💥 How To Remove Negative Google Reviews (THIS WORKS!)

How do I remove a bad Google review? This is one of the most common questions business owners have about their Google Business Profiles.
The old way we all know is this: Click "..." next to the review and report it by selecting which Google guideline it's breaking.
However, there's a new way: Google now has a dedicated form for reporting reviews. In this video, I take you through the review removal process using this new tool and give you some pro tips.
________________________________________________________________________
Report your reviews for removal here:
sprk.it/remove-review
________________________________________________________________________
PS: Whitespark can help you ⬇️
🚨 Get notified when Google updates your GBP and reject unwanted changes
whitespark.ca/local-platform/...
🚀 Increase your local rankings and conversions
whitespark.ca/seo-services/?r...
📈 Track rankings across different zip/post-codes
whitespark.ca/local-rank-trac...
⭐️ Get more reviews
whitespark.ca/reputation-buil...
🧹 Clean up and build citations
whitespark.ca/listings-servic...
🔍 Find citation opportunities
whitespark.ca/local-citation-...
________________________________________________________________________
🤑 Refer to Whitespark and earn big! 🤑
whitespark.ca/referral-progra...
________________________________________________________________________
Follow us ❤️
📰 Newsletter: insider.whitespark.ca/subscri...
🌐 Website: whitespark.ca/?revgems=remove...
🎵 TikTok: / darrenshawseo
📋 Twitter:
/ darrenshaw_
/ whitespark
📑 LinkedIn:
/ darrenshawwhitespark
/ whitespark
📷 Instagram: / whitespark
👍 Facebook: / whitespark.ca
________________________________________________________________________
Timestamps:
0:13 The old way to report a review
1:13 The new way to report reviews via Google's form
2:21 Summary
________________________________________________________________________
Transcript:
So one of the most common questions that business owners have is “How do I get rid of a negative review on my Google Business Profile?” There is a way, and there's actually a new way that a lot of people don't know about it. I'm going to tell you about that right now.
The traditional way that people would get rid of a negative review is you click this little “...” on the review and you can click “Report review”. You can report it for any of the many reasons why review content might violate Google's guidelines. And Google will guide you through all the different ways.
Sometimes you can just say “Off-topic” and Google’s reviewers/algorithm will just be like OK and remove the review. It’s great when that happens. In this case here this review is off topic because this person never actually had an experience with the business. So, I'm going to say “Off-topic: Review doesn't pertain to an experience at or with this business.” Send report. Sweet.
That is the old way of reporting reviews. You can definitely still do it, but there's a new way that a lot of people don't know about. Google has a dedicated form for reporting reviews now and it is at this URL right here: sprk.it/remove-review
This workflow is dedicated to reporting reviews for removal.
First, you have to be logged into the account that you manage the Google Business Profile from. Then you scroll through to find the business that you want to report the review for.
Then it's going to ask you what you want to do. I want to report a new review for removal. Continue.
Next, you scroll through the list and find the review that you want to report. So here's the one that I want to get rid of. I click the report button and then it again gives you the options of what you want to report this for. What is the problem with this review? So again I'm going to choose “Off-topic”. And then click “Submit”. Done.
(I actually like to report almost all of my negative reviews as “off-topic”. You never know. Sometimes Google just removes it.)
This is not a guarantee that Google is going to remove the review for you, but it's very helpful to know the process and the methodology to get a review removed.
I hope that's very helpful for you. And if you have any negative reviews on your Google Business Profile, it's worth it to report them. Take a pass through, run them through this new tool and report any of these reviews that you'd like to try to get removed, and sometimes Google will do it.

[@Go-VHE]

sorry but google's review system needs to be changed. you should have to produce a receipt or a contract from the business before reviewing them. it should be like the Ebay feedback system - you can only leave feedback for relevant transactions.

[@WhitesparkCa]

agree!

[@MikeMunter]

Hi Darren, with all due respect, how is this any different than standard reporting with the three dots? What data do you have to show this alternative method works any better than the old method?

[@WhitesparkCa]

It’s a great question. I only have anecdotal evidence from a few people saying they had better success with this form. More testing required.

[@markanthonystamaria4012]

Hi Darren, great video. Thanks for this. A question here, can we report FAKE REVIEW weekly? What are its effects? Thanks!

