How to Get More Google Reviews, the Right Way

Ask every customer, at the moment they're happiest, with a link that takes them straight to the review box. Don't offer anything in return and don't ask only the happy ones. Both break Google's rules.

Why the Number and Freshness of Reviews Matter

People look past your star rating to how many reviews you have and how recent they are. In the BrightLocal Local Consumer Review Survey 2026:

• 47% of consumers won't use a business with fewer than 20 reviews.
• 74% look for reviews written in the last 3 months.
• 68% will only use a business with 4 or more stars.

Google says that more reviews and positive ratings can help your local ranking, and its own tips page says to ask customers to visit a Google link or scan a QR code (ranking, tips). A steady trickle of fresh reviews beats a burst once a year.

Find Your Review Link

Your review link takes customers straight to the box where they leave stars and a comment, with no searching. To get it, sign in at business.google.com on a computer, click Read reviews, then the share button labeled Get more reviews. Copy the link, or save the QR code Google shows you (Google Business Profile Help).

Once you have it, turn it into a QR code for the counter with our free review QR code maker. TrueReply customers get their link and a printable card automatically.

Ask at the Right Moment

The best time to ask is right after the moment your customer is happiest, while they're still with you or within a few hours.

4 Easy Ways to Ask

In person

A simple "If you've got a minute, a Google review really helps us" works better than any sign. Keep it relaxed and never pushy.

A QR card on the counter

A small printed card by the register, in the check presenter or on your invoice. Customers scan it with their phone camera and land on the review box.

A text message

Short and personal, sent the same day:

Hi Sam, thanks for coming in today! If you have a minute, we'd really appreciate a quick Google review: [your link]. Thanks, Ana

An email

Good for bookings and service jobs, sent within a day:

Thanks for choosing us! If you have a moment, we'd love to hear how we did. You can leave a review here: [your link]. It helps other people in town find us. Thanks, the team at Ridgeline Tree Care

What Google Doesn't Allow

Google is strict about how businesses ask for reviews, and breaking the rules can get reviews removed. Under Google's prohibited and restricted content policy, businesses must not:

• Offer anything in return. No discounts, freebies, entries into a draw or other rewards for a review, or for changing or removing one.
• Ask only happy customers. Sending satisfied customers to Google and unhappy ones to a private form is called review gating, and it's not allowed. Ask everyone.
• Set review quotas for staff. Requiring employees to collect a certain number of reviews isn't allowed either.
• Review themselves. Reviews from owners or employees about their own business are a conflict of interest.

Reply to Every Review You Get

Answering reviews encourages more of them. In the hotel study published in Marketing Science, businesses that started responding received about 12% more reviews afterwards (Proserpio and Zervas, Marketing Science (INFORMS summary)). And 80% of consumers are likely to use a business that responds to all of its reviews (BrightLocal).

That's where TrueReply comes in. It answers the happy ones for you in your voice and sends the rest to your inbox with a reply ready. See how it works.

Common Questions