28/04/2026
Google has updated its review policies for Google Business Profiles, and some common review tactics are now being classed as review manipulation.
This includes:
👉️ Asking customers to mention staff members by name
👉️ Only asking selected customers for reviews
👉️ Encouraging reviews in a way that feels pressured or forced
A lot of businesses have used these tactics for years without thinking twice, so this update may catch people out.
Will Google perfectly police every review? Probably not 🤷♂️
But they are continuing to tighten their approach around fake and manipulated reviews, so it’s worth making sure your review process is compliant moving forward.
The safest strategy is simple:
Ask genuine customers for honest feedback and let the reviews speak for themselves.