What is Google's 20% rule?

There is no official Google 20% rule for review management. It is a common myth, and relying on myths can cause risky decisions that break policy.

Educational content only, not legal advice. US laws and platform enforcement can vary by state and industry.

The so called Google 20% rule is not an official published policy for reviews. Businesses often repeat this myth as if Google allows a fixed percentage of suspicious activity, but that assumption is dangerous. Enforcement is pattern based, not quota based, and can happen even when volume looks modest. Relying on folklore encourages teams to optimize for loopholes instead of customer trust. A better approach is to align with documented platform policies: request feedback from real customers, avoid undisclosed incentives, and monitor quality continuously. When in doubt, choose transparency and consistency. If your rating needs improvement, use review growth planning to set realistic targets and timelines without manipulation. That keeps progress measurable, authentic, and defensible during audits or disputes effectively.

What to do instead

Use documented platform guidance instead of forum myths.
Set rating goals based on real customer volume and service quality.
Review policy changes quarterly and update workflows accordingly.

Common mistakes

Treating rumors as formal policy and building campaigns around them.
Planning review targets without operational capacity or controls.
Ignoring compliance checks when rating pressure increases.

OrderBoosts executes a platform-compliant, long-term reputation strategy that replaces guesswork with verified users and measured review growth planning.

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