# Can I Put Reviews and Testimonials on My Website? ACCC Rules for Tradies Customer reviews win jobs, but the Australian Consumer Law has rules: no fake or edited reviews, disclose any connection, careful with incentives, and show how many reviews a star rating is based on. Plain English, sourced from the ACCC and Google. Published: 2026-10-31 Category: business Author: JetBlok Studio > **Quick answer** > > - Yes, you can show customer reviews and testimonials on your website, as long as they are genuine. It is against the law for a business to create fake or misleading reviews, or to arrange for others to create them. ([ACCC](https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-and-promotions/online-reviews-for-product-and-services)) > - Reviews from family, staff or anyone paid by the business can mislead unless the connection is stated, and reviews edited by someone else after they were written can mislead too. ([ACCC](https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-and-promotions/online-reviews-for-product-and-services)) > - Hiding or removing genuine negative reviews can also mislead customers. ([ACCC](https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-and-promotions/online-reviews-for-product-and-services)) > - Google goes further than the ACCC: it does not allow businesses to offer any incentive, such as a discount, in exchange for a review. ([Google](https://support.google.com/contributionpolicy/answer/7400114?hl=en)) A happy customer sends a text after a job: "Mate, best bathroom reno we've ever had." It is exactly the kind of line that wins the next quote, so it should go on your website. The question most tradies ask us is what they are actually allowed to do with it. Can you tidy up the spelling? Can you give a discount for a five star review? Can you leave off the one cranky review from 2023? We build [websites for tradies](https://jetblok.com.au/websites-for-tradies) in [Gosnells](https://jetblok.com.au/web-design-perth/gosnells) and across south-east Perth, and nearly every site we build has a reviews or testimonials section. Here is what the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and Google say, in plain English. This is general information, not legal advice. ## Where the rules apply The ACCC says reviews can appear on a business's own website, on social media, or on review platforms that show reviews about a range of businesses. Its guidance is that reviews should be independent and reflect the genuine opinion of the person who experienced the product or service. ([ACCC](https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-and-promotions/online-reviews-for-product-and-services)) So the same thinking covers the testimonial block on your homepage, the quotes on your Facebook page, and your Google Business Profile reviews. Your own website is not a free zone just because you control it. ## Rule 1: only real reviews from real customers The ACCC is clear that it is against the law for a business to create fake or misleading reviews, or arrange for others to create them. ([ACCC](https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-and-promotions/online-reviews-for-product-and-services)) It also lists reviews that seem genuine when they are not. According to the ACCC, reviews can mislead consumers if they are: ([ACCC](https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-and-promotions/online-reviews-for-product-and-services)) - written by family, employees, or people paid in some way by the business, without stating the personal connection or commercial relationship - created by someone who has not actually used the product or service - edited or changed by someone else after being created The ACCC gives a real example. It took action against a removalist business, Citymove, which admitted saying testimonials on its website were genuine when they were not. The business had copied testimonials from an unrelated review website, changed them, and published them on its own review website. ([ACCC](https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-and-promotions/online-reviews-for-product-and-services)) For a tradie, that rules out a few common shortcuts: writing "sample" testimonials while the site is new, borrowing glowing lines from another business, or asking your cousin to post a review without saying he is your cousin. ### What about fixing a typo? Because the ACCC lists reviews edited by someone else as a way to mislead, the safe habit is to publish the customer's words as they wrote them. If you really want to shorten a long message, ask the customer to approve the shorter version and keep that approval. If you show only part of a review, make sure the part you pick does not change what they meant. ## Rule 2: do not bury the bad ones The ACCC says a business may mislead consumers if it suppresses or edits negative reviews, or removes genuine reviews that are negative. It suggests businesses clearly display their policy for publishing, editing and removing reviews. ([ACCC](https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-and-promotions/online-reviews-for-product-and-services)) The ACCC's example here is HealthEngine, an online health marketplace that admitted it did not publish a large volume of negative reviews and edited other reviews to remove negative parts. The Federal Court ordered it to pay $2.9 million in penalties, including for publishing misleading patient reviews and other conduct. ([ACCC](https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-and-promotions/online-reviews-for-product-and-services)) There is a fair middle ground. A hand picked testimonials section on your homepage is normal marketing, but it should not claim to be "all our reviews" if it is not. If you show an overall rating or a reviews feed, it should reflect the real picture, warts and all. ## Rule 3: be careful with rewards for reviews This is where the ACCC and Google differ, and it trips people up. ### What the ACCC says The ACCC says businesses that offer incentives, such as discounts or free gifts, for a positive review risk misleading consumers and breaching the law. Where incentives are offered for reviews, the ACCC says they must apply whether the reviewer leaves a positive or negative review, and must be clearly disclosed so consumers know the review was incentivised. ([ACCC](https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-and-promotions/online-reviews-for-product-and-services)) ### What Google says Google's rules for Maps reviews are stricter. Google does not allow merchants to offer incentives, such as payment, discounts, free goods or services, in exchange for posting any review, or for revising or removing a negative review. It also does not allow merchants to discourage negative reviews or selectively ask only happy customers for reviews. ([Google](https://support.google.com/contributionpolicy/answer/7400114?hl=en)) Google's help page for business owners says the same thing: offering free or discounted goods or services in exchange for reviews is considered fake and misleading content and is strictly prohibited. ([Google Business Profile Help](https://support.google.com/business/answer/3474122?hl=en)) So "$20 off your next service for a Google review" is out, even if you would accept a one star review. The simple rule for tradies: ask every customer