The way to get more Google reviews is to ask every customer, soon after a good moment in the visit, and to make leaving a review take under a minute. Send a direct link or show a QR code, then reply to the reviews you receive. Never offer anything in return, and never ask only the customers you expect to be happy.
1. Ask at the right moment
People review when the experience is fresh. Ask when the bill is paid, when a job is finished, or when a customer says thank you. A short, friendly sentence from a member of staff works better than a long script.
Ask everyone the same way. If you only ask some customers, you are choosing which reviews you get, and Google’s policy does not allow that.
2. Make it easy with a direct link
Customers should land straight on the review box, not hunt for your business on a map. Use a Google review link built from your Place ID. Our free Google review link generator makes one in seconds and gives you WhatsApp and SMS messages you can copy.
The link only works for people signed in to a Google account, so do not be surprised if a few customers cannot post.
3. Put a QR code where people wait
A printed QR code at the billing counter, on the table or on the bill folder lets customers scan and review on their phone. Make one with the free Google review QR code generator, and test it with your own phone before you print.
4. Reply to every review
Replying shows future customers that someone is paying attention. Thank people for good reviews. For a poor review, stay calm, say what you will do, and keep it short. Do not argue in public.
If you would rather not write the replies at all, MapBoost’s team replies to every review for you: positive ones automatically in your voice, negative ones by a person. See review management for how that works.
5. What Google does not allow
Google’s Maps user contributed content policy is clear on the main points.
- Do not offer a discount, gift or cashback in return for a review.
- Do not pick and choose who gets the link, and do not send unhappy customers to a private form first.
- Do not write reviews for your own business or ask staff, friends or family to.
- Do not pay for reviews, and do not buy them from anyone.
Reviews that break the rules can be removed, and profiles can be restricted. A smaller number of honest reviews is worth more than a large number that Google deletes.
6. Be patient and keep asking
There is no shortcut that is worth the risk. Reviews build up as you keep asking every customer. Put the ask into your routine, such as the same line at the counter and the same message after every job, so it happens every week and not just when you remember.
What about unfair reviews?
You cannot delete a review yourself. You can reply publicly, and you can report a review that breaks Google’s policies, such as spam or a conflict of interest. Google reviews the report and decides.
Where to start
Start with your free tools: make your review link and print a QR code. If you want a view of your whole Google Business Profile, ask for a free audit.
Your Google profile, run for you every week.
Our team replies to your reviews in your voice, posts every week, adds photos every month and keeps your profile right. You get a weekly report on WhatsApp.