Third parties responding as owners to Google reviews

[Cagro]

I have a client that does not like that I am replying to her customer reviews as a representative of her company. She wants me to reply as her. I thought I read a while back that this was a red flag to Google but I cannot find any reference to it on the Google Guidelines. Am I right or is it ok to reply as her?

 

[Colan Nielsen]

Hi @Cagro if you are referring to Google reviews than the only option is to reply as the business. Can you share an example of what you are referring to?

 

[Cagro]

Hi Colan. When I reply to a review left for one of my customers I always identify myself example: "Hi, this is Chris Agro, I help xxx with her marketing. Thank you so much..." So I guess if I just write in first person as my client no one would know the difference. Just want to stay on Google's good side

 

[Scott Rawlins]

I would certainly recommend replying as the owner from within their account. Think it makes for better user experience/relationship if people see the owner is replying vs a "marketing guy".

 

[Cagro]

Makes sense. I was in transparency overdrive

 

[Colan Nielsen]

I agree 100% with Scott. Google is absolutely 100% okay with listing managers, whether or not it's the business owner, responding to reviews.