Replying to Google reviews
Google lets a business reply to reviews once its Business Profile is verified, and checks every reply against its content policies before showing it, usually within 10 minutes. Word of Tour drafts each Google reply in the guest's language, within 4,096 characters and 4,096 bytes. You paste it into your Business Profile and send it yourself.
Google reply rules at a glance
| Rule | What Google says | What Word of Tour does |
|---|---|---|
| Reply length | 4,096 bytes per reply through the Business Profile API | Drafts stay within 4,096 characters and 4,096 bytes |
| Links | No specific rule; promotional content can be rejected | Allows links |
| Emails and phone numbers | No specific rule; personal data such as card or ID numbers can be rejected | Allows them |
| Who sends the reply | The business, from its verified Business Profile | You do: Word of Tour copies the reply and opens your Business Profile |
"Google says" covers only its own help pages, listed under Sources. Word of Tour's limits are the ones its reply editor checks.
What Google's own guidance says
- You must verify your business before you can reply to reviews. [1]
- Google checks every reply against its content policies. Replies usually take up to 10 minutes to review, and sometimes up to 30 days. If a reply isn't approved, Google asks you to edit it. [1]
- Through the Business Profile API, a reply is plain text of up to 4,096 bytes. [2]
- A reply can be rejected for advertising and solicitation, or for personal information such as credit card details or government ID. [2]
- Software can reply through the API only after Google approves the project's API access. To apply, the business must manage a profile that has been verified and active for 60 days or more. [3]
How Word of Tour works with Google
- 1 A rule in Gmail or Outlook forwards Google's "new review" emails to your Word of Tour address, so each review lands in one inbox with your other platforms.
- 2 Each review comes with a reply drafted in the guest's language, within 4,096 characters and 4,096 bytes. You read it and adjust it; the editor flags anything that breaks these rules.
- 3 Word of Tour doesn't post to Google for you. One click copies the reply and opens your Business Profile, where you paste it and send it.
Questions
Can Word of Tour post replies to Google for me?
Not today. Posting for you needs approved access to Google's Business Profile API, and Word of Tour doesn't have it yet. One click copies your reply and opens your Business Profile, where you paste it and send it.
How long does a Google review reply take to appear?
Google says replies usually take up to 10 minutes to review, and sometimes up to 30 days. If a reply isn't approved, Google asks you to edit it.
Do I need a verified Business Profile to reply?
Yes. Google's help page says you must verify your business before you can reply to reviews.
How do Google reviews reach Word of Tour?
By email forwarding. You set a rule in Gmail or Outlook that forwards Google's "new review" emails to your Word of Tour address. Each review then shows up in your inbox with a drafted reply.
Sources
- [1] Manage customer reviews · Google Business Profile Help · checked
- [2] REST Resource: accounts.locations.reviews · Google for Developers · updated
- [3] Business Profile APIs: Prerequisites · Google for Developers · updated
Drafted with AI from the pages above and Word of Tour's own reply rules, then checked against both. Platforms change their rules; their help pages have the final word.