How to Get More Google Reviews (Without Being Awkward About It)

Google reviews directly impact whether customers choose you or your competitor. More reviews with higher ratings mean more visibility and more trust. But asking for reviews feels awkward, and most business owners either don’t ask or do it wrong.

This guide covers exactly how to get more reviews without being pushy — including word-for-word scripts, email templates, and systems that run on autopilot.

TL;DR: What Actually Works

• Ask every satisfied customer (not just the best ones)
• Ask at the right moment (immediately after positive experience)
• Make it ridiculously easy (one click to your review page)
• Use systems so you don’t have to remember
• Respond to every review — good and bad
• Never fake reviews or incentivize with money

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Why Reviews Matter More Than You Think

The Ranking Factor

Google uses reviews as a major signal for local rankings. Businesses in the top 3 of the Local Pack have an average of 47 reviews. If you have 5 reviews and your competitor has 50, you’re at a significant disadvantage.

What Google looks at:

• Review quantity (more is better)
• Review rating (higher is better, but 4.7-4.9 often performs better than 5.0)
• Review velocity (consistent new reviews, not stale)
• Review content (keywords in reviews help)
• Review responses (shows engagement)

The Trust Factor

Reviews aren’t just for Google. They’re for humans deciding whether to trust you.

• 87% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses
• 73% only consider businesses with 4+ stars
• The number of reviews matters — more reviews = more statistical confidence

The Conversion Factor

Every additional star in your rating can mean 5-9% more revenue. The difference between 3.5 stars and 4.5 stars is often the difference between a prospect calling you or your competitor.

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The Right Way to Ask

Most businesses make one of two mistakes: never asking, or asking badly. Here’s how to do it right.

When to Ask

Perfect moments:

• Immediately after completing a service
• When a customer thanks you or expresses satisfaction
• After delivering good news or resolving a problem well
• At the end of a successful project

Bad moments:

• When they’re stressed or in a hurry
• During a complaint (even if you resolved it)
• Weeks after the service
• When they haven’t experienced the full value yet

The key: Catch them at peak satisfaction. The longer you wait, the less likely they are to follow through.

How to Ask In Person

Keep it natural and brief. Here’s what works:

Simple version:

“We really appreciate your business. If you have a minute, a Google review would mean a lot to us. It helps other customers find us.”

Slightly more personal:

“I’m so glad we could help with [specific thing]. If you’re happy with how things went, a Google review would really help us out. I can text you the link if that’s easier.”

What to avoid:

• “We need more reviews” (desperate)
• “Can you give us 5 stars?” (pushy and against Google’s rules)
• Long explanations of why reviews matter (overthinking it)

Making It Easy

The #1 reason people don’t leave reviews: too many steps. Reduce friction as much as possible.

Create a direct review link:

1. Go to your Google Business Profile
2. Click “Ask for reviews”
3. Copy your unique review link
4. Shorten it with bit.ly or similar

Ways to share your link:

• Text message (highest conversion)
• Email (good for follow-up)
• QR code on printed materials
• Link on your website
• NFC tap card (fancy but effective)

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Email Templates That Work

Template 1: Post-Service Email (Same Day)

Subject: Thank you for choosing [Business Name]

Hi [First Name],

Thank you for letting us help with [service/project]. We hope everything went well.

If you have 30 seconds, a quick Google review helps other customers find us. Here’s the direct link:

[REVIEW LINK]

Thanks again, [Your Name] [Business Name]

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Template 2: Follow-Up (3 Days Later)

Subject: Quick favor, [First Name]?

Hi [First Name],

Hope you’re enjoying [result of service/new product/etc.].

If you have a moment, we’d be grateful for a quick Google review. It takes about 30 seconds and really helps our small business.

[REVIEW LINK]

Either way, thanks for choosing us. Let us know if you need anything.

[Your Name]

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Template 3: The “Checking In” Email (7-14 Days Later)

Subject: How’s everything going?

Hi [First Name],

Just wanted to check in and make sure everything is still working well with [service/product].

If everything’s good, would you mind sharing your experience on Google? Reviews help other folks find us.

[REVIEW LINK]

And if anything’s not right, please let me know — I’d rather hear from you directly so I can fix it.

Thanks, [Your Name]

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Template 4: The “Closing the Loop” Email

Subject: One last thing

Hi [First Name],

I know we’ve asked before, so this is the last time — if you had a good experience with us, a Google review would mean a lot.

[REVIEW LINK]

If now’s not a good time or reviews aren’t your thing, no worries at all. We appreciate your business either way.

Thanks, [Your Name]

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SMS Templates

Text messages have higher open and response rates than email. Keep them short.

Template 1: Simple Ask

Hi [First Name], this is [Your Name] from [Business]. Thanks for choosing us! If you have a sec, a Google review would mean a lot: [LINK]

Template 2: After Service

Thanks for having us out today! If we did a good job, would you mind leaving a quick Google review? [LINK] — [Your Name], [Business]

Template 3: Follow-Up

Hi [First Name], quick reminder — if you were happy with our work, a Google review really helps other customers find us: [LINK]. Thanks! - [Business]

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In-Person Scripts

At Point of Sale

“If you’re happy with your experience today, a Google review would really help us out. I can text you the link right now if you’d like.”

End of Service Call

“Thanks for letting us help today. If everything went well, we’d really appreciate a Google review. I’ll send you a link — it takes about 30 seconds.”

When a Customer Thanks You

“That’s so nice to hear! Would you mind sharing that on Google? It helps other people find us, and I’d really appreciate it.”

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Building a System

Relying on memory doesn’t work. You need a system.

