Responding to Fake Reviews on Your Social Media Accounts
These tips will help business owners maintain control of their social media accounts and help to prevent fake reviews from popping up in the future.
If you’ve been working hard to increase the online presence of your business and really put yourself out there, you know it can be frustrating when you receive a bad review. After all, the good advertising a Facebook, Yelp, or Google+ profile provides for your business no longer becomes as relevant if it’s been tainted by a frustrated client who is now urging your followers to no longer patronize your business. However, did you know that a whopping 20% of reviews on Yelp are fake? These tips will help business owners maintain control of their social media accounts and help to prevent fake reviews from popping up in the future.
Reporting Fake Reviews on Yelp
Yelp allows you to flag the review for removal. Log in with your Yelp account and be sure to provide a detailed account of why you believe the review to be inaccurate or fabricated. You may also email [email protected] with your concerns about fake reviews.
Reporting Fake Reviews on Google
Although Google does offer the option to flag a review as “inappropriate,” your best course of action is to reply to the review as the business owner. Offering a sincere, apologetic response to a negative review is a great way to show the customer that you care and want to win back their business. It also sends a good message to potential new customers that you are striving to change your business for the better. Flagging the review as inappropriate checks for abusive and vulgar language and does not usually work to remove fake reviews.
Reporting Fake Reviews on Facebook
Similar to Google, you can’t report fake reviews on Facebook. As stated before, consider commenting on the review as a chance to tell your side of the story and request a chance to make things better for your unsatisfied customer.
Remember that it is up to the individual social media platform whether or not they are going to remove the review from your page. Oftentimes, they unfortunately will not. The best practice when it comes to keeping the fake (and negative) reviews off your page is to keep up the excellent customer service your business is known for, and to encourage your employees to go the extra mile when it comes to pleasing customers. An outstanding, positive review can counter a negative review and change a potential customer’s mind when it comes to visiting your business.
Need help maintaining your social media accounts? Call on the experts at Adventure Web Interactive! Our talented team of writers understands the needs of a wide range of clients and has expert knowledge of SEO. For a free consultation, contact us online or over the phone at 410.788.7007 or 866.488.8644.
