Do you give customers something for a review, such as a discount, a voucher, a raffle entry or a free drink? 1. Do you give customers something for a review, such as a discount, a voucher, a raffle entry or a free drink?
Even if you don't tell customers what to write.
Have you bought reviews or hired a service that delivers reviews? 2. Have you bought reviews or hired a service that delivers reviews?
Including packages that advertise “real accounts”.
Do you offer anything in return for someone changing or deleting a negative review? 3. Do you offer anything in return for someone changing or deleting a negative review?
Do you only ask customers you expect a good review from, or do you first check how satisfied they are and send only the happy ones to Google? 4. Do you only ask customers you expect a good review from, or do you first check how satisfied they are and send only the happy ones to Google?
For example, a survey that only forwards four or five stars to Google.
Do employees, former employees or family members review your business? 5. Do employees, former employees or family members review your business?
Do you give your team a target number of reviews, ask customers to name certain staff or keywords in the review, or explicitly ask for five stars? 6. Do you give your team a target number of reviews, ask customers to name certain staff or keywords in the review, or explicitly ask for five stars?
Does your team ask customers to post the review while still on site and wait until it has been submitted? 7. Does your team ask customers to post the review while still on site and wait until it has been submitted?
A QR code stand that customers can scan whenever they like doesn't count.
Do you get many reviews at once, for example after a campaign, a newsletter to all customers or an event? 8. Do you get many reviews at once, for example after a campaign, a newsletter to all customers or an event?
Many genuine reviews at once are not a violation. But Google counts content with unusual volumes or patterns as manipulation if it points to an attempt to manipulate.
Do you write reviews yourself, from your own or other accounts, ask acquaintances to review without a real visit, swap reviews with other businesses, or review competitors? 9. Do you write reviews yourself, from your own or other accounts, ask acquaintances to review without a real visit, swap reviews with other businesses, or review competitors?
Extra question
Has Google already sent you an email about a restriction? Has Google already sent you an email about a restriction?
Does not change the color.