How to Get More Google Reviews for Your Small Business

Here's a hard truth: potential customers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

A BrightLocal study found that 87% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses. And Google reviews specifically affect your local search rankings - businesses with more (and better) reviews show up higher in Google Maps and local search results.

But most businesses struggle to get reviews. Happy customers don't think about leaving reviews. They just go about their day.

Here's how to change that.

Why Google Reviews Matter

For Search Rankings

Google's local ranking algorithm considers three factors:

1. Relevance: How well you match the search
2. Distance: How close you are to the searcher
3. Prominence: How well-known and trusted you are

Reviews are a major part of prominence. More reviews (especially recent ones with good ratings) signal to Google that you're a legitimate, active business.

For Customer Trust

• 93% of consumers say online reviews impact their purchasing decisions
• Businesses with 4+ stars get significantly more clicks
• Responding to reviews (positive and negative) builds additional trust

For Conversion

Reviews on your Google Business Profile mean customers can evaluate you without visiting your website. A strong review profile converts browsers into callers.

The Simple Review Strategy

Getting reviews isn't complicated. It's just not automatic. You have to ask.

Step 1: Identify the Right Moment

The best time to ask for a review is right after a positive experience, when the customer is happiest:

• Service businesses: Right after completing a job successfully
• Restaurants: When the customer compliments the meal or leaves a good tip
• Retail: After a customer thanks you for help
• Healthcare: After a successful appointment

The key: strike while the iron is hot.

Step 2: Make It Easy

Every barrier reduces completion. Make leaving a review as frictionless as possible.

Get your direct review link:

1. Go to your Google Business Profile dashboard
2. Click "Ask for reviews"
3. Copy your short link

This link takes customers directly to the review form - no searching required.

Step 3: Ask in Person

The most effective method is simply asking face-to-face.

After a successful job:

"I'm so glad we could help! If you have a minute, we'd really appreciate a Google review. It helps other homeowners find us."

Why it works:

• Personal requests are hard to ignore
• You're asking at the moment of highest satisfaction
• It's genuine and human

Step 4: Follow Up

Many people intend to leave a review but forget. A polite follow-up helps.

Email template:

Subject: Thank you for choosing [Business Name]

Hi [Name],

Thank you for trusting us with your [service]. We hope everything exceeded your expectations!

If you have a moment, we'd love to hear about your experience. A Google review helps other [homeowners/patients/customers] find us.

[Direct Review Link]

Thanks again! [Your name]

Send this 1-2 days after service while the experience is fresh.

Step 5: Make It Part of Your Process

The businesses with the most reviews don't rely on luck - they have a system:

• Invoice or receipt: Include review link and QR code
• Email automation: Send review request 24-48 hours after service
• Staff training: Every team member knows to ask at the right moment
• Signage: Display "Review us on Google" in your location

Advanced Strategies

Use QR Codes

Create a QR code that links directly to your review page. Place it on:

• Business cards
• Receipts/invoices
• In-store signage
• Service vehicles
• Follow-up postcards

Customers can scan and review in seconds.

SMS Requests

Text messages have 98% open rates vs. 20% for email. If you have customers' phone numbers (and permission):

"Thanks for choosing Joe's Plumbing! If you're happy with our service, we'd appreciate a quick Google review: [link]"

Keep it short and send within 24 hours of service.

Review Handouts

For in-person businesses, create a simple card to hand customers:

Front:

We'd love your feedback! Leave us a Google review

Back:

1. Scan the QR code or visit [short link]
2. Click the stars to rate us
3. Share a few words about your experience

Thank you for your support!

Thank You Emails with Review Requests

Add a review request to your standard thank-you or follow-up emails. Don't make it the focus - just include it naturally.

What NOT to Do

Don't Buy Fake Reviews

It's tempting, but:

• Google is good at detecting fake reviews
• Your account can be suspended
• It's dishonest to future customers
• It violates Google's terms of service

Don't Offer Incentives for Reviews

"Leave us a review and get 10% off" violates Google's guidelines. You can ask for reviews, but you can't pay for them.

