As we mentioned in a previous How To, Handling and Responding to Positive and Negative Reviews, we stated that more often than not, a review cannot be removed. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Explore the policies of review platforms such as Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, AVVO, Martindale Hubbel, and Yelp to identify any violations and determine if the content can be removed.
Here are some common review sites and their policies regarding review removal. Please visit these sites policies often, as they do change.
Google - There are two ways that a Google review can be removed. The person who posted the review can delete it or your business can "flag the review as inappropriate."
Flagging the review alerts Google that the review is fake or that it does not comply with Google's review policies (irrelevant content, illegal content, inappropriate / offensive content, conflicts of interest and impersonations). To learn how flag a review in or check your status on Google, click here, and look for section – How to ask for review removal:
It can take several days for Google to evaluate the review, so you will need to be patient. Google will send you the status of the flagged review and a decision about whether or not they will remove it.
Facebook – There are two ways to manage or remove Facebook reviews. You can disable Recommendations for you can report a violation that doesn’t follow the Community Standards.
If you are a Page admin or editor or have Facebook access to a Page, you can also turn Recommendations for your Page off. If you disable it, you will be removing all the ratings and reviews from your page. Click here to learn how to turn off Recommendations on or off for your Page.
Facebook does allow you to report a single review for violation its community standards (hate speech, misrepresentation, bullying cruelness and insensitivity). Click here to learn how to report a violation.
Avvo – Avvo has checks in place to maintain the quality and validity of reviews posted to their site: they require users to register before submitting a review, and they read every review before we allow it to be posted. If you believe a review has not come from an actual or potential client of yours, you can request that the review be put through their dispute process. Avvo will contact the reviewer and ask them to confirm that they were in fact a real or potential client and give them the option to edit or delete the review. During the dispute, the review will not appear on your profile. If the reviewer responds and confirms the review, it will be reposted to your profile with any changes specified by the reviewer. To learn more about Avvo’s dispute process click here.
LinkedIn – LinkedIn allows you to decline a requested recommendation or hide/unhide your recommendations. Click here to learn how.
Martindale-Hubbell – Attorneys and law firms do not have the option of choosing which reviews to display on their profile. Martindale-Hubbell, however, may remove reviews with inappropriate content in accordance with their policies. Martindale-Hubbell also offers attorneys the option to suppress their peer reviews. However, when reviews are suppressed, the website clearly states, "This lawyer has chosen not to display the review(s) provided by their clients." To learn more, click here.
Yelp – If you see a review that you believe violates Yelp’s Content Guidelines (relevance, inappropriate content, conflicts of interest, privacy, promotional content, and intellectual property), you need to report it and include any information that can help Yelp verify the information. Click here to report a questionable review.
Business owners can also log into their Yelp for Business account to publicly respond to any inaccuracies in the review or contact the reviewer through a direct message.
While it's often challenging to remove negative reviews, it's essential to understand the policies of major review platforms like Google, Facebook, and Avvo. By exploring these platforms' guidelines and flagging reviews that violate their policies, you can take proactive steps to address harmful content and protect your online reputation. Remember to monitor these platforms regularly and adapt your strategies accordingly as policies may change over time.
While understanding platform policies is valuable, remember the true power lies in proactively cultivating positive reviews. By consistently delivering exceptional service and encouraging satisfied clients to share their experiences, you can build a shield of positivity that overshadows negativity and attracts new clients seeking trustworthy legal representation.
Additional Resources
In case you missed it, you can catch up on Reputation Management for Lawyers: It’s Not Just About Deleting Bad Reviews, Handling and Responding to Positive and Negative Reviews, and Developing a Comprehensive Reputation Management Strategy and How To on Working with a Reputation Management Agency.
