How to get more Google reviews

Google’s Tips to get more reviews (opens in a new tab) states that reviews must reflect a genuine experience. Offering incentives such as free or discounted goods or services in exchange for posting, changing or removing reviews is “strictly prohibited.”

The Maps User Generated Content policy (opens in a new tab) adds that merchants must not:

• Offer incentives for any review, revision or removal of a negative review.
• Discourage or prohibit negative reviews, or selectively solicit positive reviews from customers.
• Pressure people to leave ratings on the premises, or tell them what to write.

Google does allow merchants to solicit genuine reviews without incentives and without trying to influence the rating or the wording. That is the line this guide stays on.

Violations can lead to review removal and Business Profile restrictions such as temporary blocks on new reviews (Business Profile restrictions (opens in a new tab)).

Google says more reviews and positive ratings can help your local ranking as part of prominence (Local ranking tips (opens in a new tab)). Reviews also guide buyers: 97% of consumers read reviews for local businesses, and 54% check the business’s website after reading positive reviews (BrightLocal, Local Consumer Review Survey 2026 (opens in a new tab)).

Honest mixed feedback often looks more trustworthy than a perfect score with few reviews. Google’s own tips say a mix of positive and negative feedback can feel more trustworthy, and that you should value all reviews.

Use one process for every completed job or visit. Do not decide who “deserves” the review link based on whether they seemed happy.

1. Finish the job well, then ask in person, by text, or by email.
2. Use the same short script, for example: “If you have a minute, here’s our Google review link. Honest feedback helps other customers — thank you.”
3. Send Google’s official review link or QR code (see below). Do not invent a third-party form that only forwards five-star ratings to Google.
4. Do not offer money, discounts, free work, gift cards or entry into a prize draw in exchange for the review.
5. Do not tell customers what star rating to leave or what phrases to include.
6. Do not ask only happy customers. That selective ask is review gating and is not allowed.

Make the ask part of your checkout or follow-up checklist so it happens every time, not only when you remember a smiling customer.

You still need to hear about problems early. Use a private channel that runs alongside — not instead of — the public review ask:

1. Give every customer an easy private way to reach you (your business phone, reply-to email, or a short “How did we do?” form that emails only you).
2. Invite private feedback at any time, including before, with, or after the review link. Example: “If anything was off, please text or email us first so we can fix it. Separately, here is our Google review link if you want to share public feedback.”
3. Respond fast to private complaints — same day when you can — with a fix or a clear next step.
4. Still send the Google review link to everyone. Do not withhold the link from people who complained. Filtering who receives the public link is selective solicitation.
5. Never trade a refund, discount or free redo for deleting or changing a public review.

This private path protects your reputation by catching issues early. It does not replace public reviews, and it does not gate them.

Google’s tips say you can ask customers to visit a Google link or scan a QR code, and point to Create a Google link or QR code to request reviews (opens in a new tab). In your Business Profile tools, use the option to get more reviews / ask for reviews, then copy the link or save the QR image. Print the QR on receipts, invoices or a counter card. Put the link in your follow-up email and SMS templates.

Customers must be signed into a Google Account to leave a review; they can create one with a non-Gmail address (Tips to get more reviews (opens in a new tab)).

Google recommends replying so customers see that feedback matters. Practical rules from the same help page:

• Be professional, short and specific.
• Avoid copy-paste “thanks!” on every review when you can add a useful detail.
• Do not use replies as ads or promo dumps.
• For negative reviews: protect privacy, apologize when appropriate, explain what you can fix, and move complex issues to a private channel.
• Flag reviews that violate Google’s content policies rather than arguing in public.

• Pay for reviews or review packages.
• Ask employees, family or competitors to post fake reviews.
• Post from multiple accounts to inflate ratings.
• Gate reviews with “If you had 5 stars, leave a Google review; if not, email us” flows.
• Remove the review ask from unhappy customers only.
• Promise customers a discount after they review.

In person (after the job): “Thanks for choosing us. If you are willing, here is a Google review link — honest feedback helps other customers. And if anything was not right, please tell me directly so I can fix it.”

SMS / email: “Hi [Name], thanks again. Private feedback anytime at this number/email. Separately, here is our Google review link if you want to leave a public review: [link]. No pressure either way.”

QR card: “Scan to review us on Google. Questions or concerns? Call/text [your business number].”

These scripts ask everyone the same way, separate private help from the public link, and avoid incentives or star coaching.