Do Old Reviews Still Matter?
Absolutely—and not always in a good way.
Outdated reviews may no longer reflect how your business operates today, but they can still show up on your Google listing and influence buying decisions. That’s a problem—especially if those reviews are negative or tied to past issues that no longer apply.
Here’s why old reviews mislead customers, and what you can do to protect your reputation.
Dig Deeper: How to Delete a Google Review
The Problem With Outdated Reviews
Most people don’t check review dates. They see a low rating or a bad comment and move on.
Here’s how outdated reviews can hurt your business:
1. They Don’t Reflect Recent Improvements
If you’ve changed ownership, hired new staff, or improved service, old reviews can give the wrong impression.
Example:
A 1-star review from 2019 still shows up—even though the issue was fixed years ago.
2. They May Refer to Products or Services You No Longer Offer
Reviews that mention discontinued services, old pricing, or former locations can confuse customers and waste time.
3. They Can Undermine New Positive Feedback
Even with fresh 5-star reviews, outdated 1-stars can drag down your average and distract from your recent wins.
4. They Affect Clicks and Conversions
According to BrightLocal, 85% of consumers ignore reviews that are over 3 months old—but only if newer ones exist. If old ones dominate your profile, that’s what people see.
What You Can Do About Old Reviews
1. Encourage More Recent Reviews
Ask happy customers to leave new reviews. The more current feedback you have, the less weight old reviews carry.
Tip: You don’t need 100 reviews overnight. Just a steady flow of real, recent feedback will naturally push old reviews down.
2. Respond to Outdated Reviews Publicly
Show you’ve made changes.
Example reply:
“Thanks for your feedback. Since this review, we’ve updated our policies and brought in new team members. We’d love to welcome you back.”
This tells new customers that the issue is old news.
3. Request Removal If the Review No Longer Applies
If a review is completely irrelevant—like referencing a previous owner or outdated location—you can flag it as off-topic in Google’s review system.
While not all outdated reviews qualify for removal, some do—especially if they refer to a business that has significantly changed.
4. Suppress Them in Search
If an old review is ranking on a third-party site or in Google results, suppression may help push it down. Create and optimise fresh content to outrank it with more accurate, current pages.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Let Old Reviews Tell the Wrong Story
Outdated reviews are like expired headlines—they might not reflect reality, but they still shape perception.
By actively managing your reviews, encouraging fresh feedback, and addressing what’s old, you stay in control of your brand’s story.
Need Help Burying Outdated Reviews?
At Reputation Galaxy, we help businesses remove irrelevant reviews and suppress outdated ones in Google. Whether it’s a change in ownership, an old issue, or just a fresh start—we’ll help you reset your reputation.
Fresh reviews. Better visibility. No win, no fee.
Get a Free Quote or call us now to take back control of your business profile.