Small Business Review Compliance: Clear Rules for Using Customer Reviews
- Edwin Bleeker
- Aug 8
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 28
Introduction
Small business review compliance means collecting real customer words, checking them for clarity and permission, and publishing them in the right places—without breaking rules. This guide shows a practical, light-touch workflow (AI + human), what to keep on record, and how to set up your pages so reviews build trust and search visibility.
For the full AI + human review workflow, see our guide: https://www.remarqz.com/post/ai-writing-assistant-authentic-testimonials
This article is educational, not legal advice. Regulations vary by country. When in doubt, ask a qualified professional.
What is small business review compliance?
Authenticity: the review is real and unedited in meaning.
Permission: you have clear consent to publish the customer’s words, name, role/company, and logo (if used).
Disclosure: if a perk or discount is offered, you disclose that visibly.
Privacy: no sensitive data; honor removal requests; handle personal data responsibly.
Context & accuracy: no misleading claims; place reviews where they are relevant to the page topic.
Record-keeping: keep proof of consent and a light edit log.
Capture: consent, context, and proof
Ask shortly after a success moment (delivery, onboarding win).
Use one short prompt: “What changed for you since using [product/service]?”
Store: reviewer identity, date, original text, permission scope (name/logo allowed?), and any incentive used.
Light editing (AI + human), without changing meaning
AI can help with spelling and structure only.
A person checks tone, context, and brand safety.
Keep an edit log: original → lightly edited version; who approved it and when.
Incentives & disclosures
If you provide a perk (discount, gift card), say so near the review.
Never require a positive rating for a perk.
Do not suppress negative reviews or ask only the happiest customers.
Keep screenshots or logs of your request flow and disclosures.
Privacy and defamation basics (plain language)
Remove private details that don’t need to be public (emails, phone numbers).
Avoid health, financial, or other sensitive information.
If a review alleges wrongdoing, pause and check facts before publishing.
Honor reasonable removal requests and keep a note of what changed and why.
Where reviews belong on the page
Top section: one or two short quotes that mirror your main promise.
Objection sections: pair each claim (speed, support, price/ROI, ease) with a fitting review.
Pricing/checkout: concrete outcomes (numbers, timeframes).
Avoid placements that imply endorsements your customer did not make.
Structured data (blogs vs. product/service pages)
Blog posts: keep the platform’s default Article schema on, and add FAQ as a separate JSON-LD block.
Do not add Review/Product schema on general blogs that don’t evaluate a specific product/service.
Product/service pages: if eligible, you may use appropriate types and ratings—only with real data and correct disclosures.
Quick compliance checklist (copy/paste)
Consent on file (name/logo scope noted).
Edit log shows “clarity only,” meaning unchanged.
Incentives disclosed; no gating or suppression.
No sensitive data; removal path documented.
Reviews placed near true decision points and relevant sections.
Blog = Article + FAQ JSON-LD (one object block); no extra Review schema.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need written consent to publish a review?
Yes—keep permission on file, including whether you may show name, role/company, and logo.
Can I edit reviews for grammar?
Yes, for clarity only. Don’t change the meaning. Keep an edit log and a human approval step.
May I offer a discount for leaving a review?
You can, but you must disclose the incentive. Don’t require a positive rating and don’t hide negative feedback.
Where should I place reviews?
Close to key decisions: top section, objection blocks, and pricing. Keep them relevant to the page topic.
Can I add star ratings to blog posts?
Use stars and rating schema only where it fits (product/service pages). For blogs, keep Article + FAQ; no rating schema.
Summary
Small business review compliance is practical: get consent, keep reviews authentic, disclose any perks, protect privacy, and place proof where people decide. Pair a light AI assist with human review, keep simple records, and use the right structured data so your pages stay trustworthy and discoverable.
Ready to collect real customer reviews, check them quickly, and publish them where they help most? Start with Remarqz and turn honest customer words into steady growth.
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