How ReviewSimple Handles Reviews, Consent & Data
ReviewSimple is built to help your business ask every customer for a review, honestly. This page explains how requests work, what we don't do, and what stays your responsibility. It isn't legal advice.
How review requests work
Every customer who rates gets a way to leave a public review.
What ReviewSimple does
- ✅Sends the request to the customers you add, whatever you expect them to say
- ✅Shows every customer the same rating screen
- ✅Gives every customer a link to leave a public review, at any rating
- ✅Lets customers who rate below 5 stars choose to send private feedback to the business instead
- ✅Lets customers switch to a public review instead of the private form at any point
What ReviewSimple does not do
- ❌Block or hide the public review link from any customer
- ❌Delete or alter reviews on Google. We can't, and we wouldn't
- ❌Choose who gets asked based on how we think they'll rate
- ❌Offer or encourage incentives for positive reviews
- ❌Write reviews for customers
Why offer private feedback at all?
Some unhappy customers would rather tell the owner directly. The option sits next to the public review link, not in place of it. Customers choose.
- • You hear about problems you can still fix
- • Customers who want to be heard by the owner have a direct way
- • Anyone can still leave a public review, any time
FTC Consumer Reviews Rule
The Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule targets fake reviews, undisclosed incentives and review suppression. Here's how ReviewSimple is designed around it. This isn't a statement that any business is compliant.
No Fake Reviews
ReviewSimple is built for requests to your own customers. We never generate reviews.
Same link for every customer who rates
Every customer who rates you gets the public review link. Who you send requests to is up to you, and we recommend asking every customer, not just the ones you expect to be happy.
No Incentive Manipulation
We don't offer or encourage incentives for reviews. Offering them can violate Google's policy and FTC rules.
Transparent Process
Customers can see they're being asked for a review. We don't hide how requests work.
Google's review policy
Google's policy says businesses shouldn't selectively solicit positive reviews. ReviewSimple is designed around that.
What Google doesn't allow (and we don't do):
- ❌ Selectively soliciting positive reviews: steering only happy customers to Google
- ❌ Fake reviews: reviews from people who didn't use the service
- ❌ Incentives for reviews: payment, discounts or free goods in exchange for a review
- ❌ Discouraging negative reviews
What Google allows (what we do):
- ✅ Asking for reviews: requesting reviews from real customers, with no incentive
- ✅ Making it easy: a direct link to your Google review page for every customer
- ✅ Follow-up: a reminder request, not excessive
SMS/Text Message Consent & Compliance
How ReviewSimple collects and respects SMS consent for review requests.
How End-User Consent Is Collected
When a business uses ReviewSimple to send SMS review requests, consent is collected in the following ways:
- 1.Customer provides phone number: The end user voluntarily provides their phone number to the business during service (appointment booking, checkout, intake form, etc.).
- 2.Business confirms consent: Before sending any SMS through ReviewSimple, the business owner confirms they have obtained proper consent from their customers to send follow-up messages.
SMS Opt-In Language (Required for Businesses)
Businesses using ReviewSimple for SMS must include opt-in language when collecting customer phone numbers. Example:
By providing your phone number, you agree to receive SMS messages from [Business Name] regarding your service and feedback requests. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help or STOP to opt-out at any time.
Opt-Out & STOP Compliance
- All SMS messages include opt-out instructions
- Recipients can reply STOP at any time to opt out
- Recipients can reply HELP for assistance
- Opt-outs are honored
Message Content & Frequency
- Message Type: SMS review and feedback requests
- Frequency: Typically 1 message per customer per service visit
- Content: Brief request for feedback with link to rating page
- Sender: Messages identify the business name clearly
CAN-SPAM Compliance (Email Regulations)
The CAN-SPAM Act regulates commercial email. Here's how ReviewSimple's emails are set up.
Clear Sender Identification
Every email clearly identifies your business name so customers know who's contacting them.
Honest Subject Lines
Subject lines accurately reflect the email content - a request for feedback about their experience.
Easy Opt-Out
Every email includes clear unsubscribe instructions. Customers can stop emails at any time.
Reasonable Frequency
We don't spam. One review request per customer per service is the default - not aggressive follow-up sequences.
💡 Best Practice
ReviewSimple's emails include sender identification and an opt-out, and customer consent is always good practice. We recommend including consent for follow-up communications in your intake forms or appointment confirmations.
Data Privacy & Security
How we handle your data and your customers' data.
Common Compliance Questions
"Is the private feedback option review gating?"
Review gating means steering only happy customers to a public review site and keeping unhappy ones away from it. ReviewSimple doesn't work that way. Every customer who rates you sees your Google review link, whatever they rated. Customers who rate below 5 stars also get an optional private feedback form. Nobody is blocked from posting publicly.
"What if Google or the FTC changes the rules?"
We keep an eye on both and will update the product and this page if something changes. We're not lawyers, and this page isn't legal advice. If you have specific questions about your business, talk to an attorney.
"Can I get in trouble for using ReviewSimple?"
ReviewSimple is designed to avoid the practices regulators and Google target, but you're responsible for how you use it. This means: getting consent before texting customers, asking all customers (not just happy ones), and not offering incentives for reviews. No tool can guarantee compliance for you.
"Do I need to disclose that I'm using review software?"
We're not aware of a requirement to disclose which software you use, but ask an attorney if you're unsure. However, transparency is always good business practice - you can mention that you follow up with customers to ensure satisfaction.
Ready to Ask Every Customer?
ReviewSimple makes asking every customer for a review easy.