Crush False-Negative Reviews with 5 Essential Steps
It’s no secret that the Internet can be a breeding ground for negativity.
If you’re in business, you’ve likely experienced the sting of a false-negative review.
While controlling what others say about you online is impossible, you can take steps to minimise the damage.
If you receive a false-negative review, there are 5 steps you can take to rectify the situation.
Step 1: Don’t Panic
- Assuming you have good reason to believe the review is false, the first step is not to panic.
- It can be difficult not to take it personally, but remember that this is just one person’s opinion and that there are many other reviews.
Step 2: Do Your Research
- When you receive a false-negative review, the first step is to take a deep breath and not react emotionally.
- It is important to remember that this is one person’s opinion and that not everyone will have the same experience.
- Step 2 is to do your research.
- Try to find out if there are other reviews about this person or business.
- If there are, see if there is a pattern of negative reviews.
- If so, this may be something to take into consideration.
Step 3: Respond Professionally
- Next, you should contact the customer who left the review and try to resolve the issue.
- If they are unhappy with your product or service, see if there is anything you can do to make it right.
- If you cannot resolve the issue with the customer, the next best thing you can do is respond to the review publicly.
- Thank them for their feedback and tell them you are constantly working to improve your business.
Step 4: Gather Evidence
- If the customer is unresponsive or unwilling to work with you, the third step is to gather evidence.
- This could include screenshots of conversations, copies of emails, or anything else that would help prove the review is inaccurate.
- Once you have gathered your evidence, you should reach out to the site or platform where the review was posted and request that it be removed.
- Sometimes, they may require you to provide evidence for them to decide.
Step 5: Seek Legal Action
- Suppose all of the necessary steps to mitigate the false-negative review have failed; your last resort is to seek legal action.
- This process is usually complex and lengthy, so consult a lawyer beforehand.
- Many businesses usually write a cease and desist letter as their first form of legal action.
- If the reviewer does not comply, you can take them to court.
- Be aware that this process is often costly and time-consuming, so only pursue it if you are confident in your case.
Receiving a false-negative review can be upsetting. Still, it’s important to remember that they are rare and you shouldn’t let them get in the way of your business.
