with negative feedback effectively by considering the customer’s point and responding to constructive criticism. One Reddit user recommended that you respond politely to the comment and turn the review into a positive evaluation. (Source: Reddit, r/SEO). 

Dealing with unfair reviews is always up to you as a business owner, but it is also important to keep your customer’s needs in consideration. If it’s from a legitimate customer, make the reply as professional and respectful as you can. Address their concern thoughtfully and give a helpful solution. It may come as an opportunity for growth, and for people to see that you are genuine and you care about their concerns. However, if it’s a review that is damaging and not true, you can take appropriate actions like requesting to delete the Google Review.

How to Encourage Positive Reviews

Positive reviews are crucial to your business. It helps to retain and acquire new customers. People value reviews, and it may play a significant role in their decision to try a business.

That is why it’s essential to request a review from your clients. You may encourage satisfied customers to leave a review or share their experience with the service or product you provided. You can offer a discount or a gift, as an exchange for writing a comment on your Google Business Profile. This further increases trust,  reliability, and credibility in your business, but it also shows that you value their feedback and support.

The Best Practices for Managing a Google Review

Regularly monitoring your Business Profile and reviews is essential. It is also important to keep in mind to always respond professionally and consistently to online reviews, may they be good or bad. Negative or bad reviews can serve as a way to improve your business and services. So it is important to demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction.

Google reviews play a significant role in building a business’s online reputation and influencing potential customers’ decisions. While a Google Review can’t be deleted directly, business owners should know how to flag/ report unnecessary and incorrect information. In addition, responding to a bad review thoughtfully and respectfully can help to turn a potentially negative situation into an opportunity for growth- rather than simply removing their feedback.

Related Links:

https://support.google.com/product-documentation/answer/10115141?hl=en 

https://support.google.com/business/answer/7667250?hl=en 

https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/1hk9u9k/how_to_delete_bad_reviews_left_on_my_google/?rdt=41162 

https://support.google.com/business/thread/1753388/how-can-someone-remove-their-own-review?hl=en