Should you buy Google reviews?

2 min read · Updated

The short answer

No. If you buy Google reviews, Google's systems often catch them and remove them, sometimes along with genuine ones. It can restrict your profile from getting new reviews, and in some countries it shows customers a warning about removed fake reviews. In the US, the FTC's rule on fake reviews allows civil penalties for buying them.

What happens

  • Google's filters remove many bought reviews, often within days.
  • Your profile can be blocked from new reviews for a period.
  • In some countries, Google has begun showing a warning on profiles where fake reviews were removed.
  • In the US, the FTC's rule, in force since October 2024, bans buying reviews and allows civil penalties.

What works instead

Ask every real customer, right after the job, with a direct link. It's slower, but the reviews stay, they mention real work, and they're the kind AI assistants and customers both trust.

Questions

Is it illegal to buy Google reviews?

In the US, the FTC's rule makes buying fake reviews a violation that can bring civil penalties. Other countries have similar rules.

What about review exchanges with other businesses?

Google treats reviews from people who weren't customers as fake, however they're arranged.

Can I give customers a discount for a review?

No. Google doesn't allow incentives for reviews, even for honest ones.

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