

You also should not offer free products and services or other promotions in exchange for undisclosed reviews. Google and the FTC have additional guidelines to be aware of, even if you don't plan to pay for reviews. Otherwise, the consequences may fall on you. Some businesses hire third-party review companies to handle reviews for them, and you must be diligent in working with companies that do not pay for reviews. If you pay for a review or offer promotional deals or free products in exchange for reviews, those must be disclosed. Not only that, but the FTC has strict guidelines regarding fake and/or paid reviews. If Google finds that you had undisclosed, paid reviews, it will remove those reviews immediately. Can you buy Google reviews?īuying Google reviews is against Google's policy and is illegal according to rules set by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).Īccording to Google Support, "Business owners shouldn't offer incentives to customers to leave reviews." That means you cannot coerce customers to leave positive reviews in exchange for money or free products or services either. This makes it more likely for the person to see your restaurant and ultimately stop by for a bite to eat. When an out-of-towner searches Google for local restaurants in your location, your diner will be among the top restaurants to appear in the search. Your customers are happy, and you have dozens of 5-star reviews. Let's say you have a diner in a small- to medium-sized city. Google reviews are also a main SEO factor for local markets. Reviews are more than just a way for clients to share their experiences with your business. These reviews will then appear in the search results for that business. Customers can rank a business from one to five stars and may add comments in addition to their star review. Google reviews are a way for customers to rank businesses.
