Google review incentives: A guide for more reviews

Google review incentives are rewards that businesses offer to customers for leaving reviews, like discounts, coupons, or small gifts.

Google does not allow incentives that influence a review’s rating or content. 

Offering money, discounts, or gifts in exchange for positive reviews can result in review removal or account penalties.

The most effective way to grow reviews is to ask for honest feedback without offering rewards. 

This guide explains what types of incentives are allowed, what to avoid, and safer ways to increase your Google reviews.

Let’s get started!

Why Google reviews matter

Google reviews are customer ratings and comments shown on your Google Business Profile in Search and Maps.

They matter because they affect both trust and ranking. Businesses with more positive reviews appear higher on Google and get more clicks.

According to, 87% of consumers read online reviews, and 79% trust them as much as personal recommendations. 

Moz data shows that reviews influence about 16% of Google’s local ranking factors.

More reviews mean more visibility, more trust, and more sales.

Google’s review policy on incentives

Google’s review policy makes it clear that all reviews must come from real customer experiences without any reward or influence. 

Businesses can ask customers to share feedback, but they cannot offer anything in return.

Offering money, discounts, coupons, or gifts in exchange for reviews goes against Google’s terms. 

Even if you ask for honest reviews, rewarding customers for posting them is not allowed. 

When Google detects such activity, it may delete the reviews or suspend your Business Profile.

Here’s what Google doesn’t allow:

• Offering money, discounts, or gifts for reviews
• Asking for only positive reviews
• Writing fake reviews or asking employees to do so
• Deleting or hiding negative reviews through rewards

To follow the policy, focus on genuine requests. Ask every customer for feedback and make the process simple and fair.

Types of incentives to offer for Google reviews

Here are four common and safe types of incentives businesses can use:

1. Discounts on products or services

Offering small discounts is one of the most common ways businesses thank customers for sharing their experience. 

You can provide a fixed percentage off on the next order or a special promo code after purchase.

However, make sure the discount is for all customers, not only those who write reviews.

 Example: Send every buyer a follow-up email saying, “Thank you for your purchase! We’d love your honest feedback. Here’s 10% off your next order.”

This keeps your offer fair and avoids breaking Google’s rule about paid reviews.

2. Exclusive content

Exclusive content works well when your audience values learning or early access. 

You can give customers free access to e-books, webinars, or sneak peeks of new features after they share feedback.

This kind of reward builds connection and trust without affecting how they rate you.

Example: A fitness brand can share a free “meal prep guide” or video session to anyone who fills out a short feedback form after trying their service.

3. Gift cards or giveaways

Gift cards and giveaways can motivate people, but they must be used carefully. The key rule is to reward participation, not review quality.

You can run a random monthly draw for all customers who leave positive or negative reviews.

Example: “Every customer who shares feedback this month enters our $25 gift card draw.”

This keeps your approach transparent and within Google’s policy while still boosting engagement.

4. Free samples or upgrades

Free samples or product upgrades work well in retail, food, and beauty industries. 

They help customers try more of what you offer and create a better experience.

You can thank all recent customers with a sample or upgrade after feedback submission, without asking for a certain rating.

Example: “Thanks for sharing your experience! Enjoy a free mini version of our new product with your next order.”

This creates goodwill and encourages future purchases while keeping reviews authentic.

WiserReview – Collect more Google reviews as quickly as possible

WiserReview lets you use incentives safely to increase review participation without breaking Google’s policies. 

You can thank customers for sharing feedback with general discounts, upgrades, or loyalty rewards, all applied fairly and transparently.

First, sign up for WiserReview. A dashboard will appear. Then, click on the “Incentives” section, and you can customize how and when rewards are given:

Discount Options

• Offer the same discount for all reviews or vary it by media type (photo or video).
• Reward reviews that include photos or videos to encourage richer content.

Eligibility Settings

• Limit rewards to verified customers who received a review request.
• Choose to include all ratings (1–5 stars) or only specific ranges.

Templates for Communication

• Send review requests automatically by email, SMS, or WhatsApp using ready templates.
• Customize messages to fit your tone and brand style.

This system helps you motivate more customers to review while staying compliant. Instead of buying reviews, you build engagement through fair appreciation and genuine feedback.

Explore more: How to Customize Incentives 

WiserReview also offers other smart features.

