Google review policy: advertising and solicitation
A Google review is not ad space. Google removes reviews that promote something, and reviews that carry a link, an email address, a phone number or a social handle. For health brands this catches affiliate codes, rival sellers and grey-market offers. The proof is in the text, which makes these some of the cleanest reports we file.
Published . Reviewed against Google’s policies on
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Tyler K.
2 weeks ago on Google
Overpriced. Go to betterclinic.example instead and use code SAVE20, or text 555-0176.
A link, a code and a phone number. Google bars all three in a review.
Priya S.
1 month ago on Google
I was billed twice for one visit. It took three calls to fix.
A real billing complaint. The answer is a reply and a fix.
Example. Reviews written by us. Not real reviews.
Short answer
Google removes reviews that advertise. The policy bars promotional or commercial content, and it bars email addresses, phone numbers, social media links and links to other websites in a review. A promo code for a rival, an affiliate link and a 'text me for a better price' line all break it. Mentioning a competitor does not.
Key facts
For users, Google bars promotional or commercial content in reviews.
Source: Prohibited and restricted content, Google Maps User Generated Content Policy
Google bars posting email addresses, phone numbers, social media links or links to other websites in reviews.
Source: Prohibited and restricted content, Google Maps User Generated Content Policy
A business may not offer incentives in exchange for a review, or for the revision or removal of a negative one.
Source: Prohibited and restricted content, Google Maps User Generated Content Policy
This rule in 27 seconds
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The rule, in Google's words
Google's Prohibited and restricted content page says contributions "should reflect genuine experiences" and that the platform should not become "a marketplace". For users, prohibited content includes:
Promotional or commercial content
Posting email addresses, phone numbers, social media links, or links to other websites in your reviews
The same page sets rules for merchants' own listings and posts, which are separate from reviews.
What this rule does not cover
- A comparison with a rival, with no pitch.
- A reviewer naming the product they bought from you.
- Your own business's contact details, which Google allows.
Google's report page sets the general limit: "Do not report a review just because you disagree with it or dislike it."
Evidence that supports a report
- The link, code, number or handle, quoted.
- Nothing else. This category rarely needs context. If the first report fails, the appeal can point to the exact characters.
Examples
These examples are ours. They are written to show the rule and are not real reviews. The cards at the top of this page show one review that can qualify and one that stays.
| Review text | Outcome under this policy | Why |
|---|---|---|
| "Go to betterclinic.example and use code SAVE20" | Can be reported | A link and a promotion |
| "Text 555-0176 for the same thing cheaper" | Can be reported | A phone number and a solicitation |
| A 5-star review ending with the writer's referral code | Can be reported | Promotional content |
| "The clinic down the road was half the price" | Stays online | A comparison |
| "I paid $299 a month and it was not worth it" | Stays online | A price the reviewer paid |
How to report it
A business reports a review from its Business Profile or from Google's Reviews Management Tool. Google says evaluation typically takes several days, and each review gets one appeal.
Pick the spam or advertising reason. These reports need no story. If the review offers prescription medicine or another regulated product, the restricted content policy applies as well, and it is the stronger one to name in an appeal.
For health brands
Supplement and GLP-1 brands see affiliate codes most. Telehealth brands see sellers offering medicine with no prescription. Scan your 5-star reviews for the same thing. A profile that reports adverts only when they are negative is using the rule unevenly.
Where to go next
The main Google review removal page has the full policy table. On Trustpilot the matching rule is advertising or promotional. The qualification tool checks a review against Google's policies in a few questions.
We do this work for clients through our Google review removal service, and the price per removed review is published.
Frequently asked questions
No. 'I went to another clinic and preferred it' is an experience. A link, a code, a phone number or a pitch is what breaks the rule.
No. It is promotional content whatever the rating. Report it as you would a 1-star advert. Even treatment across ratings is the honest way to use the tool.
A phone number, email address or social handle in a review breaks the policy by itself, whatever it is for.
Primary sources used on this page
- Prohibited and restricted content. Google Maps User Generated Content PolicyLast verified
- Report inappropriate reviews on your Business Profile. Google Business Profile HelpLast verified
Related
- Free Google review audit
- Promo-code and affiliate reviews on Trustpilot: what supplement brands can flag
- How do you contact Google My Business support?
- We remove 1-star Trustpilot reviews for supplement brands. Pay only for what comes down.
- Google reviews for businesses: the policies, the report tool and the score