Don't Ask for Only 5-Star Reviews

"If you loved your experience, please leave us a review" is fine. "Please leave us a 5-star review" is against the rules.

Let customers share their honest experience.

Don't Review Gate

Some services ask customers to rate their experience privately first, then only direct happy customers to Google. This is called "review gating" and Google prohibits it.

Don't Ignore Negative Reviews

We'll cover responding to reviews below, but ignoring bad reviews makes them stand out more.

Responding to Reviews

Responding to reviews shows you care and can actually improve your rankings.

Responding to Positive Reviews

• Respond within 24-48 hours
• Thank them by name
• Be specific (mention the service or something personal)
• Keep it genuine - no copy-paste templates

Example:

"Thanks so much, Sarah! We're glad we could get your water heater fixed before the weekend. Let us know if you ever need anything else!"

Responding to Negative Reviews

This is where many businesses go wrong. Your response isn't just for the unhappy customer - it's for everyone who reads it later.

Do:

• Respond quickly
• Stay calm and professional
• Acknowledge the issue
• Apologize (even if you think they're wrong)
• Offer to resolve it offline

Don't:

• Get defensive
• Argue
• Share private details
• Blame the customer
• Ignore it

Example:

"We're sorry to hear your experience didn't meet expectations, Mike. This isn't the service we strive to provide. Please call us at [phone] so we can make this right."

Taking the conversation offline shows you care without airing dirty laundry publicly.

How Many Reviews Do You Need?

There's no magic number, but here are benchmarks:

• Minimum viable: 10+ reviews to establish credibility
• Competitive: 50+ reviews for most local businesses
• Dominant: 100+ reviews puts you ahead in most markets

More important than total count:

• Recency: Recent reviews matter more than old ones
• Rating: Aim for 4.5+ average
• Consistency: Steady flow beats a burst then silence

Review Velocity

Google pays attention to how frequently you get reviews. A business that gets 2 reviews per week appears more active than one that got 20 reviews two years ago.

Build review generation into your ongoing operations, not a one-time campaign.

Can You Remove Bad Reviews?

Only if they violate Google's policies:

• Spam or fake reviews
• Off-topic content
• Illegal content
• Sexually explicit content
• Conflict of interest (competitors, former employees)

To flag a review:

1. Go to your Google Business Profile
2. Find the review
3. Click the three dots, then "Flag as inappropriate"

Google rarely removes reviews, and the process takes weeks. Don't count on it.

The better strategy: bury bad reviews with good ones.

Review Generation Checklist

Setup

• [ ] Get your direct review link from Google Business Profile
• [ ] Create a QR code pointing to your review link
• [ ] Add review link to email signature
• [ ] Create a physical handout card

Process

• [ ] Train staff to ask for reviews at the right moment
• [ ] Set up automated email request 24-48 hours after service
• [ ] Add review request to invoices/receipts
• [ ] Display signage asking for reviews

Ongoing

• [ ] Respond to all reviews within 48 hours
• [ ] Track review count and rating monthly
• [ ] Adjust approach based on what's working

The Bottom Line

Getting more Google reviews isn't about tricks or tactics. It's about:

1. Delivering great service
2. Asking customers to share their experience
3. Making it easy for them to do so
4. Being consistent over time

Most businesses don't ask. That's your competitive advantage. The business that systematically generates reviews will outrank competitors who leave it to chance.

Start with one step: create your direct review link and ask your next happy customer to use it.

Reviews work together with other local SEO factors. Make sure you've optimized your Google Business Profile, built local citations, and ensured your NAP is consistent across the web.

For the complete picture, read our local SEO guide. And if you want expert help, explore our local SEO services - we help businesses from Dallas to Miami improve their local visibility.

Need help with your local SEO strategy? Book a call and we'll create a plan to improve your local visibility.