Online reviews can be a huge help for your business. The downside of sites like Yelp, though, is that you can end up with negative reviews. Sometimes a negative review will point out a weakness in your business that you can shore up, but not all are so helpful. Some negative reviews, in fact, are entirely fraudulent.
Fake negative reviews can be written out of spite or anger, sure, but sometimes there is a more sinister motive. Scams are common enough; someone might leave a negative review, then bring you their service designed to get rid of negative reviews for a price. If you see a negative review of your business, the first step is to stay calm, even if you think it’s fraudulent. Most review sites have tools available for remediation, but many are bad at fulfilling their promises of help. If you can get the attention of someone at the site, be sure to make the most of your conversation with them to get the review removed. Otherwise, it’s always a good idea to craft a calm, measured response to any negative review. Address the user’s concerns in a friendly, professional way, and other users will see what kind of business owner you really are.
Read the full article here: Online Reviews: How to Respond to Fraudulent Reviews
