Google Terms of Service: Google encourages businesses to ask customers for reviews. They
state it right here, under their “Google My Business Help” page titled “Get Reviews on Business.” They even provide business with a custom link to share with customers via email or text.
Google’s “Gating” Solicitation Policy: Buried deep within Google’s guidelines they state “Don’t discourage or prohibit negative reviews of selectively solicit positive reviews from customers.”
Link here. Our template invites all patients to leave a review. We also provide an option to directly contact the office for feedback. This is standard practice among reputation management companies, and does not violate Google’s terms of service.
Google’s Bulk Solicitation Policy: Within those same guidelines, Google states “Don’t solicit reviews from customers in bulk.” However, it is certainly acceptable to solicit customers at regularly scheduled intervals, such as daily, weekly, or monthly based on the most appropriate timing after treatment. Our “Drip Review” system is already designed for continuous reviews and poses no threat. The algorithm for our “Bolus Review” system automates review requests over the course of treatment to avoid any risk of a bulk solicitation violation.
Healthgrades Terms of Service: Healthgrades actively encourages solicitation of reviews. They
provide a website where doctors can create a review link and print out custom survey reminder cards to give to patients.
Yelp Terms of Service: Yelp discourages solicitation of reviews. They actively monitor for potentially “fake” or “solicited” reviews and will hide or suppress visibility. This is stated under their
review solicitation policy. For this reason SurgiSurvey
does not recommend directing patients to Yelp for reviews. 