How to handle a negative Facebook review for your Decorating business.
Ah, the decorators' dilemma.
Imagine this.
You're sweating it out in your decorating business, giving your absolute best to those clients you practically had to outdo Michelangelo to win over.
Every day is a small step toward that dream life of yours.
The one where you're not stuck dealing with clients straight out of the ‘grumpy couple who inspects your every paint stroke like an overzealous foreman with a magnifying glass’ playbook.
Yeah, that life.
And then, the wrecking ball suddenly swings your way.
Ping!
Your phone rings, and you eagerly check it, hoping for a meme or a quick fix for a stress-free day.
Nope. It's a Facebook notification, and it's not good news.
Someone left a bad review on your decoartor’s Facebook page.
Boom.
Now, it feels like your decorating business is sinking faster than a shaky scaffold on chocolate.
Or, at least, that's what your dramatic side is yelling.
Don’t panic.
Here’s what to do about it.
Why reviews are so important to your Decorating business.
What’s that I hear?
You’re too busy perfecting immaculate cut-in lines to bother chasing silly online reviews?
I get it.
They can seem like fluffy vanity metrics compared to that gleaming smooth finish you just achieved on Mr Thompson’s living room.
But what if I told you those scattered customer reviews could make the difference between a stuffed appointment schedule and twiddling paint-stained thumbs come January?
Now you’re interested.
While word of mouth referrals put bread on tables today thanks to quality workmanship, they still only spread through tight-knit communities.
Yet your wallpaper hanging wizardry deserves worldwide fame.
Lots of it.
Just imagine for a moment.
As the clock strikes midnight, an insomniac Googler frustrated by DIY disaster suddenly wonders if hiring a seasoned decorator pro like yourself might be wiser than watching another “How To” tutorial video over cold lasagne.
Within milliseconds search results pop up.
But who catches their eye first?
Who looks impressive, even virtually?
Who has a track record of glowing customer endorsements effortlessly accessible with a screen tap?
You following me here?
See.
Reviews lend credibility that you actually know one end of a paint roller from another.
And they magnetically draw ideal customers 24/7 even while you sleep.
It boils down to this.
Would an interior designer or architect land high ticket contracts without a portfolio proving their worth?
Then why should masterful decorators be any different?
Let your work showcase itself beyond physical walk bys.
Give previous customers the mic to sing praises from the virtual rooftops rather than just the local pub. 🎤
Then watch those dream jobs roll in while cementing your status as a leading decorating business for eons to come.
Just picture it.
Now back to perfecting those reverse brush cut-in lines eh Picasso? 🎨✨
So now we understand the importance of online Decorating reviews in the first place, let’s get back to the problem.
Why you can’t delete a Facebook review for your Decorating Business.
Stop Googling ‘how to delete a negative Facebook review for my decorating business.’
You can’t do it.
So don’t bother wasting your time trying.
If companies erased negative commentary every business would boast 5 star praise.
Except Wendy, the local florist. She knows why! 🌺😒
Fair critiques deserve airtime regardless of bruised egos or dented brands.
Deconstructing your recent criticism into FAKES and LEGITIMATE reviews for your decorating business is key.
Each require different disinfection tactics.
So grab an cuppa (mine’s no sugar).
And let's strategize how to save face when the worst happens.
What to do about a fake negative Facebook review for your Decorating business.
Well slap my brush and call me Shirley.
Looks like some cowardly keyboard warrrior has taken a break from trolling mumsnet baking forums to sabotage hardworking decorators like yourself.
I know seeing newly uploaded vicious nonsense masquerading as legit feedback on your Decorator Facebook page stings worse than paint stripper to bare skin.
But don’t sweat it.
This isn’t our first rodeo dealing with phantom reviews.
We’ve got your back.
While understandably shocking at first glance, upon closer inspection the sneaky patterns in these underhanded attacks quickly emerge.
You’re likely dealing with one of three usual suspects.
The Ex-Employee Vendetta 👷♀️
Sometimes good hires unfortunately go bad.
Maybe you had a recent fiery fallout with an ex-painter now nursing bitterness?
Nothing like a redundancy grudge and too much time down the local rubbishing your name online for revenge.
The Cowboy Saboteur 🤠
Ever undercut a dodgy decorator on a lucrative contract or refused one too many pints with a shady contractor at networking events?
Perhaps they feel mercilessly smearing your decorator reputation pays you back for their battered egos.
The Keyboard Warrior 👩💻
Lastly.
Could just be some erratic internet oddball randomly selecting any successful brand to ‘do dirty’ out of boredom.
With faceless Facebook profiles rife, troll triggers lurk everywhere nowadays.
But here’s the good news.
Their underhanded tactics always miss key credibility hallmarks that make them legit.
❌ No Valid Purchase Proof
Unlike authentic unhappy customers, fakers can’t specify valid project details you delivered previously as proof.
If backgrounds seem blurry, details oddly sparse, names unfamiliar and accusations vague...massive red flag. 🚩
❌ No Photo Evidence
Similarly, without access to your actual finished handiwork, scammers can’t visually showcase shoddy results to support bold claims.
Any feedback lacking images of these so-called “atrocities” feels fishier than yesterday’s chip paper. 🐟
❌ No Prior Documented Complaints
If quality or conduct issues genuinely existed previously, why no initial private attempts resolving them?
There’s not many clients that would identify errors on site and not voice them at some point to you personally, surely?
Logical next steps would have been direct contact pre-review.
So no word beforehand implies someone might be making this up.
The Solution?
👊🏽 Publicly call them out.
Yep.
Boldly respond ON the review thread itself.
