Question 1

What is ReviewShielder?

Accepted Answer

ReviewShielder is an FTC-compliant Google review management platform for local businesses and contractors. It generates a QR code that customers scan after a job. The QR code shows two equal options: leave a Google review publicly, or send a private message to management. Both paths are always visible — ReviewShielder never filters customers based on how happy they seem.

Question 2

How does ReviewShielder get me more Google reviews?

Accepted Answer

ReviewShielder makes it effortless for satisfied customers to leave reviews at the exact moment their experience is fresh — right after a job is completed. You print a QR code on invoices, door hangers, business cards, or job completion sheets. Customers scan it in seconds and are taken directly to your Google review page. No hunting for your listing, no friction. The lower the friction, the more reviews you collect.

Question 3

How long does setup take?

Accepted Answer

Most businesses are fully set up in under 5 minutes. After subscribing via PayPal, you create a free account, paste your Google review link into your dashboard, and your QR code is instantly generated. Download it as a PNG and print it anywhere. That's the entire setup.

Question 4

What is a private escalation inbox?

Accepted Answer

When a customer scans your QR code and chooses to "share feedback privately" instead of leaving a Google review, their message goes directly to your private escalation inbox in the ReviewShielder dashboard. You see their name, message, and timestamp in real time. This lets you resolve complaints before they become public negative reviews — turning potential 1-star public posts into resolved private conversations.

Question 5

Do I need technical skills to use ReviewShielder?

Accepted Answer

No technical skills required. If you can paste a link and download an image, you can use ReviewShielder. The entire platform is designed for busy contractors and small business owners, not tech teams. Setup is a single text field and a download button.

Question 6

What is star gating and why is it illegal?

Accepted Answer

Star gating (also called review gating) is the practice of asking customers how satisfied they are before deciding whether to show them a Google review link. Happy customers (4-5 stars) get sent to Google. Unhappy customers (1-3 stars) get redirected to a private form or simply shown nothing. The FTC Consumer Review Fairness Act of 2016 explicitly prohibits this practice. Businesses caught star gating face FTC enforcement, civil penalties, and Google listing suspension.

Question 7

Is ReviewShielder FTC compliant?

Accepted Answer

Yes — 100%. ReviewShielder was built from the ground up around the FTC Consumer Review Fairness Act. The dual-path QR code always shows both options (public Google review AND private feedback) with equal prominence. ReviewShielder never surveys customers first, never hides options based on sentiment, and never conditionally routes customers. Every customer, happy or unhappy, sees the same screen.

Question 8

Do competitors like Podium and Birdeye star gate?

Accepted Answer

Many popular review platforms — including Podium, Birdeye, NiceJob, Grade.us, Broadly, Yext, Swell, and others — use satisfaction surveys or sentiment analysis before presenting Google review links. This is the definition of star gating under the FTC Consumer Review Fairness Act. ReviewShielder is specifically designed as a compliant alternative to these platforms.

Question 9

Can Google suspend my listing for review gating?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Google's review policies explicitly prohibit "review gating" — defined as discouraging or preventing negative reviews while soliciting positive ones. Violations can result in your Google Business Profile being suspended, existing reviews being removed, or your local search ranking being penalized. ReviewShielder's equal-weight dual-path system is designed to comply with both FTC law and Google's terms of service.

Question 10

What is the FTC Consumer Review Fairness Act?

Accepted Answer

The FTC Consumer Review Fairness Act (CRFA), enacted in 2016, is a federal law that protects consumers' ability to share honest reviews online. It prohibits businesses from using form contracts or platforms that: (1) prevent customers from leaving negative reviews, (2) require customers to waive their right to post reviews, or (3) penalize customers for leaving negative reviews. Platforms that pre-screen customers before allowing them to post reviews — star gating — violate this law. Penalties can reach $50,000+ per violation.

Question 11

How much does ReviewShielder cost?

Accepted Answer

ReviewShielder costs $99 per month, paid through PayPal. There are no setup fees, no contracts, no annual commitments, and no per-location charges for single-location businesses. You can cancel anytime directly through PayPal with no penalties.

Question 12

Is there a free trial?

Accepted Answer

ReviewShielder offers a free account that lets you explore the dashboard, set up your Google review link, and generate your QR code. Full features including the private escalation inbox and subscription management require the $99/month plan.

Question 13

How do I cancel?

Accepted Answer

You can cancel your ReviewShielder subscription at any time directly through your PayPal account — no need to contact us. Go to PayPal > Settings > Payments > Manage Automatic Payments, find ReviewShielder, and cancel. There are no cancellation fees or notice periods.

