One Bad Review, Two Possible Fixes
You’ve been hit with a bad review on Google. It’s damaging your reputation, lowering your star rating, and showing up in search results when people look up your business.
Naturally, your first instinct is to delete the Google review.
But here’s what most people don’t realize: there are two different ways to deal with a negative review—and they’re not the same.
- Removal: The review is taken down entirely
- Suppression: The review is pushed down and buried by positive content
Both have their place. But depending on the situation, one may be better than the other.
This article breaks down the key differences between Google review removal and suppression, when to use each, and how companies like Reputation Galaxy can help you recover from reputation damage using the right strategy.
What Is Google Review Removal?
Review removal means the negative review is taken down completely. It disappears from your profile. It no longer affects your rating, credibility, or visibility.
But here’s the catch: you can’t just delete Google review because you don’t like them.
Google only removes reviews that violate specific content policies.
Qualifying reasons for removal:
- Spam or fake content
- Conflicts of interest (e.g., competitor reviews)
- Offensive or harassing language
- Off-topic rants
- Mentions of illegal activity with no evidence
How removal works:
- You flag the review in your Google Business Profile
- Google evaluates the review against its policies
- If it qualifies, the review is deleted
- If it doesn’t, it stays—and that’s when suppression becomes your best option
You can also use the Business Profile support team or services like Reputation Galaxy to escalate a case if your request is denied.
What Is Review Suppression?
Suppression doesn’t remove the review—it simply buries it. The goal is to make the negative review invisible to most people by pushing it down with newer, better reviews and positive content.
Most users only read the first few reviews on a Google profile. If you can push a bad one out of sight, it no longer controls the narrative.
Suppression strategies include:
- Getting a steady flow of positive reviews
- Engaging with reviewers to improve your response history
- Posting updates to your Business Profile
- Publishing SEO-optimized content that ranks above the review in search results
- Using tools and services to manage visibility
Think of it like reputation weightlifting. You don’t erase the damage—you bury it with better material.
Google Review Removal vs Suppression: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Removal | Suppression |
| What it does | Deletes the review completely | Pushes it down and hides it from view |
| When it works | Only if the review violates Google policies | Works regardless of policy violations |
| Speed | Can take 5–30 days or longer | Can start immediately with a good strategy |
| Control over outcome | Low (Google decides) | High (you control the response and reviews) |
| Risk of denial | High | Low |
| Requires proof? | Yes | No |
| Changes your star rating? | Yes | Not immediately, but eventually |
| Best for | Fake, abusive, or illegal reviews | Unfair but policy-compliant reviews |
When to Focus on Removal
Choose review removal if:
- The review is clearly fake
- The reviewer never used your services
- It contains personal attacks or hate speech
- It’s part of a competitor attack
- You’re dealing with repeat offenders
In these cases, you have a strong chance of getting the review removed—especially with the help of Reputation Galaxy, who can build a formal removal case and escalate it through the correct support channels.
When to Focus on Suppression
Choose review suppression if:
- The review is real but harsh
- It doesn’t break any of Google’s rules
- It’s hurting your conversions but can’t be removed
- You’ve already tried removal and been denied
- You want to restore balance to your profile long-term
For example, if someone writes:
“Food was cold and service was slow. Won’t return.”
That’s their opinion. It’s not spam, hate speech, or fake. Google won’t remove it—but you can still suppress it with a steady flow of positive reviews and engagement.
How to Suppress a Google Review Effectively
Here’s a quick suppression checklist:
✅ Respond Professionally to the Bad Review
Show empathy, take accountability, and invite the customer to resolve things offline. It helps future readers see your side.
✅ Ask Happy Customers for Reviews
Send follow-up emails or texts with a direct link to leave a Google review. Avoid incentives—just make it easy.
✅ Post Weekly Business Updates
Google allows you to post promotions, photos, and offers. These boost engagement and show recent activity.
✅ Optimize Your SEO
Write blog content, local landing pages, or press releases that rank in search results for your business name. This helps push the review down on Google itself.
✅ Use a Reputation Management Partner
A service like Reputation Galaxy can help organize your review campaigns, implement a suppression plan, and monitor your progress over time.
What If You Need Both?
In many cases, the best approach is a mix of removal and suppression.
- Try removal first if the review breaks Google’s policy
- If it doesn’t qualify—or if it takes too long—start suppression
- Run both strategies in parallel to clean up and reinforce your reputation
Reputation Galaxy offers both services, helping businesses build removal cases while implementing suppression tactics that deliver fast, visible results.
Can I Just Delete a Google Review?
A common search query is: how to delete a Google review.
Here’s the answer:
- You can only delete your own reviews (if you’re the reviewer)
- Businesses cannot delete reviews themselves
- To remove a review from your business profile, you must flag it and request Google to delete it
- If the review doesn’t qualify for removal, you must suppress it instead
In other words, if you’re looking for how to delete a Google review written about your business, the real answer is request removal or push it down. That’s it.
Real-World Example: Removal vs Suppression
Let’s say a dentist in Austin receives this review:
“Horrible experience. Dr. Smith should lose his license.”
This review is harsh, possibly defamatory, and contains a personal attack. It may qualify for removal, and Reputation Galaxy could help build a case.
Now consider this one:
“The wait was too long and I felt rushed.”
That review is frustrating but truthful. You won’t get it removed, so suppression is your best option. A few 5-star reviews about comfort, efficiency, and staff friendliness can push that negative review far down the list.
Choose the Right Tool for the Job
Bad reviews are inevitable—but they aren’t permanent problems.
- If a review violates policy, fight to have it removed
- If it’s just unfair or harsh, focus on suppression
- If you’re not sure which applies, get a second opinion
Reputation Galaxy helps businesses evaluate, prioritize, and fix their review problems the right way. They don’t just make reviews disappear—they give you a plan to take back control of your online reputation.