for an honest review, and give nothing in return. ## Rule 4: show the context, like the review count The ACCC says businesses must consider the context that affects how consumers read reviews, and give the example that businesses and review platforms should clearly show the total number of reviews a star rating is based on, such as "3 stars, 24 reviews". ([ACCC](https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-and-promotions/online-reviews-for-product-and-services)) On a tradie website, that means a "5.0 stars" badge should say how many reviews it is based on and where they came from, for example "5.0 from 18 Google reviews". A shiny "five star service" badge with nothing behind it invites the wrong kind of attention. ## What if someone posts a fake review about you? The ACCC says that if you think a review platform has published a false or misleading review about your business, you should contact the platform and ask for it to be removed, or respond to the review to correct the public record. It also warns that you need an adequate basis to conclude a review is likely fake before removing or editing it, because removing a genuine negative review may mislead consumers. ([ACCC](https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-and-promotions/online-reviews-for-product-and-services)) On Google, you can flag a review you believe breaks Google's content policies. Google also suggests replying to negative reviews politely, never sharing a reviewer's private information, and asking them to contact you by phone or email if the issue is complex. ([Google Business Profile Help](https://support.google.com/business/answer/3474122?hl=en)) ## How we set up reviews on a tradie website A good reviews section does two jobs: it convinces the person reading it, and it keeps you on the right side of the rules. When we build a site, we usually aim for: - **Real names and suburbs, with permission.** "Sarah, Thornlie" reads as more believable than "Happy customer". Ask first, and use a first name only if that is what they prefer. - **Words as written.** Paste the testimonial in exactly as the customer sent it, or get their OK on any shortened version. - **A link to your Google reviews.** Sending visitors to the full, unfiltered list shows you have nothing to hide and helps your Google Business Profile at the same time. - **Clear rating context.** If you show a star rating, show the number of reviews and the source next to it. - **Disclosures where needed.** If a testimonial comes from a mate, a family member or a business you work with, say so. - **A simple record.** Keep a screenshot or saved copy of the original message or review, the date, and the customer's OK to use it. If anyone ever asks, you can show the testimonial is real. For asking, Google suggests sharing a Google review link or QR code with customers. ([Google Business Profile Help](https://support.google.com/business/answer/3474122?hl=en)) A short text after every finished job, sent to every customer and not only the happy ones, is an easy routine that fits Google's rules. ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I copy my Google reviews onto my website? Showing genuine reviews is fine under the ACCC guidance, as long as you do not change them or present a hand picked selection as the full picture. Keep the reviewer's words intact and link to the full list on Google. Check Google's current terms if you plan to embed or display Google content in a widget. ### Can I give a discount to customers who leave a review? Not for Google reviews. Google does not allow incentives in exchange for posting reviews. ([Google](https://support.google.com/contributionpolicy/answer/7400114?hl=en)) For other reviews, the ACCC says any incentive must apply whether the review is positive or negative, and must be clearly disclosed. ([ACCC](https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-and-promotions/online-reviews-for-product-and-services)) The simplest path is to not offer one at all. ### My new business has no reviews yet. What can I show? Do not write placeholder testimonials. Show real things instead: job photos, your licence and insurance details, a clear service list, and a simple promise about how you work. Then ask your first customers for honest reviews and add them as they come in. ### Can my partner or a mate leave me a review? The ACCC says reviews from family, employees or people paid by the business can mislead consumers if the personal connection or commercial relationship is not stated. ([ACCC](https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-and-promotions/online-reviews-for-product-and-services)) Google also treats reviews based on a conflict of interest, including family relationships, as not allowed. ([Google](https://support.google.com/contributionpolicy/answer/7400114?hl=en)) Best to skip it. ### Can I delete a nasty review on my own website? Only with good reason. The ACCC says removing genuine negative reviews may mislead consumers, and that you need an adequate basis to conclude a review is fake or misleading before removing or editing it. ([ACCC](https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-and-promotions/online-reviews-for-product-and-services)) Abusive content or a review about a different business is a different story. A published review policy makes those calls easier to explain. ## Sources 1. ACCC, Online reviews for product and services: https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-and-promotions/online-reviews-for-product-and-services 2. Google Maps, Prohibited and restricted content (Fake engagement and Rating manipulation): https://support.google.com/contributionpolicy/answer/7400114?hl=en 3. Google Business Profile Help, Tips to get more reviews: https://support.google.com/business/answer/3474122?hl=en *Guidance checked on 31 October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Check the ACCC and Google pages above or speak to a lawyer about your own business.* ## Want a reviews section that wins quotes? JetBlok builds fast websites for [tradies](https://jetblok.com.au/websites-for-tradies) and small businesses in [Gosnells](https://jetblok.com.au/web-design-perth/gosnells), [Thornlie](https://jetblok.com.au/web-design-perth/thornlie) and across [Perth](https://jetblok.com.au/web-design-perth), with genuine testimonials, a link to your Google reviews and your licence details where customers can see them. For more on your Google listing, read our [Google Business Profile guide for Perth](https://jetblok.com.au/blog/google-business-profile-perth-guide-2026). See it first, pay later: 10% deposit (minimum $199) to start, No GST charged. [Build your quote](https://jetblok.com.au/get-a-quote) or check our [pricing](https://jetblok.com.au/pricing). ## Sources - [ACCC, Online reviews for product and services](https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-and-promotions/online-reviews-for-product-and-services) - [Google Maps, Prohibited and restricted content](https://support.google.com/contributionpolicy/answer/7400114?hl=en) - [Google Business Profile Help, Tips to get more reviews](https://support.google.com/business/answer/3474122?hl=en) Page: [Can I Put Reviews and Testimonials on My Website? ACCC Rules for Tradies](https://jetblok.com.au/blog/website-reviews-testimonials-rules-tradies-australia)