Question 14

Why is ReviewShielder cheaper than Podium and Birdeye?

Accepted Answer

Podium starts at $399/month, Birdeye at $299/month, and enterprise platforms like Reputation.com and Weave can exceed $500/month. These platforms charge for large feature sets that most small businesses never use — bulk SMS, CRM integrations, multi-location dashboards. ReviewShielder focuses exclusively on FTC-compliant review collection and private escalation — the two features that actually move your Google rating — and prices accordingly at $99/month.

Question 15

How do I use the QR code?

Accepted Answer

After setup, download your QR code as a PNG from your dashboard. Print it anywhere customers will see it after a job: the bottom of your invoice, a sticker on your vehicle, a leave-behind card, a job completion slip, your email signature, or a laminated card you hand to customers. Customers scan it with their phone camera — no app required — and are taken directly to your ReviewShielder page.

Question 16

What do customers see when they scan the QR code?

Accepted Answer

Customers see a clean, mobile-optimized page with two clear choices: (1) "Leave us a Google Review" — a button that takes them directly to your Google review submission page, and (2) "Share Feedback Privately" — a form that sends their message directly to your inbox. Both options are displayed equally. There is no survey, no star rating pre-screen, and no sentiment filter.

Question 17

What is my Google review link and where do I find it?

Accepted Answer

Your Google review link is a direct URL that takes customers straight to the review submission form for your Google Business Profile. To find it: (1) Search for your business on Google, (2) Click "Write a review" on your Business Profile, (3) Copy that URL from your browser. Alternatively, log into Google Business Profile, go to Home, and find "Get more reviews" — it shows you a shareable direct link.

Question 18

What types of businesses use ReviewShielder?

Accepted Answer

ReviewShielder works for any local business that serves customers in person: HVAC contractors, plumbers, roofers, electricians, auto repair shops, dentists, landscapers, law firms, restaurants, painters, pool service companies, pest control, moving companies, hair salons, home cleaning services, veterinary clinics, chiropractors, real estate agents, and gyms. If you have a Google Business Profile and want more 5-star reviews legally, ReviewShielder is for you.

Question 19

Does ReviewShielder work for contractors?

Accepted Answer

ReviewShielder was specifically designed for contractors and home service businesses. The QR code model fits perfectly into contractor workflows — print it on invoices, hand it to customers at job completion, or add it to your truck wrap. Contractors who use ReviewShielder typically see a significant increase in Google reviews within the first 30 days because they're capturing reviews at the highest-satisfaction moment: right when the job is done.

Question 20

Does ReviewShielder work for restaurants and food businesses?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Restaurants can print the QR code on receipts, table tents, or menu cards. The timing works especially well for restaurants because customers are most likely to leave a review right after a positive meal experience. The private escalation path also gives restaurant managers a way to address complaints before they appear on Google.

Question 21

How is ReviewShielder different from Podium?

Accepted Answer

Podium starts at $399/month — four times more expensive than ReviewShielder. Podium uses SMS-based review requests with sentiment filtering, routing only happy customers to Google (star gating). ReviewShielder is $99/month, uses QR codes that always show both paths equally, and is fully FTC compliant. Podium requires annual contracts; ReviewShielder is month-to-month via PayPal.

Question 22

How is ReviewShielder different from Birdeye?

Accepted Answer

Birdeye is an enterprise multi-location platform starting at $299/month per location with annual contracts. It uses sentiment analysis to filter which customers see the Google review link — a star-gating practice. ReviewShielder is $99/month, has no contracts, and never filters customers. For single or small multi-location businesses, ReviewShielder delivers the same review growth at a fraction of the cost without the legal risk.

Question 23

Why not just send customers directly to the Google review link?

Accepted Answer

Sending customers directly to Google is legal and fine — but it misses the private escalation benefit. Without a private path, unhappy customers' only option is to post publicly on Google. ReviewShielder's dual-path system gives dissatisfied customers a way to reach you privately first. This keeps complaints out of your Google listing while still following FTC rules (both paths are always shown). The result: more positive public reviews and fewer unaddressed negative ones.

Question 24

Can I switch from Podium or Birdeye to ReviewShielder?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and many businesses do exactly this — often after learning about FTC star-gating risks or after their annual contract with Podium or Birdeye expires. Switching is simple: subscribe to ReviewShielder, create an account, paste your Google review link, download your QR code, and start using it. Most businesses are live within one business day of deciding to switch.

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