Low-Tech System

Materials needed:

• Review request cards (business cards with QR code)
• Follow-up email template
• Calendar reminders

Process:

1. Hand review card at end of every service
2. Send follow-up email same day
3. If no review in 3 days, send reminder
4. Track who you’ve asked (spreadsheet)

Mid-Tech System

Tools needed:

• Email automation (Mailchimp, Constant Contact)
• QR code on receipts/invoices
• Simple CRM to track customers

Process:

1. Customer added to “completed service” list
2. Automated email sends same day
3. Automated follow-up in 3 days if no review
4. Manual check on high-value customers

High-Tech System

Tools needed:

• Dedicated review platform (Birdeye, Podium, NiceJob)
• CRM integration
• SMS automation

What it does:

1. Automatically sends review request after each service
2. Sends via SMS and email
3. Tracks who left reviews
4. Alerts you to new reviews for quick response
5. Aggregates reviews across platforms

Cost: $50-300/month depending on features

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Responding to Reviews

Every review deserves a response. It shows you care and helps your SEO.

Responding to Positive Reviews

Keep it brief, genuine, and personal.

Template:

Thanks so much, [Name]! We really enjoyed working with you on [specific project/service]. Appreciate you taking the time to share this. See you next time!

Elements to include:

• Thank them by name
• Reference something specific
• Show genuine appreciation
• Invite future business

What to avoid:

• Copy-paste identical responses to every review
• “We appreciate your feedback” (robotic)
• Overly formal language

Responding to Negative Reviews

Negative reviews hurt, but your response matters more than the review itself. Potential customers watch how you handle criticism.

Template:

Hi [Name], I’m sorry to hear your experience didn’t meet expectations. I’d like to make this right. Please call or email me directly at [contact] so we can discuss this.

The approach:

1. Respond quickly (within 24 hours)
2. Acknowledge their frustration (don’t dismiss)
3. Don’t argue or get defensive publicly
4. Take the conversation offline
5. Offer to make it right

What to avoid:

• “You’re wrong” or arguing about facts
• Blaming the customer
• Making excuses
• Offering compensation publicly (invites fake bad reviews)
• Ignoring it entirely

Dealing with Fake Reviews

Sometimes competitors or random people leave fake negative reviews.

Signs of a fake review:

• Reviewer has no other reviews or only negative ones
• They describe services you don’t offer
• They mention employees who don’t exist
• Details don’t match any actual customer

What to do:

1. Respond professionally (assume it’s real publicly)
2. Flag the review in Google Business Profile
3. Document why you believe it’s fake
4. Wait — Google sometimes removes flagged reviews
5. If obvious policy violation, submit a formal removal request

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What NOT to Do

Google takes review manipulation seriously. Violations can result in penalties or suspension.

Against Google’s Rules

• Paying for reviews — Including discounts, freebies, or gift cards
• Review gating — Only asking happy customers for reviews
• Fake reviews — Writing them yourself, having employees post, or buying them
• Review exchange — “I’ll review your business if you review mine”
• Review kiosks — Having customers review from your device/IP

Grey Areas to Avoid

• “Give us 5 stars” — Don’t suggest a rating; ask for honest feedback
• Incentives of any kind — Even entry into a raffle is technically not allowed
• Filtering customers — Only sending review links to happy ones

If You’re Caught

Google can:

• Remove all your reviews
• Suspend your Google Business Profile
• Flag your business as untrustworthy

Not worth the risk. Build reviews legitimately.

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How Many Reviews Do You Need?

Competitive Benchmarks

Check your competitors:

1. Search your main service + your city
2. Look at the top 3 Local Pack results
3. Note their review count and rating

General targets:

• Minimum viable: 10+ reviews (look legitimate)
• Competitive: Match or exceed top local competitors
• Dominant: 50+ reviews with 4.5+ rating

Review Velocity

Consistent new reviews matter more than a burst followed by silence.

Good velocity:

• Service businesses: 2-4 new reviews per month
• Retail/restaurants: 4-10 new reviews per month
• One-time transactions: 1-2 per month

If your last review is 6+ months old, Google sees a stale business.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get the direct link to my Google reviews?

Go to your Google Business Profile > Click “Ask for reviews” > Copy the link. Shorten it with bit.ly or similar for easier sharing.

Can I ask all my past customers for reviews?

You can, but it’s less effective. The sweet spot is within a week of service. Asking customers from 6 months ago rarely gets responses.

What if a customer doesn’t use Google?

Meet them where they are. Yelp, Facebook, or industry-specific platforms (Houzz, Healthgrades, Avvo) are better than nothing. But for local SEO, Google reviews matter most.

How do I get a customer to change a negative review?

You can’t directly ask. But if you resolve their issue thoroughly, you can mention: “I hope we’ve made this right. If you’d be willing to update your review, we’d appreciate it.” No pressure.

Should I respond to old reviews?

If you’ve never responded, yes — go back and respond to recent ones (last 6-12 months). Responding to reviews from 5 years ago looks odd.

Is it okay to remind customers to review?

Yes, but limit it to 2-3 touches maximum. After that, move on. Some people just don’t leave reviews, and that’s fine.

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What This Means for Your Business

Reviews compound over time. A business that gets 2 reviews per month will have 50+ reviews in two years. That’s the difference between page one and page three.

Start today. Ask your next satisfied customer. Set up the email template. Make it part of your process.

Whether you’re a salon in Seattle, a plumber in Pittsburgh, or a restaurant here in Springfield, Oregon — the businesses that consistently ask for reviews are the ones that dominate their local market.

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Next Steps

Start simple:

1. Get your Google review link
2. Ask your next 3 customers for reviews
3. Set up a basic email template

Level up:

1. Create a consistent system
2. Train your team on when and how to ask
3. Monitor and respond to all reviews

Want help? I set up review generation systems as part of every local SEO project. If you want a done-for-you approach, let’s talk.

Let’s discuss your review strategy →