Now the client has pinged back a “reputation management” company saying they can delete the negativity. I say they are talking non sense and are playing with semantics. What they really should be saying is… "we can only suppress negativity appearing not delete’.
Would be good to hear other sitepoint views on this so my question is : “Can you delete google plus reviews without switching your website off or changing your company name!”
I don’t know the answer but I wouldn’t have though that Google would allow it unless the comment/review was abusive/slanderous etc, something that comment is not.
Negative reviews/comments are all part and parcel of the web and being a business. It’s not that they don’t happen but how you deal with them that counts, so I’d suggest they “engage” with their social media and be seen to respond pro-actively to negative comments like these.
I agree with that. If what [this ‘reputation company’] claims is true, then ALL PORN could be removed from the Internet. And my online bank account could be altered.
You will not be able to “argue” your way into the client’s heart. I suggest you take the high road and carefully advise the client to get a Definitive and Quantifiable promise from the company in a written contract.
When (not if) they are unable to perform the magic they claim:
a. your client will not be cheated
b. you will have earned amazing credibility
c. your client will be able to afford YOUR services (because they did not spend money on nonsense)
Its not possible to fix the existing negative review. But we can add more reviews to fix this issue. Just imagine if we add 10-15 positive reviews, the new reviews will be shown there. Usually reputation management companies create positive reviews and bury the negative listings.
Yes it is completely true if you have more and new positive reviews then old review automatically altered with new one. I have a question. I am doing RMO on a website for which some unsatisfied client post negative review. Now the review got number 1 position in SERP. I did all the things which are required for RMO. But still the position not deflected. Please help me for get out of this.
There’s little than you can do except fight that particular keyword. No web page, not even a review, will stay at number 1 forever unless there’s no competition, and that position is only valid for a limited number of keywords. I confess that this is hard if people are searching for “bad reviews from company X” but it is still doable.
So you either create enough positive revews (or articles) for that keyword(s) or you handle the negative review. Or both! Because sometimes, most of the times, it is not about hiding something negative. It is about how you handle it.
Example: Apple did a huge mistake when they launched their iPhone (I think it was 4) and the antenna didn’t work as it should. They have to retire all iPhones from the market and make a call for those who bought it to return it. Of course, they would get a brand new phone completely fixed and a little present for the inconcenience.
So they turned a horrible situation into something annecdotic.
So if someone goes public with their claims (in a forum), you go and answer it (in the same forum) and explain. Justify only if necessary. If it is an error, recognize it and tell everyone that you offered an alternative to your “customer” such as a year free of higher plan B and that’s it.
Also, don’t get into the game of the people that’s speaking badly. If he still insists ranting, simply tell them “I’ll be happy to discuss this further. You know our e-mail address”
