Can You Import Your Existing Reviews Directly Into Trustpilot or Google My Business?
Today, let me talk about a question I keep getting from several brands I work with: "Can I import my customer reviews from one platform directly into Trustpilot or Google My Business?"
It makes total sense, right? Imagine—you’ve collected a nice bunch of reviews right on your website, and you think, “Why not quickly upload all of them to Trustpilot or Google and get an instant boost?” That would indeed be magical! Unfortunately, the real world isn't as easy.
If you prefer watching then reading have a look at video here:
The Short Answer: Nope.
Sadly, as appealing as the idea sounds, platforms like Trustpilot or Google won’t let you upload existing reviews from other sources. Here's why they do that…
If you enjoy watching more than reading then check the video version of this answer here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akcv_W4GmHM
Why Don't Platforms Allow Review Imports?
1. The Authenticity Problem
First, let’s talk trust. Major public review platforms like Trustpilot or Google My Business have a huge reputation around authenticity. They invest heavily in making sure every review is linked to a verified person.
So imagine Trustpilot getting asked: “Hey, can you please trust Google’s reviews?” They'd immediately say no. They just won’t share trust with other platforms—for good reasons, of course.
The issue is, if you export reviews from one place and import to another, it becomes super hard (or even impossible) to verify the original reviewer’s authenticity. Review authenticity is the cornerstone of platforms like Trustpilot, who make it a key selling point that their reviews are verified and trustworthy.
2. The Business Incentive
And as much as I'd like to believe it's just about authenticity, truth be told, it’s also about business. Review platforms (especially Trustpilot) survive because brands pay them to invite customers for verified reviews. If they allowed brands to easily import hundreds or thousands of reviews from elsewhere, guess what? Their core business would suffer.
Google My Business—I admit—is slightly less worried about paid subscriptions (since it’s mostly free). Still, they’re very strict about imported reviews due to authenticity and the risk of manipulation.
3 Ideas for Getting Reviews Across Multiple Platforms Anyway
But don't worry—there's still stuff you can do to get more reviews across multiple platforms! Here are three methods I’ve seen working consistently:
1. Invite Multi – Split-review invitations:
Try splitting your invitations strategically. Let’s say half your invitations lead customers to your own product reviews platform (like Yotpo, Okendo, or any other), while other invitations guide customers directly to Trustpilot or Google. Smart segmentation can help you build reviews more evenly across platforms.
2. Retarget Happy Customers – Move reviewers around:
Another great trick is retargeting. You gather customers who've already left positive reviews on one platform—maybe even five-star reviewers—and later, invite them to leave reviews somewhere else, too.
For example, someone gives you a glowing review on your site. After some weeks (not immediately!), you ask gently, "Hey, would you mind leaving a review on Trustpilot, too?" Since these customers have already shown satisfaction, they’re much more likely to help you out again elsewhere, especially if you add a little incentive or reward.
3. Ask Twice – Survey to Review tactic:
The third approach I’m seeing work nicely is asking twice—but in different ways. Maybe the first ask is a general customer feedback survey like NPS ("How was your experience?"). Once a customer confirms they’re generally satisfied, redirect them immediately afterward to leave a public review on Trustpilot or Google.
Customers who are happy with their experience are usually ready and eager to help your brand again, even more publicly this time.
Managing Reviews Across Platforms Easily
Now, all these tactics might sound like a headache. But if you have a decent tool to automate it, it becomes pretty straightforward.
In StackTome, even with the basic plan, we’ve built functionality exactly for this: segment customers, route invitations efficiently, or even retarget reviewers across platforms effortlessly. You can easily spread reviews organically without needing to upload/import anything manually (which you can't anyway!).
Not sure how it would look for your brand specifically? Just book a demo—I’ll happily walk you through how it’s done.
Summary
Unfortunately, no, platforms like Trustpilot or Google My Business won’t let you import reviews directly. Trust and authenticity concerns, plus an essential business model element, prevent it.
Instead, my advice is to collect reviews strategically from the start, segment your requests smartly, retarget satisfied reviewers, or gently ask customers twice (survey then review). By combining these approaches, you can build a trustworthy review strategy that satisfies multiple platforms and maximizes your trust-building efforts.
If you’re struggling with how to implement this smoothly, take StackTome for a spin—I specifically built it to help online brands easily master exactly this scenario.
You can check it yourself in a 14-day free trial, or schedule a demo and we’ll help you set it up directly.
Thanks for reading!
