The way to get more Google reviews is to ask every happy customer, soon after the job, with a direct link that opens the review box in one tap. Most people are glad to help. They just never think of it, and you did not ask. A simple routine fixes that.
Here is the uncomfortable bit. If you are good at your job and have 11 reviews, the problem is not your service. It is your process. A competitor with 140 reviews and a worse reputation will look safer to a stranger scrolling Google Maps.
How to get more Google reviews: when is the best time to ask?
Right after the moment of delight. For a plumber, that is when the tap stops dripping. For a solicitor, it is the day the matter completes. For a restaurant, it is the same evening or next morning.
Wait a week and the glow fades. Wait a month and they have forgotten your name. Build the ask into the end of the job, not into a quarterly marketing push.
Ask in person if you can. A quick “if you were happy, would you mind leaving us a short review? I will text you the link” converts far better than a cold email. Then send the text while they are still standing there.
How do you create a Google review link?
Open your Google Business Profile, find the “Ask for reviews” or “Get more reviews” option on your dashboard, and copy the short link it gives you. Anyone who taps it lands straight on the review box for your business.
Save that link somewhere you can reach it in two taps: a note on your phone, a text template, the signature on your invoices. If it takes you a minute to find, you will stop sending it.
You can also turn the link into a QR code with any free generator. Print it on a small card for the van, the counter or the receipt. A Leeds barber could put one on the mirror, and a trade could tuck one inside the invoice folder. Test it with your own phone before you print 500.
What should you say when you ask?
Keep it short, personal and specific. Compare these two messages. “Please leave us a review” is easy to ignore. “Hi Dave, thanks for having us in today. If you were happy with the new boiler, a quick review would really help a small local firm. Here is the link” gets answered.
Mention the person and the job. Say what you are asking for and why it matters. Make it one tap. Never script the review itself or hint at the star rating you want. That crosses a line.
If someone does not respond, one polite reminder a few days later is fine. A third message is nagging.
How do you ask without breaking Google’s rules?
Three practices will get you into trouble, so avoid them entirely.
The first is review gating, which means asking customers how they felt privately and only sending the happy ones to Google. Google’s policy forbids it. Ask everyone, and handle unhappy customers by responding well.
The second is offering anything in return: discounts, prize draws, free items. Incentivised reviews breach the policy. A thank-you after the review is generally safe only if it was never promised beforehand, but the cleanest path is not to do it.
The third is fake or bought reviews, including ones from friends who have never used you. Google removes them, and in the UK the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 makes fake reviews an enforceable offence, with the CMA able to fine firms directly. One bad week of Google removing dozens of reviews is far worse than slow growth.
How should you reply to good Google reviews?
Quickly, personally and briefly. Use the reviewer’s name, mention something specific they said, and thank them. Two sentences will do.
Do not paste the same reply under every review. Customers read replies, and so do prospects, and obvious templates look careless. Replying also nudges some reviewers to come back, which is not nothing.
How do you respond to negative Google reviews?
Stay calm and reply within a day or two. Write for the next customer reading it, not the angry one who wrote it.
Apologise for the experience without admitting what you do not accept. State the facts briefly if they are wrong. Offer to resolve it offline with a phone number or email. Then stop. Long defensive replies make you look worse than the review does.
If a review is fake, abusive or about a business that is not yours, flag it in your profile for removal. If it is simply harsh but real, it stays, and a gracious reply often earns you more trust than a perfect rating would. A mix of 4.6 stars with thoughtful replies tends to look more believable than a flat 5.0.
Think about the follow-up too. A customer who just left a review has told you they are happy, so it is also a good moment to ask for a referral, or to check whether anything else needs doing. Picture a roofer in Pudsey or a dentist in Roundhay: the best new jobs often come from someone who has just left five stars and mentions a neighbour.
How many reviews do you need?
There is no magic number. Look at the businesses above you in your Maps results and aim to match or beat their count and recency. Fresh reviews matter, so ten in the last two months can look stronger than fifty from three years ago.
Reviews are one input to local rankings, alongside categories, proximity and your website. If you are deciding where to put budget, our guide to SEO versus PPC compares the two. AI answer engines also pick up review language, as the explainer on generative engine optimisation shows. Reviews are only one part of the wider SEO service picture, and one more reason to watch for agencies that promise to buy them for you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ask for reviews by email or text?
Yes, and text usually works best.
Is it OK to ask existing customers from years ago?
Yes. A one-off message to past customers you served well is legitimate, and it is the fastest way to build a base. Keep the tone personal, send it in small batches and do not blast your whole database in one afternoon, which can look suspicious. Spread it out.
Should I delete a bad review?
You cannot delete it yourself. Only Google can remove it, and only if it breaks policy. Reply instead.
Do Google reviews help SEO?
Yes, for local results. Review quantity, recency and the words customers use all feed into map rankings, though they are one signal among many.
What if a customer says they will review and never does?
Send one reminder, then let it go. Nobody owes you a review. Move on to the next customer.
If you would like help setting up a review routine that fits how your business works, send us a few details and we will draft the messages and QR card wording for you. Free, within one working day.
