The way to get more Google reviews is simply to ask, every time, as part of a system rather than a one-off push. Send happy customers a direct link to your review page, ask in person at the end of a job, and put the link on invoices and in your email signature. Aim for a steady flow each week or month, reply to every review, and never offer customers a reward in return for one.
Why reviews matter
Reviews make you easier to find online and easier to trust. When someone searches for what you do, businesses with more good, recent reviews tend to show up higher and get chosen more often. Reviews are often what tips a customer towards you rather than a competitor.
Where to collect them
Start by asking where your customers look. Focus on Google first, then add one or two sites that matter in your industry: Tripadvisor for travel and hospitality, Checkatrade for trades, Trustpilot for many online businesses. The same principles apply on all of them.
How to get more Google reviews
Ask your existing customers
The quickest start is your customer list. Email them asking for a review, with a direct link to the review form on your Google Business Profile (there's a template below). If your list is large, send in batches over a few weeks rather than all at once.
Keep a steady flow
A sudden burst of reviews can look suspicious. A regular flow, every week or every month, looks natural and keeps your profile fresh. That means building the ask into how you work, not doing it once.
Ask everywhere
- Face to face, at the end of a job or at handover
- A poster, card or sticker at your premises
- On your invoices
- In your email signature
- In your follow-up emails or texts after a job
You'll be surprised how many you get when you simply ask.
Reward your team, not your customers
Don't offer customers prizes, discounts or gifts for leaving a review. Google's rules don't allow it, and those reviews can be removed. You can reward your own team for asking, though. One business I know pays staff a £50 bonus for every review that mentions them by name. That's how much they value reviews.
Reply to every review
Take a few minutes each week to reply to every review, good or bad. People reading reviews notice when the owner replies.
- Thank the customer, and keep your reply roughly the same length as their review.
- Use the reply to add something useful. For a short review, mention another service you provided: "It was a pleasure helping you arrange finance to fit your budget" tells other readers you offer finance.
- Never include personal information.
You can automate replies with AI. Set it to reply to positive reviews and flag negative ones for you to deal with yourself.
The review request email
Subject: A quick favour, [first name]?
Hi [first name],
I have a small favour to ask. It won't take long, I promise.
We're trying to get more reviews online, and I wondered if you could spare a couple of minutes to leave us one?
Just click the link below and let us know what you think:
[link to your Google review page]
Thank you so much for taking the time. We'd love to hear what you have to say.
Many thanks,
[your name]
Frequently asked questions
How do I get my Google review link? In your Google Business Profile, choose the option to ask for reviews. It gives you a short link you can copy into emails, texts and invoices.
Can I offer a discount for a Google review? No. Google doesn't allow incentives for reviews, and incentivised reviews can be removed. Reward your team for asking instead.
Want help getting more reviews?
Book a free strategy call and we'll put a simple review system in place that runs every week.