Review gating: what it is and why Google doesn't allow it
Quick answer
Review gating is screening customers first and only sending happy ones to Google. Google's review policies prohibit it. Ask every customer with the same link instead.
What review gating looks like
- A "How did we do?" screen that sends 5-star answers to Google and lower answers to a private form.
- Only texting customers your staff marked as happy.
- Hiding the Google link from anyone who complained.
Why it's a problem
Google's policies say businesses must not discourage negative reviews or selectively ask for positive ones. Reviews collected this way can be removed, and it gives future customers a misleading picture.
What to do instead
- Send every customer the same Google review link.
- If you want private feedback, offer it separately—never as a replacement for the public review.
- Reply to critical reviews calmly and fix what you can.
- Let honest volume do the work: many real reviews outweigh a few bad ones.
How Ask & Get Reviews handles it
Every customer gets the same Google link. There's no filtering by rating and no incentives, so your reviews stay honest and within the rules.
Want this done for you?
We ask every customer, follow up, and reply to reviews for you. Plans from $149/month, no contract.