Services that post real reviews to fake (alternative) profiles

[nweagle]

Cheers - this is my first post and looking forward to digging in here.

I know of a few companies that are utilizing rep companies that practice capturing authentic reviews on a proprietary platform. Then they take those reviews, create fake profiles in Google+ or other review sites and post them.

Does anyone know if this violates G's terms of service? I'm guessing yes.


Thank you

 

[Colan Nielsen]

I know of a few companies that are utilizing rep companies that practice capturing authentic reviews on a proprietary platform. Then they take those reviews, create fake profiles in Google+ or other review sites and post them.

Does anyone know if this violates G's terms of service? I'm guessing yes.

Hi nweagle,

This is a question that is brought up a lot and was touched on during the recent webinar.

In a nutshell, it's a major violation of Google's Review Guidelines to post reviews on behalf of someone else:

Finally, don?t post reviews on behalf of others or misrepresent your identity or affiliation with the place you are reviewing.
​https://support.google.com/places/answer/2622994?hl=en&topic=1656880&rd=1

 

[nweagle]

Thanks Colan! Really appreciate the link and will share this with my prospect.

 

[Linda Buquet]

Here is the other applicable part of the guidelines that Colan quoted:

"Reviews should describe your personal, first-hand experience with a specific place.
Don’t post reviews based on someone else’s experience..."

So it's important enough it's spelled out twice. Google does not normally do that. The guidelines typically understate if anything.