Review gating: what it is and why to avoid it
4 min read
Some review tools ask customers to rate you first and only send happy customers to Google. That practice is called review gating.
Why it's a problem
Google's review policy prohibits selectively soliciting positive reviews, and the FTC's rule on consumer reviews targets suppressing negative ones. Listings caught gating can lose reviews or face restrictions.
The honest alternative
Show every customer the public review link, whatever they rate, and offer a private message box in addition. You still hear about problems first, and your reviews stay real.