How do I respond to a bad Google review?

Respond to a bad review calmly, publicly, and fast, because future customers read your replies more than the complaint itself. Thank the person, apologize for their experience without getting defensive, briefly give your side if the facts are wrong, and move the details offline with a phone number or email. Keep it short and professional. A measured reply to an angry review often wins more trust than a wall of five-star ratings, because it shows how you handle a problem.

Never argue, never get personal, and never ignore it. If a review is fake or breaks Google policy you can flag it for removal, though that is slow and hit-or-miss, so a good public reply is usually your best tool. Steady, recent reviews outweigh the occasional bad one anyway, which is why the real goal is to keep new ones coming. Building that habit is part of our local SEO for Louisville contractors.