Sure, Google could take away Google Maps opinions that the proprietor/admin of a Google My Enterprise web page wrote a public reply to.   Responding to a overview doesn’t appear to validate it in Google’s view, as in, “Properly, if enterprise proprietor replied to it, it have to be legit.”  Your response to a overview doesn’t fossilize that overview for eternity.

Once in a while a shopper will get a foul overview from a non-customer, an actual buyer with a bogus or irrelevant criticism, a slimy competitor, or one other  questionable supply, and the query I get is: “Ought to I report the overview to Google or ought to I reply to it?”  In case you’re questioning the identical factor, I’d say you must do each.  Report the overview and reply to it in a circumspect method (for those who suppose you’re higher off with a response up for all to see).

Previously I’ve prompt first attempting to get a bogus or irrelevant overview eliminated, after which replying to it provided that Google doesn’t take it down (which is what occurs most of the time).

However just lately Google has eliminated a couple of opinions that (a) the proprietor of the Google My Enterprise web page replied to and that (b) I flagged for elimination.  In these instances it took a few months, but it surely was nonetheless a great end result.  Right here’s an instance of what that appears like when it really works out.

WILL Google take away each overview you report?    No – not even shut.  What hurts your small business doesn’t damage Google’s enterprise.   For a similar cause that Google didn’t auto-filter the overview proper out of the chute, the probabilities are excessive that Google doesn’t take into account the overview unfair sufficient to take away it manually after your reporting it.

What does all of that boil all the way down to?  Two issues:

1. You possibly can go forward and flag opinions that you just already replied to. After all, one attainable hazard is that the reviewer writes you one other, angrier (or extra bogus) overview on Google Maps or elsewhere (or each).  Generally, I’d say that’s a suitable threat.

2. You possibly can reply to damaging opinions even for those who’ve already flagged them. You’re not making the overview stick by responding to it. Does your response tip the scales in any respect, in order that the overview is extra seemingly to remain put?  That I have no idea.  I do know solely that Google could take away a overview that’s been replied to.

How a lot success have you ever had any in getting Google to take away opinions of your small business that you just replied to?

How about opinions of different individuals’s GMB pages – opinions that they replied to and that you just reported?

Any suggestions?

Go away a remark!

P.S. Are you aware of anybody who’s already written on this (so I may give any due credit score)?