Not only is buying good reviews considered illegal under federal law, but it\u2019s also just bad business. And not surprisingly, it\u2019s completely against Google\u2019s rules. Beyond that, trying to pay for Google reviews can hurt your SEO efforts, damage your reputation, and end up slowing down any progress you might be making towards your marketing goals.<\/span><\/p>\n At this point, you might be wondering: what\u2019s the best way to get good reviews from customers? And what can you do to encourage happy customers to leave authentic Google reviews that support your online reputation? Don\u2019t worry because we have all the answers you need \u2013 and we promise that you won\u2019t ever think about paid Google reviews again.<\/span><\/p>\n In case we weren\u2019t clear, buying Google reviews is a terrible idea. Aside from being an unethical business practice, there are many other drawbacks to consider (and when we say \u201cdrawbacks,\u201d we\u2019re doing some serious sugar-coating).<\/span><\/p>\n Here\u2019s why you don\u2019t want to pay for Google reviews under any circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) doesn\u2019t mince words when they categorize \u201cundisclosed paid endorsements\u201d as <\/span>prohibited under federal law<\/span><\/a>. But what do endorsements have to do with Google reviews?<\/span><\/p>\n Well, anytime someone leaves a review for your business, it\u2019s considered an \u201cendorsement.\u201d And when you\u2019ve paid that person to write the review, it becomes a \u201cpaid endorsement.\u201d Payment doesn\u2019t just equate to cash, either; it can include free products or services, discounts, and other benefits. Since we\u2019re assuming that you aren\u2019t planning to label said review as a \u201cpaid ad,\u201d it then becomes an \u201cundisclosed paid endorsement.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In other words, you\u2019re not informing the public that the review was paid for.<\/span><\/p>\n This sets you up for tens of thousands of dollars in FTC fines (or more). Still not convinced? Here are a few cautionary tales you should know:<\/span><\/p>\n When you do the math, it\u2019s easy to see that buying reviews isn\u2019t even close to worth it.<\/span><\/p>\n Paying customers for reviews is against the law, but it\u2019s also going to <\/span>get you in trouble<\/span><\/a> with Google. They might not be able to fine you thousands of dollars for offering incentives for reviews, but there will be a penalty to pay.<\/span><\/p>\n So, what happens if you pay for good reviews on Google? The reviews will be quickly deleted, and you\u2019ll be out the money you spent on the review, to begin with. And don\u2019t assume that Google won\u2019t be able to find paid reviews \u2013 they\u2019re not the world\u2019s number-one search engine for nothing.<\/span><\/p>\n The Google algorithm is a force to be reckoned with, something that many business owners only discover after they\u2019ve been on the receiving end of a penalty. Buying reviews fall under the umbrella of \u201cblack hat SEO,\u201d and Google algorithm updates like Panda and Penguin target those types of SEO practices.<\/span><\/p>\n When it comes to local SEO, customer reviews <\/span>are considered<\/span><\/a> one of the most important ranking signals. Fake reviews essentially count as \u201cspam,\u201d and the algorithm doesn\u2019t like spam. Add that to the fact that those reviews will be wiped out once they\u2019re discovered, and you could disappear from search results.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Today\u2019s consumers are smarter than ever, and many of them can spot shady marketing a mile away. No business wants to have a reputation for false advertising, especially because undoing that kind of damage to your brand image is incredibly difficult.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Think back to why you\u2019re running your business in the first place: odds are, you have a certain desire to provide your customers with a quality product or service that can improve their lives. So, don\u2019t get swept away by tricky tactics; instead, go back to the drawing board and figure out how to get more reviews with an honest, open approach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We have good news: you can accumulate a great variety of positive customer reviews without ever handing over a cent. You just need to know when and how to ask for customer reviews and what you can do to earn those 100% real words of thanks and appreciation.<\/span><\/p>\n Here are a few tips to keep in mind:<\/span><\/p>\n Don\u2019t wait too long to ask for a review because customers are busy, and their lives move on very quickly. Aim to reach out immediately after you finish conducting business; for example, a house painter would connect with a customer after they have wrapped up a painting job. Depending on the products or services you offer, it might make more sense to wait a few days or a week to give the customer time to experience the benefits of whatever they have purchased.<\/span><\/p>\n The goal is to request a review while a customer\u2019s memory is still fresh and the positive emotions they feel are just as strong. This is the \u201csweet spot\u201d when you\u2019ll receive the best response rates, as well as the most detailed reviews.