
How I Handled a Fake Review (and What You Can Learn From It)
Apr 28, 2025The more successful you become, the more attention you attractâand not all of it is positive.
Sometimes, people youâve never met (whoâve never stepped foot in your business) will try to tear you down. Why? Because deep down, they know theyâre not even playing the same game. So they throw shade to make themselves feel better.
Case in point: we recently got a review from someone calling themselves âMr. REALâ (yep, thatâs what they chose). They trashed our fitness kickboxing program as the âworst Brazilian Jiu Jitsuâ theyâd ever seen. đ€đ
Problem is⊠itâs kickboxing. Not BJJ. đ€Šđ»ââïž
So what do you do with a review like that?
Letâs break it down.
Step 1: Recognize Whatâs Really Happening
Fake reviews suckâbut theyâre also a sign that youâre growing. Increased visibility comes with increased scrutiny. Itâs part of the deal.
And yes, it can trigger what I call the âFear of Successââthat voice in your head saying:
âIf I get too big, Iâll become a target.â
Itâs real. Iâve felt it. But hereâs the shift:
Criticismâespecially the kind thatâs totally baselessâis a clear sign that youâre making waves. Youâre gaining influence. And not everyone can handle that.
Step 2: Handle the Review Strategically
Hereâs the exact process I used:
1. Log in to your Google Business account and report the review as violating terms of service.
2. Choose a reason. I selected âConflict of Interestâ since the reviewer mentioned another school (whichâby the wayâisnât even in our area). âIrrelevantâ wouldâve worked too.
3. Breathe. The process can take several days. Check your email for updates from Google, and donât be afraid to reflag if needed.
Pro tip: Google actually wants their platform to be trustworthy, so theyâre usually pretty fair hereâunlike certain other review platforms (Yelp, Iâm looking at you).
Step 3: Keep Perspective
Even before a fake review gets removed, most people can spot the BS. In fact, Iâve had new students walk in laughingabout one-star reviews they saw online.
People are smart. Most have seen this movie before. If you stay professional and donât engage in drama, theyâll respect you more for it.
Step 4: Celebrate the Win
Yes, really.
If youâre getting fake hate, it means youâre doing something right. You're growing. You're visible. You're leading.
And most importantlyâyouâre staying focused while others are wasting time flinging mud.
Let them.
Step 5: Keep Building the Right Way
Hereâs what the haters donât do:
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They donât add value.
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They donât set real goals.
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They donât focus on their clients.
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They donât work on themselves.
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They donât stay the course.
But you do. Thatâs why youâre moving past themâand why theyâre trying to grab at your heels as you fly by.
Let them reach. Keep soaring.
Final Thoughts
Criticismâreal or fakeâwill always be part of success. Your job is to stay focused, stay professional, and stay above it.
And if you want help scaling your business, cleaning up your systems, and building a brand that attracts real loyalty, letâs talk.
Youâre doing something that matters. Donât let fake noise slow you down.
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