Failing the Google reviews filter? This is NOT the solution!

We noticed this tweet today (and, if we can spot it you can be doubly sure Google and the business's competitors can spot it too)...

Now, we have a certain amount of sympathy for businesses that find that a tiny minority of their customers are impacting their Google (and Facebook and Yelp) images. At least the businesses in question have passed first base: they have accepted that it is essential to look as good as they possibly can on Google. But there are four big reasons that businesses should not knee-jerk into taking this kind of action...

1. It is non-compliant with the CMA regulations - you will, in the UK at least, be breaking the law.
2. It hands your competitors a really big stick to beat you with: 'I wouldn't trust [Dossett Dental]'s reviews, they are paid for'.
3. It's against most sites' own T&Cs - and the last thing any business wants is to fall foul of any of these social media giants.
4. It doesn't work - let's see what's happened to Dosset Dental's Google reviews since this promotion...

...Wow! Two whole Google reviews (and none on Facebook or Yelp) - at the risk of 1-3 above. It's simply not worth it. 

What should businesses in this position do?

First - take a deep breath, then do what you would do in any similar situation - take professional advice. And what should that professional advice be? Here goes...

1. Adopt a long-term review management strategy (how may businesses do we see every day that have tried multiple reviews sites - sometimes more than one a year - over the recent past?). Buy a solution, after serious consideration of the options available - don't be sold one.
2. Ensure that strategy is 100% compliant with the CMA regulations
3. Stick to that strategy until your reviews accurately reflect your business

Essential reading...

• Why independent review sites can no longer compete with Google reviews
• The CMA rules - and how to ensure your reviews solution is compliant
• The sort of results you should expect when you adopt professional review management
• A detailed description of the Google Filter and its impact on businesses scoring less than 4.5