The Legal Guide to Incentivizing Google Reviews in 2025

Many business owners wonder: "Can I legally incentivize customers to leave Google reviews?" The answer is yes—if you do it correctly.

What Google's Policy Actually Says

Google's review policy states you cannot:

Google's policy states you can:

The RevBoosty Approach: Fully Compliant

RevBoosty's prize wheel system is designed to be 100% compliant with Google's policies:

✅ Legal: Reward for Participation

Customers win prizes before they're asked to review. They get value regardless of whether they review or what rating they give.

✅ Legal: Honest Reviews Only

We never ask for positive reviews—only honest ones. The review button is optional, not required.

✅ Legal: No Conditional Incentives

Prizes aren't contingent on leaving a review or leaving a specific rating.

Best Practices for Compliance

1. Use Neutral Language

❌ "Spin to win a prize if you leave us a 5-star review!"

✅ "Spin to win a prize! Afterwards, we'd appreciate your honest Google review."

2. Separate the Incentive from the Review

The prize wheel should happen before the review request. This ensures the incentive isn't conditional.

3. Never Gate Prizes Based on Review

Everyone who spins wins a prize—whether they review or not, and regardless of the rating they give.

4. Disclose When Appropriate

While not required for simple requests, transparency builds trust. Let customers know you appreciate all feedback.

The FTC Guidelines

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires:

RevBoosty's system complies because:

State-Specific Considerations

Some states (like California) have additional consumer protection laws. The key principles remain:

Real-World Examples

✅ Compliant Approach

"Thanks for your visit! Spin our prize wheel to win a discount on your next visit. Afterwards, if you enjoyed your experience, we'd love an honest Google review!"

❌ Non-Compliant Approach

"Leave us a 5-star review and we'll give you 20% off!"

Bottom Line

Incentivizing reviews is legal and effective when done correctly. The key is:

1. Separate the incentive from the review

2. Request honest reviews (any rating)

3. Never condition prizes on specific ratings

4. Maintain transparency

RevBoosty handles all of this for you automatically, ensuring you stay compliant while building a strong review profile.

Start your free trial and grow your reviews the right way.