Yelp is one of the most popular sites for online reviews because it lets customers rate and write about businesses they've been to. But sometimes, if the review is irrelevant or paints your business in an unflattering way, you might feel inspired to delete reviews on Yelp.
In the digital age we live in now, online reviews are a big part of how many people decide what to buy. Whether it's trying out a new restaurant, booking a hotel room, or choosing a service provider, people often rely on the opinions and experiences of others before making a purchase.
However, what happens when you want to delete your posted review? Maybe you've had a change of heart or realized that your review was inaccurate or unfair.
Whatever the reason may be, deleting a bad Yelp review or false reviews can be a daunting task.
In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of how to delete a defamatory review on Yelp in 2023.
Whether you're a business owner who wants to get rid of a bad business review or a customer who wants to take back something they said, this article will give you all the information you need to manage inappropriate content in your Yelp reviews effectively.
Can You Delete a Yelp Review?
Yes, a page owner can delete a review on the Yelp review platform, but it's not always easy.
It's important to remember that every user has the right to say what they really think about any business or service they come across. Even if this means giving a bad review, users are allowed to do so, and it may take more than just asking them to take it down from the public view.
In some cases, their negative review on Yelp can open your eyes to an area for improvement for your business. And sometimes, the feedback is a fake review that has no relevance to the services or products you sell.
In fact, sometimes users will provide their feedback from their personal experience on the wrong business.
It's also important to note that Yelp reserves the right to delete any reviews that are found to be in violation of their terms of service. This includes posts containing abusive or inappropriate language, or anything that is deemed marketing spam.
5 Reasons You Might Want to Get Your Yelp Reviews Removed
Online reviews can be a double-edged sword for businesses. Positive reviews can help a business's reputation and bring in new customers, but negative or a fake Yelp review can do the opposite.
Yelp is one of the best-known review sites, and each year, millions of reviews are posted there. Most businesses try to keep their legitimate reviews good, but there may be times when they want to get rid of some damaging reviews
Reason #1 – Fake Reviews from Non-Customers
One of the biggest problems with Yelp reviews is that it's easy for non-customers to write questionable reviews. This can be a huge problem for businesses, as customers may take these terrible reviews seriously and decide not to use the business's services or products.
Reason #2 – Negative Reviews from Satisfied Customers
Sometimes, your actual customers leave bad types of reviews because they didn't understand something or because they have a problem that can be fixed by customer service. This is often caused by poor communication between the business and its customers.
In such cases, it's best for the business to reach out to the angry customer and try to resolve the issue; if this is successful, the customer may be willing to delete their negative review.
Reason #3 – Negative Reviews from Consumers Who Never Worked with You
It's extremely common to receive a Yelp review from someone who has never worked with you or visited your local business. These fake reviews on Yelp can be damaging to the business's reputation, as other potential customers may see the review and decide not to use its services or products.
Reason #4 – Outdated Reviews
As businesses evolve over time, their policies and procedures may change. This means that reviews written in the past may no longer be valid. If a business wants to keep up with the times, it should delete such outdated reviews.
Reason #5 – Unfair Reviews
Finally, there are some people who never give a business the benefit of the doubt. They may post unfair or malicious reviews that are not based on facts but are an overreaction to a minor issue that was blown out of proportion.
Even though the best way to deal with this review is to respond positively and try to solve the problem behind closed doors, some of these reviews might need to be taken down.
How to Get a Yelp Review Removed by Reporting It
Most of the time, unhappy customers don't want to delete their own reviews. This is why it's important to know how to report a Yelp review and flag it for removal if you think it violates any of Yelp's terms of service.
Step 1 – Find the Report Button on the Review
The first step in reporting a Yelp review by a disgruntled customer is to find the Report button at the bottom of the review. This button looks like a flag and is usually located to the right side of the review.
Step 2 – Choose the Reason You Want to Report It
When you click on the Report button, Yelp will prompt you to select a reason why you want to report it. Be sure that your report is based on fact and not opinion.
Step 3 – Submit Your Report
Once you have chosen a reason, click the Submit button to send your report. You will then receive an email confirmation that Yelp has received your report.
Step 4 – Wait for a Response from Yelp
Yelp usually takes several days to review reports and decide whether to act. It's important to be patient during this time and not expect an instant response from Yelp.
How Long Does the Yelp Review Removal Typically Take?
Once Yelp receives your report, it will review the review and decide whether to remove it. In some cases, the moderators will reach out to both parties to determine if the review is credible. If the post clearly violates their terms of service, they will likely remove the customers' negative reviews on Yelp quickly.
However, depending on how busy they are, this process can take a couple of weeks. In most cases, when the low star reviews are removed, it can vastly improve your overall Yelp rating. So it is worth the time to report review issues on Yelp.
What if Removing Yelp Reviews is Not an Option? 5 Alternative Solutions
Sometimes a Yelp business page owner can resolve issues by avoiding that tempting strongly-worded reply. Being polite to negative feedback from a customer's previous brand interactions can stimulate conversation off-line.