1. Collect Google reviews

WiserReview helps you collect reviews from Google, Facebook, Yelp, and other platforms in one place. 

You can send review requests by email, SMS, or QR codes to reach customers when the experience is still fresh. 

This increases the chance of getting genuine feedback.

2. Automate the review process

The platform automates review requests after each order or service. You can set triggers based on time, purchase, or customer action. 

WiserReview handles reminders and follow-ups automatically, so reviews keep coming in without manual work.

3. Moderate reviews

You can manage all reviews from one dashboard. WiserReview lets you sort, filter, and reply to reviews directly. 

You can flag spam or fake reviews, translate customer feedback, and keep your profile clean and credible.

4. Display reviews beautifully

Showcase your best reviews anywhere on your website, product pages, or landing pages. 

WiserReview offers Google review widgets like review walls, carousels, badges, and pop-ups.

These widgets are lightweight, mobile-friendly, and easy to customize to your brand.

Integration support

WiserReview connects with major platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Squarespace. 

It also integrates with tools such as Klaviyo, Google Shopping, and AWS SES to help automate review emails and display verified ratings in search results.

Pricing

• Start with the free plan.
• Paid plans start at just $9/month

5 Best practices for offering incentives

Follow these five best practices to stay compliant and build genuine trust.

1. Offer incentives for all reviews (not just positive ones)

Reward every customer who shares feedback, regardless of the rating. This keeps reviews genuine and prevents bias.

• Apply the same offer to all customers.
• Avoid phrases like “5-star review gets a reward.”
• Use rewards as a thank-you for time, not as payment for praise.
  

2. Keep the incentive simple and clear

Customers respond better to small, clear rewards that are easy to understand.

• Offer a flat discount, small gift card, or loyalty point bonus.
• Avoid high-value or complex offers that could seem like bribery.
• State the reward clearly in your message or email.

3. Personalize the request for reviews and incentives

Personal messages create trust and make customers more likely to respond.

• Address the customer by name and mention their order or service.
• Use a warm, friendly tone in your message.
• Add a short thank-you note before mentioning the review link.

4. Make the review process as easy as possible

Simplify every step so customers can leave feedback in seconds.

• Include a direct review link to your Google review page.
• Use QR codes for in-store or printed materials.
• Offer one-click access from your thank-you emails or receipts.

5. Ensure the incentive is proportional to the effort

The reward should match the customer’s time, not exceed it.

• Offer small, fair rewards like $5 coupons or early access perks.
• Avoid giving expensive gifts or large cash amounts.
• Keep the focus on appreciation, not purchase motivation.

Potential pitfalls of offering review incentives

Understanding these pitfalls and knowing how to stay compliant keeps your reviews safe and credible.

1. Violating Google’s policies

Risk: Google bans any reward that influences a review. Offering discounts, cash, or gifts for reviews, even small ones, violates this rule. 

When caught, Google may remove reviews, flag your profile, or suspend your listing.

How to stay compliant:

• Ask for reviews from all customers, not just happy ones.
• Avoid offering any direct reward for posting a review.
• Use thank-you messages or general loyalty rewards instead of review-linked offers.
• Focus on service quality that naturally encourages customers to leave feedback.

2. The risk of fake or biased reviews

Risk: Incentives can push people to write positive or fake reviews just to get the reward. 

This leads to biased ratings and unnatural patterns that Google’s systems can detect. Once flagged, reviews may be deleted, and your trust score can drop.

How to stay compliant:

• Encourage honest, experience-based reviews.
• Use tools like WiserReview to automate and track genuine feedback.
• Never ask for only 5-star reviews; ask for “honest feedback” instead.
• Monitor reviews regularly to spot spam or suspicious activity early.

Wrap up

Google doesn’t allow businesses to offer rewards that affect reviews. Giving discounts, gifts, or cash for ratings can cause reviews to be removed or your account to be flagged.

The best way to get more reviews is to ask every customer for honest feedback. Keep it fair, simple, and open.

You can use WiserReview to thank customers with general loyalty rewards or follow-ups that follow Google’s rules.

It helps you get more genuine feedback without using risky incentives.

Good service and real experiences always bring the most trusted reviews.

Article by

Krunal

Krunal Vaghasia is the founder of WiserReview and an eCommerce expert in review management and social proof. He helps brands build trust through fair, flexible, and customer-driven review systems. Read more.