The Best Way to Handle Negative Online Reviews
HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / September 20, 2021 / In the digital world we live in, a defamatory review can seriously harm any business. Defamation Attorney Paul Sternberg, out of Houston, Texas was recently interviewed for a piece in the Chicago Agent Magazine, Opinions are not defamatory, but facts are: How to fight back against a bad online review.
In that article, Sternberg discusses the detriment negative reviews can have on Real Estate Agents, but any entrepreneur or small business can be hurt by an angry customer venting on the internet.
Sternberg, who wrote the book, "The Guide to Internet Defamation and Website Removal," in 2019, has several go-to steps for addressing situations like these.
First, the problem needs to be understood. Why is the person leaving the negative review? Understanding the reason they left the review is the most important part of the process.
The second step would be to find the person, address the problem, and see if there is anything that can be done to resolve the situation. The internet is not as anonymous as some would believe and finding out who to contact is not usually a problem.
After trying to make amends, Attorney Sternberg suggests asking them if they would be willing to remove the negative review. If you can't come to an agreement, there are several other steps that can be taken.
Reach out to previous clients and ask them if they would be willing to leave a positive review. The more positive reviews a business has out there, the less likely people will notice or pay attention to the one negative review.
After taking a day or two to calm down, Sternberg's suggests responding publicly to the review. He says it is best to be honest while remaining professional. Apologize for the person's experience and thank them for their feedback, demonstrating that you would be willing to work with them in the future as a commitment to your willingness to improve.
He also suggests responding to the positive reviews to show that you are engaging and care about your clientele.
If the review is indeed defamation, there is an alternate route you can take. A cease-and-desist letter threatening a lawsuit can also be effective, Sternberg said -- but weighing the benefits versus the risks of a confrontation beforehand is crucial. The person may post more defamatory comments instead of stepping back from the situation.
Alternatively, you can reach out to the platform they posted the review on and ask them to remove it. Attorney Sternberg warns that due to federal laws, there is little legal recourse in asking an online platform to remove the review, but it is worth a shot.
If you act quickly and explain why you think the review is misleading, they may take your concern seriously and remove it, without even notifying the author - especially if it somehow violates their guidelines.
Sternberg, who can be reached at 713-392-4322, states that Regardless of the steps you decide to take, a negative review can be detrimental to your reputation and needs to be dealt with quickly and efficiently.
Paul M. Sternberg is in private practice at his own Houston, Texas law firm since 2001. He concentrates his practice in the areas of internet defamation law and business law. Mr. Sternberg is a graduate from the A.B.Freeman School of Business at Tulane University in 1987, and a 1996 graduate from South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas where he was on the Dean's Honor Roll. Mr. Sternberg, a seasoned entrepreneur, is the author of THE GUIDE TO INTERNET DEFAMATION AND WEBSITE REMOVAL and THE GUIDE TO INVESTING IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE. He has 10 years of experience on representing clients who have been the victims of defamatory cyber-attacks. Mr. Sternberg has developed a reliable blueprint in securing positive solutions in most cases. He has shared his professional knowledge with FOX NEWS and many other media outlets to discuss internet defamation. He is a frequent speaker to attorneys and community groups. He may be reached at www.TheDefamationAttorney.com or his office at 713-392-4322.
SOURCE: Sternberg Law Firm
View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/664807/Paul-Sternberg-Interviewed-by-Chicago-Agent-Magazine
