Google Places Listing and Bad Reviews
- SEO |
If this topic has been discussed, I apologize. I couldn't seem to find my exact answer, so I'll post this new thread.
Here goes...
We have a client who has mostly favorable reviews on his Google Biz listing. However, one bozo came along and plastered a nasty review about this particular business. As a matter of fact, I stand corrected. Two people have posted bad reviews while 7 have posted very good ones. Problem is that these reviews were totally false, and even the client's attorney (who contacted Google) got nowhere, so he faces the dilemma of the public seeing these two bad reviews. He's freaked out and just about ready to delete his Google Places listing.
My gut reaction was to tell him "no!". I don't think this is a good idea, especially because he thinks he can just wait about a year and then put up a new listing. I told him I didn't think it was this simple. Either (1) when he reposts a listing in a year, Google will see the phone number and reinstate all past reviews, and/or (2) I'm thinking his organic rankings - which are good - will take a hit from this.
So my question is obvious. Has anyone had prior experience with such a circumstance? Any comments/opinions on what the effects of taking his listing down might do to him in terms of his organic rankings?
One one hand, he ranks very well. On the other hand, when a search is done with category related keywords, his Places listing will appear up top and then his reviews are easily accessible, which he doesn't want. He feels he is stuck between a rock and a hard place. I'm reluctant to tell him to delete the business listing, only because my feeling is that it goes hand in hand with the business and its ability to rank organically.
All comments welcome. Thank you!
Eric
Here goes...
We have a client who has mostly favorable reviews on his Google Biz listing. However, one bozo came along and plastered a nasty review about this particular business. As a matter of fact, I stand corrected. Two people have posted bad reviews while 7 have posted very good ones. Problem is that these reviews were totally false, and even the client's attorney (who contacted Google) got nowhere, so he faces the dilemma of the public seeing these two bad reviews. He's freaked out and just about ready to delete his Google Places listing.
My gut reaction was to tell him "no!". I don't think this is a good idea, especially because he thinks he can just wait about a year and then put up a new listing. I told him I didn't think it was this simple. Either (1) when he reposts a listing in a year, Google will see the phone number and reinstate all past reviews, and/or (2) I'm thinking his organic rankings - which are good - will take a hit from this.
So my question is obvious. Has anyone had prior experience with such a circumstance? Any comments/opinions on what the effects of taking his listing down might do to him in terms of his organic rankings?
One one hand, he ranks very well. On the other hand, when a search is done with category related keywords, his Places listing will appear up top and then his reviews are easily accessible, which he doesn't want. He feels he is stuck between a rock and a hard place. I'm reluctant to tell him to delete the business listing, only because my feeling is that it goes hand in hand with the business and its ability to rank organically.
All comments welcome. Thank you!
Eric
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