[@WhitesparkCa]

Are you suggesting that you’ll report the same fake review every week until Google hopefully takes it down? I think you could and there would be no negative impact to doing that. Maybe you’ll eventually get lucky and a different person at google will decide in your favor.

[@chelseakuhn9576]

So I tried at the old way and now do I wait the three days then? And or if I try at the new way, does it take less time? I’m a little confused from the old way to the new way.

[@promesconstructionl.l.c.8889]

I did this... However Its Been "decision pending" for 2 weeks now. is this normal?

[@ib4112]

I would appreciate if you can do a video on how labor intensive this work is so that our clients respect what we do for them for the peanuts they pay us. Keep up the good job and appreciate the research work which you share with us.

[@squidly1117]

For sending an email?

[@KyleWeinheimer]

Hey @ib4112 what's your contact info if you'd like some work?

[@ZMAite]

​@@KyleWeinheimerI could use some.

[@heavyastronaut]

Great video as always. Thanks.

[@WhitesparkCa]

Great comment as always. Thanks.

[@kohlfuerst]

@@WhitesparkCa 🤣

[@pauls1883]

Should we avoid submitting removal requests via BOTH the old and new methods? Ie. stick to one? Or it doesn’t matter if we double up?

[@WhitesparkCa]

Doesn't matter

[@sandiogo9203]

Thanks for the video! Does the new way of reporting the review has a better chance for the review to be actually removed?

[@vernonmoody1747]

I can only speak of my own experience at this point.. NO.. our site got hit with about 10 negative reviews by a scammer wanting us to pay for removal.. even after pointing it out to Google they rejected all 10 requests for removal saying it was not against TOS.. go figure that one out. 10 1 star reviews in less then 48 hours.. some mention things we do not even do like sell cars or transmissions..

[@MikeMunter]

This is exactly what I’m talking about in my comment. Reporting reviews historically does not work. In my opinion, you have to go on the offensive and be aggressive about collecting as many five star reviews as you can.

[@advendia6010]

No

[@WhitesparkCa]

Same options either way, but I’ve heard multiple reports that people have better success with the form.

[@WhitesparkCa]

A good offense is always better than a weak defense.

[@ClickMonsterDigital]

Nice. Thanks!

[@WhitesparkCa]

Nice comment. You’re welcome!

[@carmengeorgeweddings3906]

Thank you!

[@WhitesparkCa]

You're welcome!

[@anonymousf454]

Man i would love a video on how to keep your negative review on a bad businesses review board. Not all negative reviews are fake or dishonest, and some are going to save more people from a horrible experiance. I was absolutley conned and taken advantage of when i was young and tried to post a negative google review for that business. My review kept getting removed where only i could see it. The revoew was not fake or dishonest in any way, but it sure was negative. This involved a dentist that absolutley ruined my smile for the rest of my life with an agressive and very much unneeded procedure.

[@WhitesparkCa]

It's harder to get a negative review removed than it is to get it to stick. I wonder if there was something in the text of your review that violated Google's guidelines. You could try rewriting it in a more factual tone - don't be disparaging or use offensive language.

[@anonymousf454]

@@WhitesparkCa ok. Thanks for the reply...i will try to clean it up a little and repost it.

[@nolanola2024]

That is when you take them to court. The Karen's need to be removed from all reviews!!!

[@ib4112]

I hope it works for me best way was to report it to support team and if you are lucky they will get back to you. I have done this for a business for two consecutive years and got successful to remove negative as well as positive reviews that where not related to our business. Surprising level one support rejected the request and after escalation i explained everything thing to Google support over phone (yes they got back to me on phone) and convinced them to remove 90% of the 35 bad reviews i reported. Unfortunately reporting review as off topic never worked for me sorry Darren, I will also try the way you have mentioned but the way i got negative reviews remove was through Good Google support. Yes you have to be patient as whole process of reporting review to getting them removed take 4-8 weeks. By the way Darren i never received the souvenir which i had won (2021/2022) as part of annual online conference/show which you conduct.

[@WhitesparkCa]

This is great feedback. Very helpful for anyone reading the comments. Thank you! Hmm. I will look up your souvenir and get back to you...

[@ib4112]

@@WhitesparkCa Thanks for emailing me regarding souvenir. For me, the knowledge you are sharing is a big souvenir. Keep up the great work.

