Reviews on Google decide where your shop appears and whether people choose you. It is tempting to offer a free item for a five-star review. Don't. Here is what Google allows, what gets reviews removed or a profile penalised, and the honest ways to get more reviews.
The short answer
You can ask every customer for a review. You cannot pay for reviews or give a reward in return for one. Google's rules for user content on Maps treat reviews bought with money, discounts, free products or services as fake engagement, and such reviews can be removed. Repeated breaches can lead to restrictions on the business profile.
What is not allowed
- Offering a discount, free item or cashback in exchange for a review
- Asking only happy customers for reviews while steering unhappy ones away, which is often called review gating
- Writing reviews for your own business, or asking staff and family to post as customers
- Buying reviews from agencies or review exchange groups
What is allowed and works
- Asking every customer. A simple "If you liked our service, please review us on Google" at the counter.
- Making it easy. A direct review link or QR code that opens the review box in one tap.
- Asking at the right moment, right after a good experience such as a finished order, a great haircut or a reward collected.
- Replying to reviews, both good and bad, politely and quickly. People read the replies.
What about loyalty rewards?
A loyalty program that rewards visits or purchases is fine. The line is crossed when the reward is tied to writing a review. Keep the two separate: give stamps for visits, and show the review button to everyone with no reward attached.
How MyDigitCard Rewards handles this
After a customer collects a stamp or coins, the Rewards page shows your Google review, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp buttons. That is the moment they are happiest with your shop. No stamp, coin or reward is linked to tapping any of them, so your Google profile stays safe. See how it works on the Rewards page.
A simple weekly routine
- Put your review QR on the counter and on bills
- Ask every customer at checkout for a week, without exception
- Reply to every new review within two days
- Fix what unhappy reviewers point out, and say so in your reply
For the loyalty side of this, read digital stamp card vs paper loyalty card.