Fake negative comments

Posted by Adam Franklin

A fake negative comment could occur on your Google reviews, on your Facebook page or even your LinkedIn profile — and it’s quite a scary prospect because it could impact your business!

I’ve spoken at a few conferences lately and it’s attendees’ most common fear!

Watch this short video to learn what to do with fake negative reviews (as well as real negative reviews).

Watch the 08:18 minute training here
or on
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Firstly let me start by saying that a real/legit negative review isn’t a bad thing (…even though it may feel that way!)

Provided you have lots of positive reviews, reasonable people reading the reviews know that you can’t be all things to all people.

In fact studies show that a few negative reviews are actually good for business.

In the video I share how I’m not worried by my book’s 1 star review on Amazon:

The book’s content is good, however the file format is not compatible with my Kindle (I bought only two years ago). Amazon Kindle, you really screw up consumers!

Now, secondly, let’s look at how to respond to a fake negative comments.

If you suspect the reviewer is not a real customer (aka a fake reviewer), try this format:

“Hi _______, I can’t seem to find any record of you in our customer database. Can you please contact me on { email or phone number} with the details you used to purchase/sign up? Then I can find you in my system and I can resolve this issue for you.”

This format works out if they are a legit customer or not, and also makes it clear to other people that this negative reviewer may be a fake.

I hope that’s been useful.

If you’d like a framework for replying to 6 different types of comments, please download the free Negative Comments Response Template

PS. When you're ready, here are 6 ways we help consultants & advisors grow:

1. Web Strategy Planning Template (PDF). Our flagship 1-page tool we co-created with David Meerman Scott. It’s been downloaded over 1 million times and featured on Forbes.

2. Read a free chapter from our book. Web Marketing That Works --- an Amazon #1 best seller.

3. Join the private group on Facebook. Access free training resources, and hang out with 2,300+ peers.

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About Adam Franklin

Adam Franklin is the bestselling author of Web Marketing That Works. He is an international social media speaker and CEO of Bluewire Media.  His blog was Australia's #1 Business Blog and his podcast was #9 on the top marketing podcasts in Entrepreneur magazine. His work has featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, The Australian, Sydney Morning Herald, Huffington Post and iTunes. Download the popular Web Strategy Planning Template which has been used by hundreds of thousands of businesses worldwide. His weekly 'Bluewire News' email goes out to over 32,000 readers.

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