From 2.1 to 4.7 Stars: An Online Review Removal & Management Strategy
Client: A local dental practice in a competitive city.
Challenges We Faced
A “review-bombing” campaign from a disgruntled ex-employee dropped their average Google rating to 2.1 stars, devastating their new patient bookings:
Dozens of 1-Star Reviews
The practice was hit with 20+ fake, 1-star reviews in a single week.
Low “Map Pack” Ranking
Their low Google rating pushed them off the first page of the Google “Map Pack,” making them invisible.
Bookings Plummeted
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) showed that calls and online reservations from GMB had dropped by over 80%.
No Review Management
The client was not responding to any reviews (positive or negative) and had no system to generate new, positive ones.
No Crisis Response Playbook
There was no process to flag review attacks, request removals, communicate with Google support, or quickly offset fake reviews with verified customer feedback—allowing the damage to compound.
Fix Your Online Reviews
“Are negative reviews sinking your business? Our Online Review Removal services can help you repair the damage and build trust.”
Our Approach – How We Solved These Challenges
Strategic Removal Plan
We immediately audited all new 1-star reviews and identified 18 as clearly “spam” (violating Google’s TOS).
Online Review Removal
We flagged and reported the “review-bomb” reviews to Google. We successfully had 18 of the 20 fake reviews removed.
Review Generation (part of Positive Content Creation)
We implemented a Review Management Platform (like Podium) to automatically text/email real patients after their appointment to ask for a review.
Negative Review Response
We wrote professional, empathetic, and solution-oriented public responses to all legitimate negative reviews.
Results
| Metric | Before | After | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. Google Star Rating | 2.1 Stars (40 reviews) | 4.7 Stars (350+ reviews) | +123% |
| “Click-to-Call” (from GMB) | 20/mo | 110/mo | +450% |
| Fake Reviews Removed | 0 | 18 | N/A |
Free Review Analysis
“Want to see how your reviews compare to your competitors? Request a Free Review Analysis from our negative content removal company!”
Advice for Marketers & Brand Owners
- The best defense is a proactive offense. A steady stream of new, positive reviews will drown out any negative ones.
- Flag and report reviews that clearly violate Terms of Service. This is a key part of Online Review Removal.
- Respond professionally to all legitimate negative reviews to show prospects you care.
- Use a Review Management Platform (like Podium or Birdeye) to automate the “ask.”
Extra Factors That Made It Work
- The Online Review Removal (flagging) provided the initial “quick win.”
- The automated review generation (using Podium) was the long-term, sustainable fix that rebuilt their star rating.
- Our professional Negative Review Response strategy helped restore public trust.
