Can I offer a discount or reward for leaving a review?

No. Google explicitly prohibits incentivising reviews. It is against their terms of service and risks getting your reviews removed or your profile suspended. Ask genuinely, not transactionally.

What should I do about a negative review?

Respond professionally and promptly. Thank them for the feedback, acknowledge what went wrong and explain what you have done or will do to put it right. Never argue. A well-handled negative review can actually build more trust than a page of five stars with no negatives.

Can I ask friends and family to leave reviews?

Google is quite good at detecting fake or incentivised reviews. Reviews from people with no history of visiting your business can be removed. Focus on real customers.

How many reviews do I need?

There is no magic number, but getting to 10 to 20 genuine reviews puts you ahead of most local competitors. Consistent new reviews over time matter more than a burst of reviews followed by silence.

Does my website help with reviews?

Yes. A professional website with your reviews displayed prominently reinforces trust and encourages more people to leave one. It also gives you a place to showcase reviews to customers who find you through channels other than Google.

Local SEO

How to get more Google reviews for your small business

Google reviews build trust and help you rank higher in local search. Here is a practical guide to getting more of them.

18 March 2026

Google reviews are one of the most powerful things a small business can have. They influence whether customers choose you over a competitor, and they directly affect how high you appear in local search results. Yet most small businesses have fewer than ten.

The good news is that getting more reviews is not complicated. It mostly comes down to asking at the right moment and making it as easy as possible. Here is how to do it.

WHY IT MATTERS

What Google reviews actually do for your business

They influence buying decisions

Most people read reviews before contacting a local business. A profile with 50 four and five star reviews will win that click over a competitor with three reviews every time.

Google uses them to rank local businesses

The number of reviews, their recency and their average star rating are all factors in how Google decides which businesses to show in local search results. More good reviews means better visibility.

They work while you are busy

A strong review profile keeps selling for you around the clock. One customer who leaves a detailed five-star review can influence hundreds of future customers without any extra effort from you.

They give you credibility you cannot buy

Anyone can say they do great work. Reviews from real customers say it for you. That third-party validation carries far more weight than anything you write about yourself.

Six steps to getting more reviews

Follow these in order and you will have a reliable system that keeps reviews coming in.

Set up your Google Business Profile

If you have not already, claim and complete your Google Business Profile at business.google.com. Add your address, phone number, opening hours, photos and a description. A complete profile ranks better and gives customers more confidence to leave a review.

Get your review link

In your Google Business Profile dashboard, find the option to share your review link. Copy it. This is the direct link that takes customers straight to the review box with no hunting around. Shorten it with a free tool like Bitly if you want something easier to share verbally.

Ask straight after a good job

Timing is everything. Ask when the customer is happiest, right after you finish a job, complete a service or deliver a result. A simple "if you are happy with everything, it would really help us if you left a Google review" is enough. Most people are glad to help if you ask directly.

Follow up by text or email

Send a short message within 24 hours: "Thanks for choosing us. If you have a moment, a Google review makes a real difference to a small business like ours." Include the direct link. Keep it brief. One follow-up is fine. Two starts to feel pushy.

Make it easy with a QR code

Print your review link as a QR code and put it on your receipts, business cards, van signage or a small card you hand to customers. Free QR code generators are available online. The easier you make it to leave a review, the more reviews you will get.

Respond to every review

Thank customers for positive reviews by name where possible. For negative reviews, respond calmly, acknowledge the issue and offer to put it right. Responding shows you are professional and engaged. Google also rewards active profiles.

WHAT TO SAY

A simple script that works

In person

Really glad you are happy with everything. We are a small business, so Google reviews make a big difference to us. Would you mind leaving one? I can send you a link right now if that helps.

By text or email

Hi [Name], thanks so much for choosing [Business Name]. If you have two minutes, a Google review really helps small businesses like ours. Here is the link: [your review link]. Thanks again.

QUESTIONS

Common questions about Google reviews

Show off your reviews on your website

We display your Google reviews automatically on your site, so every new review you earn works harder for your business. From £49/month, no upfront cost.

Get started See how it works

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