Google Review Rules Every Business in India Should Know
Search "Google reviews India" and you will find plenty of people selling them. That is not a shortcut. Google removes fake reviews, can restrict the profiles that use them, and the practices behind them are against its rules. Here is what is and is not allowed.
Updated
Allowed: asking every customer for an honest review
Google encourages businesses to ask their customers for reviews and provides the review link for exactly that. You can ask in person, by SMS, by WhatsApp, on the bill or by email. You can ask as often as you have customers. What matters is that every customer gets the same honest request.
Not allowed
- 1
Offering anything in exchange for a review
No discount, free service, cashback, gift or lucky-draw entry for leaving a review, and none for a positive one either. This applies even when the offer is "for any review, good or bad".
- 2
Review gating
Asking customers how they felt first, then sending only the happy ones to Google. Google’s policy specifically prohibits selectively soliciting positive reviews.
- 3
Buying reviews or using review services
Paying people, agencies or apps to post reviews, including reviews from real accounts of people who never visited.
- 4
Reviews from staff, family or yourself
Owners, employees, and their friends and relatives have a conflict of interest, and their reviews break policy.
- 5
Reviewing competitors
Posting negative reviews on a rival’s profile, or asking others to, is a conflict of interest and can be treated as harassment.
What happens if you break the rules
Google removes reviews it identifies as fake or incentivised, often in batches, so a rating built on them can drop overnight. It can also restrict a profile from getting new reviews, or suspend it. The customers you wanted to impress read the result.
India’s standard for online reviews
In 2022 the Bureau of Indian Standards published IS 19000:2022, a standard for how online consumer reviews are collected, moderated and published. It says reviews should be genuine and that paid or incentivised reviews should be disclosed. The standard was launched as voluntary, and it points the same way as Google’s own rules. Separately, India’s consumer protection law treats misleading claims to customers as an unfair trade practice.
Where review software fits
Software that sends every customer the same review request is within the rules. It is what Google’s review link is for. Software that screens out unhappy customers before they reach Google is not, however it is marketed. LocalFirst sends every customer the same request and never filters who gets asked.
Common questions
Can I offer a discount for a Google review?
No. Google does not allow incentives for reviews, including discounts, freebies and contest entries, even if you accept negative reviews too.
Can I ask only my happy customers for reviews?
No. Asking selectively is review gating, which Google’s policy prohibits. Ask every customer.
Can my family or employees leave reviews?
No. Owners, staff and their close connections have a conflict of interest, and Google can remove those reviews.
Is it allowed to remind a customer who has not reviewed yet?
Yes. A single polite reminder to someone who has not reviewed is fine, as long as it is sent to everyone in the same situation and offers nothing in return.
Ask every customer, without remembering to
LocalFirst sends your Google review link to every customer over SMS and WhatsApp, a few taps after each visit.