The fortress of transparency social platforms claim to uphold swings both ways, sunshine. ☀️
Explain that you have reviewed your decorating records and found no valid corresponding projects/client names to the vague accusations.
Then politely ask for clarification.
‘Apologies, but our records cannot match your claims to actual recent projects. Please can you advise exact job dates so we can address any potential misunderstandings?’
This gives phantom improvisors 2 unappealing options.
1. Double Down On Deceit 🤥
Attempting to give more info only drives them further down deceitful rabbit holes better left avoided!
Reputational damage worsens.
2. Run And Hide 🏃♀️
With cover blown, most scurry back to their troll caves avoiding the spotlight of truth.
Win for you.
Either way.
Publicly questioning the criticism from a place of classy professionalism makes THEM look unreliable, not you.
Then simply focus your energy on burying bad apples under glowing legitimate reviews from actual delighted clients so that this one sinks to the bottom of the pile, quicktime.
The moral being - take transparency seriously rather than worrying about deleting feedback freedom.
And let truth cast THEM as the cowboys, not you.
So you can get back to framing those flawless feature walls my friend.
Your brand guardian has your back. 👮♀️
What to do when an actual client leaves you a negative Facebook review for your Decorating business.
Well. This is awkward.
No amount of gloss can hide the truth.
A bonafide recent client clearly feels wronged enough to air grievances publicly.
It's a toughie.
I know it’s easier to default to knee-jerk denial when accused of shoddy workmanship or inadequate conduct.
Our knee-jerk reaction after the initial flush of humiliation is often to retaliate.
Maybe with some choice four letter words.
To defend our pristine decorating principles most offenders frankly don’t deserve.
But stop yourself marching straight up that moral high ground my friend.
While understandable, defensive retaliation rarely ends well...for anyone.
Even if you have watertight evidence supporting your case or reams of raving 4 and 5 star reviews, resist the urge to retaliate.
So what’s the pro decorator disaster recovery strategy exactly?
Firstly.
Avoid hasty public denial or dismissive accusations around the disgruntled reviewer’s character.
Don’t start finger pointing.
Let sane audiences connect those unflattering dots themselves in the comments.
Also, resist the ‘tit-for-tat’ approach.
Nothing torpedoes a decorator’s reputation faster.
Instead, briefly acknowledge and redirect the conversation offline.
‘Hi (insert name here). I’m really sorry to hear about your bad experience regarding (detail specific i.e. Your decorating). Client satisfaction means everything to us. If you can direct message the best number to reach you on and a time that suits you tomorrow or later this week, I will make it my priority to call you personally.’
Then if dialogue continues, actively listen rather than defend.
Once you get to the bottom of it, work out your remedy options.
Refunds, free future priority servicing, flower deliveries.
We have to take our ego out of this one.
Once fence mending complete, circle back to the client and see if they will update their public review explaining mutually positive resolutions.
Should they refuse, respect it graciously rather than pushing.
You did your due diligence.
And your response in the comments is clear for all to see that you have taken action.
Either way.
Flooding your review tabs with happy client reviews from this point on means we focus on the good stuff and are less likely to zoom into one negative review amongst tens or hundreds of great ones.
Consistency carries credibility.
And here’s the key.
Remember extreme reactions often imply one-off situational triggers rather than poor standards.
Unless complaints stack up.
We all drop balls occasionally, right?
Perfection remains unrealistic.
But accountability earns redemption.
So embrace humility and winning back faith the noble way pays off so much better than pettiness.
What can I do to stop this negative review doing damage to my Decorating reputation?
Ah, the golden question for preserving your hard-won reputation after cruel criticism.
Well sadly no fairy wand exists erasing damaging views permanently from customer minds.
Be great if it did.
Digital elephants never forget. 🐘
However.
Consistently burying sad one-off reviews under happier, legitimate, glowing reviews is the way to go.
And here’s the clincher.
If scenarios stay respectful and reasonable people perceive one-off clashes as situational.
Not representational.
Unless patterns persist of course.
So focus your energy solely on delivering for wider audiences.
Continuing to comment leads you to look unprofessional.
YOUR decorating reviews are YOUR responsibility.
Make sure you are constantly touching base with your most recent happy decorating clients and asking them to leave you glowing testimonials on your platform.
Then, in a sea of tens or even hundreds of fantastic reviews, how will one negative appear to your potential future clients? A drop in the ocean. 🌊
⬇️ HOW TO HANDLE A NEGATIVE REVIEW FOR YOUR DECORATING BUSINESS RUNDOWN:
• Never ignore a negative decorating review.
• Always acknowledge it publicly in the comments first.
• If you think it’s a fake, call it out – cleverly, politely and professionally with our script.
• Don’t stoop to their low levels in the comments (however tempting).
• Aim to take the conversation offline as soon as is possible.
• If legit, try to find a resolution with the client.
• Do what you say you will with said resolution.
• If you work things out, the client may be open to removing or editing that review. Your judgement call.
Need a little more help nailing reviews for your Decorating business?
Course you do.
Want bite-size tip videos on how to get more reviews? Yes.
What about knowing where to put them, time-saving tricks to get them and ideas on how they can do much of the hard work for you, when done right? Let me at it.
How about done-for-you COPY & PASTE templates to get MONEY-MAKING reviews from your current and past clients? (Because ‘Great job. Highly recommend’ is dull and NOT a game-changing review for your Trades business). You read my mind!
You need our TRADES REVIEW TOOLKIT… your COMPLETE guide to managing reviews.
Ready to 2X, 5X or even 10X the amount of reviews in your Decorating business?
Get your toolkit now.