Google Reviews for Tradies: Can You Offer a Discount?

Google Reviews for Tradies: Can You Offer a Discount?

“Leave a Google review and get $20 off your next service.”

For a busy trade business, that might sound like a straightforward way to encourage feedback. You have completed the work, the customer has experienced your service, and a small reward could prompt them to write something.

Google prohibits offering incentives for reviews, including honest ones.

For Australian tradies, understanding that rule helps you build a review process customers can trust.

An Honest Review Still Cannot Be Rewarded

Google’s policy covers discounts, payments and free goods or services offered in exchange for reviews. It also prohibits incentives for changing reviews or removing negative ones.

Asking for an honest opinion does not create an exception.

There is an important Australian distinction here. The ACCC’s broader guidance says review incentives must apply to positive and negative feedback and be clearly disclosed. Google’s platform policy prohibits review incentives altogether. Disclosure therefore does not make a rewarded Google review acceptable under its rules.

Keep any customer discount independent of whether they leave a review.

Give Customers the Same Opportunity to Respond

A feedback process can become selective without an obvious reward.

For example, a business might ask customers to rate their experience privately, then send the Google review link only to those who choose a high score. Unhappy customers receive a different path.

That practice is commonly called review gating. Google prohibits selectively soliciting positive reviews and discouraging negative feedback.

Use a consistent invitation process for customers who have experienced your service. Let them decide whether to respond and what to say. Leave the rating, wording and level of detail to them.

Make the Request Easy

After completing a job, give customers a convenient way to find your review page.

Google supports sharing a direct review link or QR code, including on receipts and in thank-you emails. Customers need to be signed into a Google Account to submit a review.

A simple request could read:

Thanks for choosing [Business Name]. If you would like to share your experience, you can leave a Google review here: [review link]. We appreciate your honest feedback.

Test the link on your phone before sharing it. Keep participation optional and avoid repeated pressure.

This request process fits naturally into regular Google Business Profile management, alongside accurate business details and thoughtful review responses.

Write Replies Future Customers Can Understand

Your response is public, so consider the next customer reading it.

Acknowledge the feedback specifically. If someone raises a problem, explain the next step calmly and invite a private conversation where necessary. Protect customer details, including addresses and private job information.

Avoid arguing publicly or attaching a review-removal condition to resolving a complaint.

Feedback can also reveal useful patterns. Repeated comments about communication, arrival times or unclear quotes give your team something concrete to improve.

Build Reviews Into Your Wider Local Presence

Reviews support the customer’s decision alongside clear service information, relevant project photos and easy contact options. Include them within your local SEO strategy and keep the information across your website and profile accurate.

Want help reviewing that customer journey? Request a free Rewaver website and Google profile audit.