How to get more Google reviews (the right way)

Why reviews matter so much

For local businesses, Google reviews do two jobs. They help decide whether you appear in the map results, and they help people decide whether to choose you once they find you. A steady stream of genuine reviews is one of the most valuable marketing assets a small business can have.

The good news: most happy customers are willing to leave one. They just need to be asked, at the right moment, in the right way.

Ask at the right moment

Timing is everything. Ask when the customer is happiest:

• Right after you’ve finished a job they’re thrilled with
• When they pay and thank you
• When they compliment you in person, by email or on social media

A review request a month later rarely gets the same response.

Make it one tap

The easier it is, the more reviews you’ll get. Get your direct review link from your Google Business Profile and share it:

• In a short text message after the job
• In your email signature and invoices
• On a QR code at your counter or on your business cards

Keep the message short and personal. Something like: thanks for choosing us today, if you have a minute, a quick Google review would really help our small business.

Help people write useful reviews

"Great service!" is nice, but a review that mentions what you did and where helps far more, both for potential customers and for search. You can’t script reviews, but you can make it easier with a gentle prompt like "it would be great if you could mention what we helped with". Never tell people what to say or ask them to be positive.

Build it into your routine

Reviews come from consistency, not one-off campaigns. Make asking part of your process, whether that’s a step in your job checklist or an automatic message from your booking or invoicing system. Ten reviews spread across a year look more trustworthy than ten in one week.

Reply to every review

Replying shows potential customers that you care and are paying attention.

• Thank people for positive reviews, and mention something specific
• Keep replies natural, not copied and pasted
• Reply to negative reviews calmly and professionally

Handling negative reviews

Every business gets them. A thoughtful reply often matters more than the review itself.

• Respond promptly and politely
• Acknowledge the issue without getting defensive
• Offer to resolve it offline, with a contact name or number
• Never argue in public

If a review is fake, offensive or breaks Google’s policies, you can report it through your Business Profile.

What not to do

• Don’t buy reviews or post fake ones
• Don’t offer discounts or gifts in exchange for reviews
• Don’t only ask customers you know are happy while filtering out others
• Don’t write reviews for your own business or ask staff to

These practices break Google’s policies and can mislead customers under Australian Consumer Law. The ACCC takes fake and misleading reviews seriously, so it’s not worth the risk.

Put your reviews to work

Reviews shouldn’t only live on Google. With the reviewer’s permission, feature the best ones on your website next to the service they mention, and keep your overall rating visible on your homepage. It’s one of the simplest ways to make your website more convincing.

How reviews fit into local SEO

Reviews are one part of showing up in the map results, alongside a complete profile, accurate categories and a website that backs it all up. Our Google Business Profile checklist and local SEO checklist cover the rest.

The payoff

A business that gets a few genuine reviews every month will steadily build trust, visibility and a reputation that competitors can’t easily copy.