Google Review Policy for Businesses: What Is Allowed

Google allows businesses to ask customers for reviews, including with a direct link or QR code, as long as the request is neutral. Google prohibits fake engagement: reviews that are paid for, written on a customer's behalf or posted by people with no real experience. Always check Google's current pages before changing your process, because policies are updated.

• Ask customers to leave a review after a real purchase, booking or visit.
• Share a direct review link or QR code from your Business Profile.
• Remind customers politely, without pressure.
• Reply publicly to every review, positive or negative.

Google explains how to create a review link or QR code and lists tips to get more reviews.

Google's policy on fake engagement covers the practices below. Read the policy itself for the exact wording.

• Offering money, discounts, gifts or other incentives in exchange for reviews.
• Discouraging or blocking negative reviews, including selectively asking only happy customers.
• Posting reviews on behalf of customers or writing reviews yourself.
• Buying reviews or using services that post reviews from people with no real experience.
• Reviews from employees or others with a conflict of interest.

Google removes reviews that violate its policy and describes restrictions it can place on a Business Profile, such as limiting new reviews or showing a warning. You can report a review that breaks the rules through Google's reporting flow. Google also explains how review scores are calculated.

1. 1Start from a real customer event in your records.
2. 2Send a neutral message with your direct review link.
3. 3Invite every eligible customer, not only the happy ones.
4. 4Offer nothing in return for the review.
5. 5Reply to every review in your own voice.

This is the process BestBuyReview runs for U.S. businesses. See Google review management services or compare your options in what a review management service costs.