[@DenisMcCaul]

Hi, do you have a link to the Google support portal you used to request the review removals? Thank you

[@PartenJoe]

Did you request them to call you or did they call you on there own?

[@ib4112]

@@PartenJoe No they called me to update me on my issue. It may depend on type of issue and where your location. I did receive multiple calls from support regarding multiple issue related to reviews.

[@Panagiotis-l4z]

This video is very helpful for business owners who receive fake reviews. There are so many videos on KZbin about this topic. However, I have not seen any videos that try to help customers who post honest negative Google reviews that the business owners hide them?

[@alyanasss]

Same here! I posted a negative review on Google Maps for a local dentist and it never pops up! It pisses me off that that clinic is LADEN with fake 5 stars reviews and no 1 star reviews at all!

[@Panagiotis-l4z]

@@alyanasss As a first step, check whether your review was approved by Google and don't give up:).

[@Merryfrankster_]

I have another method that works in some situations. If the reviewer also has a GMB I go and write them a viciously negative review. Then I email them and offer to change my review to five stars if they do the same.

[@WhitesparkCa]

Dislike 👎🏻

[@oliviapasquarelli99]

This is called blackmail

[@Merryfrankster_]

@@oliviapasquarelli99 no it's called CONSEQUENCES for clueless entitled people who have been shielded by privilege their entire life

[@oliviapasquarelli99]

hm hold on looking up how to remove this reply because you need some CONSEQUENCES for being clueless and entitled. Shielded by privilege, much? (and so it goes... round and round and round in the circle game)

[@LisaWelch-cl7xx]

what is a GMB?

[@dougison]

Thanks great tip, that dorky Sparky link in the video. :) I know it's all good fun

[@WhitesparkCa]

Who you callin dorky, pal?!

[@dougison]

@@WhitesparkCa hahahhahah just kidding

[@scottbryant27]

Big thank you.

[@WhitesparkCa]

You're welcome!

[@RentHomes123]

Can I try the removal request a second time if they refused to remove the review the first time?

[@WhitesparkCa]

Yes!

[@SamuelHeins]

Isn't that just a short link Google provides to the same tool? I wonder if this arives to Google in the same format

[@WhitesparkCa]

Same options either way, but I’ve heard multiple reports that people have better success with the form.

[@joeydelrio]

didnt work for me, bot mail said review didnt violate any policy. i had a customer that refused to pay for parts and threatened to bad review me if i did not give them the parts for free, i told them no, got zero money for the service call and then this customer left a bad review claiming i broke their dryer which i didnt do. this is total BS there has to be a way to get this removed.

[@WhitesparkCa]

Yeah, it's not a guarantee. You still have to get through the people at Google.

[@belindagate1141]

*ABCHACKERS* can help you delete it

[@jeromelaplace8115]

Hi coach ?I have one question . Could we find a job as seo remotely even we do not leave in USA ? Because I’m French leave in France I can come to USA 3 months free visa as européens .

[@WhitesparkCa]

You definitely can! First off, there should be plenty of SEO jobs in Fance, where it would be simpler to get hired. But if you can’t find a job in France, you could definitely look in French-speaking Canada, and the many other countries that speak French.

[@HomesForSaleInHouston]

Thank you. Tried your link, but said it was "not private". Also "Off Topic" didn't work for me so if anyone has any suggestions lmk. Don't know this person. I have not done any business with them. They left no comment just a 1 star review and am having to appeal Google's refusal to delete. Complete BS Google.

[@fidelmontoya3057]

if the review is from a local Guide? is it possible to Erase it?

[@WhitesparkCa]

If it violates Google’s guidelines in any way, then yes.

[@veneta72]

why use this tool? its the same options no? am I missing something?

[@WhitesparkCa]

Same options either way, but I’ve heard multiple reports that people have better success with the form.

[@robbs96]

The form address isnt a google address. I suspect its made by whitespark here to collect peoples google info. DONT USE IT!

[@lisahardeman-dunn9211]

What are the indicators that Google deems the review authentic?

[@WhitesparkCa]

they have an AI filter that's supposed to detect "spammy language", but it's garbage. but in general, an authentic review would contain no hate speech or harassment, it would follow Google's guidelines, it would come from a legitimate Google account and come from a person who has actually visited the business

[@kohlfuerst]

Curious If this will Work in german

[@WhitesparkCa]

Should work in any language. German especially.

