
What Makes a Good Quality Review? (6 Top Tips + A FREE Template!)

This guide walks you through the exact steps to edit or delete your Google review, plus offers practical advice on when and how to revise it for better clarity and impact.
Are you a business owner trying to remove a negative review about your business? Read this separate guide for business owners instead.
Online reviews influence how others see a business - and your voice plays a role in that.
You might have:
Updating your review to reflect your full, honest experience is not just helpful to others - it’s fairer to the businesses you interact with. Whether you’re correcting a mistake or simply adding more context, your review carries weight.
And just as important as writing an honest review is knowing how to spot a fake one. Being able to recognize the signs of inauthentic reviews, whether you're a consumer or a business, helps maintain the integrity of the review system and leads to better decisions.
Follow these clear steps to update or remove a review on Google Maps:
1. Log into your Google account - Make sure you're signed in to the account you used to post the review.
2. Head to Google Maps - you can do this via desktop or mobile.
3. Open the Menu - click the three horizontal lines at the top left of the screen.
4. Select 'Your contributions'.
5. Click on the 'reviews' tab - This will display a list of reviews you’ve written.
6. Find the review you want to change - Use the three-dot menu next to the review to choose an action.
7. Click 'Edit review' or 'Delete review' depending on which action you wish to perform. (If editing your review, be sure to click the 'Post' button once completed).
Pro tip: Make your reviews specific and constructive. Helpful reviews mention names, details, and examples. This improves trust with readers and gives businesses useful feedback.
Want more positive reviews for your business? Learning how to ask for Google reviews the right way - politely, at the right moment, and through the right channels - can make all the difference. Focus on the experience, not just the request.
Not every review needs to be deleted. If your overall experience changed or improved, consider editing the original to reflect that. Here's how to do it effectively:
Call out what worked well - e.g. “The checkout process was fast, and the staff was friendly.”
Update the review if your concerns were later addressed.
Example: “There was a delay in shipping, but the support team resolved it quickly.”
If a company made an effort to fix things, mention it. This shows fairness.
Changed your mind after a resolution? Update your rating to reflect the full experience.
Even if you had a bad experience, avoid aggressive or emotional language.
Instead of vague criticism, suggest improvements.
Example: “The experience was good overall, but I’d recommend faster order tracking updates.”
Correct spelling and grammar matter. Clear writing makes your review more helpful, and more trusted.
Google reviews help people make better decisions - but only when they’re honest, current, and specific. By taking a few minutes to update your review, you make your feedback more valuable to others and more respectful to businesses.
Whether you're a consumer keeping your reviews up to date or a brand looking to get more 5 star Google reviews and stay ahead of your online reputation, having the right tools makes a difference.
If you regularly leave reviews, it’s worth taking time to check they still reflect your views. And if you're a brand looking to stay on top of your online reputation…
Book a demo with REVIEWS.io to see how we help businesses collect, respond to, and showcase reviews - all from one easy-to-use dashboard.
Yes, you can. Just edit your review and you’ll be able to adjust the star rating at the same time. Be sure to hit 'Post' to save your changes.
Yes - edits or deletions usually appear instantly, though in some cases they may take a few minutes to reflect publicly.
Updates to your Google review, whether edits or deletions, typically appear instantly. In some cases, it might take a few minutes to reflect publicly, especially across devices.
First, check that you're signed in to the same Google account you used to post the review. If the business has changed its listing (like through a name change or merge), your review may no longer be visible under the new listing.