How to Handle Fake Reviews Targeting Your Car Dealership
Here are five ways to handle fake negative customer reviews targeting your car dealership.
1. First, Verify that it is a
Fake Review
Before
taking any action, verify if the online review is fake or not. Look for the
telltale fake review tone, and non-specific criticism.
See
if the same person is posting highly positive reviews on your competitor’s
profile.
2. Report Fake Reviews
If
you are reasonably certain, then start collecting notes to prove it. Gather
sufficient evidence to support your claims and report the review to the
webmasters of the review portal.
For
instance, if a person from Los Angeles posts a fake review about your car
dealership in New York, then in most cases you can reasonably prove that it is a
fake.
3. Respond, Don’t React
It
is always advisable to respond to fake reviews than react in anger. Removing a
fake review may not be always possible. In such situations, you need to respond
carefully since an ill-advised response has the potential to damage your
reputation.
Argue
your case with facts over fiction. Speak with the readers in mind, and not just
the reviewer.
4. Get More Positive Reviews
When
you have a lot of other happy customers who are ready for writing positive
reviews, use their services. Run a campaign to nudge them or request more
reviews on a regular basis so that negative reviews will be pushed out of sight
in search results.
Try Buyerater to
post positive reviews every day.
5. Monitor Your Online
Reviews Regularly
You
need to monitor all your reviews. Various platforms allow you to set up alerts.
Make use of them to keep an eye on conversations that mention your dealership.