<\/span><\/p>\n Don\u2019t just think about timing in terms of the specific part of the sales process in which you make your request, but also consider the appropriateness of each situation. For example, if a customer has just expressed their frustration or dissatisfaction, it\u2019s probably not a good time to ask for a review. Instead, wait until you\u2019ve been able to resolve their issue (and hopefully go above and beyond). If they mentioned being appreciative of your willingness to make a situation right, that could be an ideal \u201cwindow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Let\u2019s say you decide to set up a review system where you ask customers for feedback in person, offering them a tablet to fill out a review page right after they make a purchase. This might seem like a helpful, convenient approach, but it can end up putting an uncomfortable amount of pressure on customers \u2013 and nobody wants that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Instead, we suggest sending an email or text message to ask for reviews. Alternatively, you could provide customers with a reminder card or something similar at checkout. A digital reminder can even include a direct link to the review site, making the entire process as hassle-free as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n After about a week, send a follow-up if you haven\u2019t received a response. If another week goes by without a word, you can opt to send one more friendly reminder. With a well-spaced series of follow-up communications, you can make sure you give that gentle \u201cnudge\u201d without being overly pushy.<\/span><\/p>\n Of course, the best way to get good Google reviews is to deliver exceptional customer service. Good reviews will follow when you combine outstanding products and services with genuine care for your customers. And with our tips for getting positive reviews, you\u2019ll be ready to get all of the positive feedback your business deserves.<\/span><\/p>\n Fantastic reviews are just one piece of the very large, complex puzzle of effective marketing. If you want to equip your business with a marketing plan that sets you up for success, the team at V Digital Services is here to help.<\/span><\/p>\n We\u2019ll work with you to strengthen your online presence and reputation, make targeted marketed decisions, and optimize your approach to connecting with new and existing customers alike. Find out more about our digital marketing services and how our experts can elevate your business when you <\/span>contact V Digital Services<\/span><\/a> today!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Image Sources: 13_Phunkod \/ Irina Strelnikova \/ HAKINMHAN \/ Thapana Onphalai<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Should You Pay for Google Reviews? Absolutely not. Now that we\u2019ve gotten that out of the way, we can talk about why paying for Google reviews is easily one of the most misguided decisions you could ever make for your business.\u00a0 Not only is buying good reviews considered illegal under federal law, but it\u2019s also […] KEEP READING<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":25961,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24565"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24565"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24565\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25961"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24565"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24565"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24565"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"VDS-Blog-Should](\"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/VDS-Blog-Should-You-Pay-for-Google-Reviews_-Image-3.jpg\")
<\/span><\/h2>\nShould You Pay for Good Reviews on Google?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Buying Google reviews is illegal.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
![\"VDS-Blog-Should](\"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/VDS-Blog-Should-You-Pay-for-Google-Reviews_Image-1.jpg\")
<\/span><\/h3>\nIt\u2019s against Google policy to buy reviews.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Paying for Google reviews can hurt SEO.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
You\u2019ll be violating customer trust.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"VDS-Blog-Should](\"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/VDS-Blog-Should-You-Pay-for-Google-Reviews_Image-4.jpg\")
<\/span><\/h2>\nHow to Encourage Customers to Leave Reviews<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Timing is key.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Make it easy to leave a review, but don\u2019t pressure customers.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Above all, provide fantastic customer service and top-quality products\/services.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"VDS-Blog-Should](\"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/VDS-Blog-Should-You-Pay-for-Google-Reviews_Image-5.jpg\")
<\/span><\/h2>\nCreate a Five-Star Strategy for Reputation Management, Marketing, and More<\/strong><\/h2>\n