[@carlottacambronero1558]

I already done this twice but the bad reviews still showing

[@WhitesparkCa]

It's not guaranteed that it will work. It's ultimately up to Google to decide if they remove the reviews, but this is only way to request removal.

[@anonymoushuman8443]

How do I remove a Google review that a customer left and even left a picture of me saying false things about me

[@WhitesparkCa]

just report the review like any other!

[@huweliswilliams1031]

Do the customers get notified if me the business owner try to remove google review?

[@WhitesparkCa]

The reviewer will get notified that their review was removed, but they won't know who reported it

[@onlyfortamilsongs7441]

Google how much days take to remove the review

[@WhitesparkCa]

they take about a week to reach out to you

[@carmengeorgeweddings3906]

Giving it a try.

[@WhitesparkCa]

Let me know how it goes!

[@mikedaflame8483]

Man we know this already

[@WhitesparkCa]

It’s new to many people!

[@nahidhasan-ki3fx]

Sir how to get more googoe reviews clients?

[@WhitesparkCa]

I have no idea

[@opexro]

Google is a misery

[@WhitesparkCa]

yes!

[@deepvoice4195]

if somebody had a bad experience at a company they should have the right to write about their experience. Just because the review is negative, doesn't mean its a fake review. Im glad people warn me about toxic people in toxic companies

[@lisahardeman-dunn9211]

Understand but how do they prove that, how does Google prove that I had services from this company? And what are the terms of language that are acceptable and accompany that is total garbage lol unethical untruthful negligent are these acceptable terms irresponsible unaccountable

[@notofthisworld5267]

You can't get rid of them. Only Google can delete them. These videos tell a person nothing.

[@WhitesparkCa]

A person has to take action in order to make Google remove them, which is what we talk about in this video :)

[@robertwentworth7405]

Or maybe the business should just do business properly so they don’t get bad reviews. Just saying what’s the point of having a review process if you can just have them taken down.

[@claylandscaping5713]

OK, so you own a hotdog stand. You are the owner serving smoking hot delicious hotdogs with a very clean environment. A week or two later, you see a negative review about your business. And here’s how it reads…” These people are totally unprofessional, the owner was very mean and hateful and rude, there was rat shit all over the place and the hotdog tasted like shit…” This is what people are concerned about.

[@WhitesparkCa]

Hey there! I agree that unhappy customers have the right to leave constructive negative reviews, and that businesses can actually learn from these reviews and improve their business. Unfortunately, though, many competitors opt for negative review spam as a local SEO strategy. And there are some people who leave 1-star reviews for no reason. This video is meant to help businesses that struggle with these issues

[@BennyFromFalloutNewVegas]

I'm tired of my honest 1 star reviews going into relevant detail being censored.

[@WhitesparkCa]

yeah that sucks; i was more so talking about removing fake/spam reviews

[@BennyFromFalloutNewVegas]

@@WhitesparkCa Yeah, I can see how it's a complicated situation. It just feels unfairly in the favor of the business when certain businesses need to have the truth told about them. However, I understand trolls exist and make it where we can't have nice things either.

[@nolanola2024]

what happens when you just have a mean nasty customer slander you? @BennyFromFalloutNewVegas

[@BennyFromFalloutNewVegas]

@@nolanola2024 It's better than a terrible business provider being able to delete every negative and true thing about them and continue providing bad business.

[@mikebak6048]

no offence but this has been available for the last two years now atleast...

[@WhitesparkCa]

What?! I am deeply offended.

[@mikebak6048]

@@WhitesparkCa ok ill take you out for Coffee at Remedy Cafe as an apology, near jasper ave :D

[@outhere5680]

No good mate google will never remove bad reviews.This video is click bait.

[@WhitesparkCa]

Our team successfully removes reviews all the time 🤷

[@outhere5680]

@@WhitesparkCa how and where are you based

[@WhitesparkCa]

Using the method in this video. We’re in Canada, but most of our clients are in the US.

[@outhere5680]

@@WhitesparkCa I'm based in the UK what are your fees

[@andrewdillard5961]

Awesome thanks!

[@WhitesparkCa]

Awesome you’re welcome.