Review Gating What It Is and Why You Should Avoid It
Have you ever left a review for a business, only to wonder whether they even wanted the honest feedback? If so, you might have stumbled across something called “review gating.” It’s a practice some companies use to control which reviews go public—and one that can actually do more harm than good. Let’s talk about what it is and why it’s a better call to skip it.Review gating is when a business asks customers how happy they are before asking them to leave a review. If the feedback is positive, the customer gets directed to post it publicly (like on Google or Yelp). If it’s negative, the business either deals with it privately or doesn’t ask for a public review at all. It might sound like a smart way to protect a company’s image, but here’s why it’s something to avoid.
First, it’s against the rules of most major review sites. Places like Google have clear guidelines that say you can’t filter out reviews based on positivity. If a company gets caught doing this, their reviews could be removed—or worse, their profile could get flagged or shut down. That could damage trust with both search engines and customers.
Second, review gating can actually backfire. Honest feedback helps businesses improve. If a company only listens to happy customers, they’re missing real chances to fix what’s not working. Plus, people are smart. If all the reviews sound too perfect, potential customers may get suspicious—and that can lead to lost business.
The good news? You don’t need review gating to build a good reputation. Honest reviews, even the not-so-great ones, help build trust. A mix of reviews shows real experiences, and how a company responds to criticism often matters more than the review itself.
If you want a simple way to collect honest feedback and encourage reviews in a fair way, try using a feedback tool like https://reputationbuilder.us. It helps you stay in touch with your customers without filtering their experiences. That way, your reviews stay honest, and your reputation stays strong.
In the end, customers want to see the full picture—they’re not expecting perfection. Being open to all feedback shows that you care, and that can go a long way in keeping your business growing and trusted.