GOOGLE REVIEW GUIDELINES · CHECKED SEPTEMBER 2026
Google reviews, with the rules made clear.
Google Business Profile, formerly Google My Business, lets customers share genuine experiences. Here are the rules to consider when you invite those reviews.
Ask neutrally, without choosing the outcome
Google allows requests for genuine reviews when businesses do not offer incentives or influence the rating or content. Give customers the same invitation regardless of how you expect them to rate the experience.
Avoid incentives and pressure
Do not connect discounts, free items, payments or other benefits to writing, changing or deleting a review. Do not require a review as part of service or pressure customers to post while at the business.
Do not prescribe the words or staff mentions
The current policy prohibits requesting specific review content and directing staff to solicit a set number of reviews. Let customers decide what they want to say; do not ask them to name a staff member or paste prepared praise.
Keep public review choices independent
Do not use a star screen or satisfaction survey to choose who sees a Google review request. A private feedback channel can be useful, but must not hide or discourage negative public reviews.
Use the business’s correct review destination
Google provides a way to share a review link or QR code from a Business Profile. Check the listing and destination on a phone. The customer completes the review on Google, where account and moderation requirements apply.
No tool can promise a moderation outcome
Google can remove policy-violating reviews or apply restrictions. There is no review-count threshold, guaranteed rating or guaranteed ranking attached to a TrustLoop subscription. This page summarises the current written rules without claiming a specific date for when each provision was introduced.
Read the official guidance
Sources checked 9 September 2026. Platform rules and enforcement can change; this summary is not a guarantee of compliance.
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