Even if you can't get rid of a negative Yelp review, there are still things you can do to protect your business.
Option #1 – Reply to the Negative Review Professionally
When a customer leaves a negative review, replying professionally and offering to resolve any issues is the best way to handle it. This shows other possible customers that you're willing to go the extra mile to make sure your customers are happy.
Option #2 – Take Your Conversation to a Private Channel
The best way to improve your online reputation is to show future customers that you're calm, professional, and open to ideas. The way you respond to negative feedback makes a huge impact on the perception of all those who read that Yelp review.
In some cases, a customer may be willing to discuss the issue in private. If this is the case, you should post a polite reply, take the conversation offline and try to work it out privately.
Option #3 – Try to Resolve the Issue
Most customers just want to be heard and have their issues resolved. If the issue is valid, try to do your best to make it right. This will show other potential customers that you care about customer satisfaction and are willing to go out of your way to make sure they're happy.
Option #4 – Encourage More Positive Reviews
No matter how great your business is, negative experience reviews are an inevitable part of running a business. The best way to counterbalance the negative reviews is to encourage more positive ones.
You can do this by asking happy customers for reviews. This will help your overall star rating go up and make it easier for potential customers to choose what to buy. It can also impact search engine optimization.
Option #5 – Make it Easier for Customers to Place Yelp Reviews
Make sure your customers understand how to leave a review on Yelp. You can do this by:
- Directing them to the Yelp page via QR codes at your business
- Adding a link on your website or social media accounts
- Including instructions in emails, newsletters, and blog posts
- Send your customers a direct link to your Yelp profile via email or text message by using a review management software like ReviewsOnMyWebsite
How to Remove Yelp Reviews You Wrote on Desktop
Deleting a poor review on Yelp you wrote on a desktop is a simple process. Here's how you can do it in a few easy steps:
1. Open your web browser and go to Yelp.com.
2. Click on the "Write a Review" button in the top right corner of the screen.
3. Click on the "Your Reviews" tab, located near the top of the screen.
4. Find the review you want to delete and click on the three dots located to the right of it.
5. Select "Remove Review" from the drop-down menu.
Before you confirm the review deletion, click "Delete." Once confirmed, the review will be gone forever, so make sure to double-check before hitting that button! It's worth mentioning that once a review is deleted, it cannot be brought back.
How to Delete Yelp Reviews You Wrote on Your Mobile Device
Deleting Yelp reviews you wrote on a mobile device may seem like a daunting task, but it's actually a straightforward process. Here are the steps to follow:
- Open the Yelp app on your mobile device.
- Tap on the three horizontal lines in the top left corner of the screen to open the menu.
- Tap on "Your Contributions" and then select "Reviews" from the drop-down menu.
- Find the review you want to delete and tap on it to open it.
- Tap on the three dots in the top right corner of the screen and then select "Remove Review."
Before you can delete the review, Yelp will prompt you to confirm that decision. To move forward with deleting it, simply tap "Delete," and then the review will be removed from your page forever.
Key Takeaways
While other review websites like Google Business Profile, Facebook, and niche-based sites have popped up in recent years, Yelp continues to provide valuable resources for local customers.
If you're a business that serves a local community, it's wise to be proactive about managing your online reputation.
Using user-friendly software like ReviewsOnMyWebsite allows a business to significantly increase the number of positive reviews from verified customers by making it easy for their previous customers to leave feedback and share their experience with future customers.
And, with the customizable Yelp reviews widget you can easily display Yelp reviews directly on your website.
Leverage feedback and reviews to improve your online reputation
Get more online reviews and turn your customers into raving fans with ReviewsOnMyWebsite review generation software.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do while I wait for Yelp to remove a review?
It's important to be patient while Yelp investigates the review you reported for removal. As the owner of a business, it can be hard to stay neutral and not respond to bad reviews in public. To keep your customers happy and protect your online reputation, you might want to respond thoughtfully with a private message or email.
What are Yelp review removal services?
Yelp review removal services are businesses or people who will try to get bad reviews taken down from Yelp for a fee. These services often claim to have special relationships with Yelp or knowledge of how the platform's algorithm works, allowing them to remove reviews that violate Yelp's content guidelines.
However, it's important to note that Yelp does not offer a paid service for the removal of reviews, and any company or individual that claims to have the ability to remove reviews for a fee is likely a scam.
How much does it cost to remove a Yelp review?
Yelp does not charge users to remove reviews, whether they are positive or negative. In fact, Yelp does not offer a paid service for the removal of reviews, and any company or individual that claims to have the ability to remove reviews for a fee is likely a scam.
Yelp's content guidelines say that reviews must be based on first-hand experience and can't break any of the site's rules. If a review is found to be in violation, Yelp may remove it.
However, this is done at Yelp's discretion and not for a fee. Ultimately, it is up to Yelp's moderation team to decide which reviews should be removed based on their policies and guidelines.
