Google reviews
Getting, answering and removing reviews, inside the rules.
Can a business delete a Google review?No, a business cannot delete a Google review itself.Can I edit or remove a Google review I wrote?Yes.Can I email or text customers to ask for a review under Canada's anti-spam law?Yes, you can email or text customers to ask for a review, but only if you have their consent under CASL.Can I offer a discount or gift in exchange for a Google review?No.Can I sue someone in Ontario over a fake Google review?Yes, you can sue in Ontario if a Google review is false and harms your business.Do Google reviews help my Google Maps ranking?Yes.Does replying to reviews help ranking?Probably not directly.How do I ask customers for Google reviews without breaking Google's rules?Ask every real customer for an honest review, and send them a Google review link or QR code.How do I find and share my Google review link?Open your Business Profile on Google, choose the option to ask for reviews, and copy the review request link or QR code it shows.How do I get more Google reviews?Ask every customer for a review soon after the job, and send them a direct Google review link or QR code so it takes little effort.How do I remove a Google review from my business?You cannot delete a Google review yourself.How do I reply to Google reviews?Open your Business Profile, select Read reviews, select Reply under the review, write your answer, and select Reply again.How do I report a fake Google review?Open your Business Profile, select Read reviews, select Report next to the review, pick a reason, and select Send report.How do I see all the Google reviews for my business?Sign in to the Google account that manages your Business Profile, open the profile, and select Read reviews.How long does Google take to decide on a reported review?Google does not publish a fixed time for deciding on a reported review.How many Google reviews does a business need?No set number of Google reviews works for every business.How should I respond to a bad Google review?Reply to a bad Google review in public, politely and briefly.Is it legal in Canada for my staff or family to review my business?No Canadian law bans a staff member or family member from reviewing your business, but the review must reflect a genuine experience.Is review gating allowed on Google?No.Should I reply to every Google review, including the good ones?Yes, reply to your Google reviews, including the good ones.What can I do about a review from someone who was never a customer?Flag the review to Google if it breaks Google's content policies, and write a short public reply.What should I do if a competitor leaves fake reviews?Document the reviews, flag each one to Google as a policy violation, and reply once, calmly, in public.Why can't I see a review a customer says they left?A review is usually missing because Google has not published it yet, Google removed it, or the customer posted it on a different listing.Why did my Google review disappear?A Google review usually disappears for one of four reasons.