Customer feedback is vital for building credibility online. Even if you’ve been in business for years, you’ve likely wondered how to get more Google reviews. After all, your rating is visible across Search, Maps, and many other Google services, so it’s important to make a good impression.
In this guide, I’ll outline the benefits of Google reviews and the guidelines to follow when asking customers for them. I’ll also give you actionable tips on how to get more reviews on Google and manage your reputation.
Benefits of Google Reviews
People like to research and compare businesses before making a purchase decision, especially for more expensive items. Naturally, you’ll need to get Google business reviews to show your brand is trustworthy.
However, maximizing credibility isn’t the only benefit Google reviews bring. They also:
- Increase local search visibility. Reviews help you optimize for local SEO and break into Google’s Local Pack — a map at the top of the search results with links to three local businesses.
- Improve search relevance. Keywords in reviews help Google understand and rank your business correctly.
- Offer social proof. Customers often base their purchase decisions on other people’s experiences.
- Provide feedback. Reviews help you find and eliminate pain points to offer better customer service.
- Enhance long-term growth. Authentic reviews serve as word-of-mouth advertising.
First, Familiarize Yourself With Google’s Guidelines
Before you consider ways to get Google reviews, take a moment to read through Google’s guidelines because they outline what you can’t do when you ask for reviews from customers. Most importantly, you can’t pay for reviews or incentivize people to write positive things.
While you can’t control what customers write, if you receive a review that features the following, report it for removal:
- False or misleading information
- Impersonations of specific people or organizations
- Harassment and offensive content
- Personal information
Also, be sure to check out our post on how to ask for reviews.
Find Your Google Review Link and Save It
Increase Google reviews by consistently sharing a link to your review page. Leading customers directly to the review form simplifies the entire process, removing barriers that prevent them from leaving feedback.
The simplest way to find your review link is to google your business while logged into the Gmail address associated with your GBP.
- Search for your business on Google.
- Click “Read reviews.
- Click “Get more reviews” in the top right corner.
- Copy the link from the pop-up and you’re ready to go.
How To Get More Google Reviews
Ready to supercharge your local SEO and benefit from customer feedback? Well, there are several strategies you can use to get Google reviews and manage your star rating.
1. Add a Review Page and Widget to Your Website
Now that you have your GBP and review link sorted, consider adding a dedicated page or widget to your website to get reviews on Google. This also allows new customers to read positive reviews without leaving your site.
Accessing the Business Profile API is the most complex but powerful option for creating a review page. The API lets you pull the review data directly and display it however you want. However, you’ll need web development expertise to fully leverage this.
Alternatively, use a third-party service such as Elfsight or ReviewTrackers. Plugins offer another solution if you use WordPress as your CMS.
2. Show Off Existing Reviews
Positive experiences drive purchases because social proof has a powerful psychological effect. If many people do something, it subconsciously feels like the right choice to copy that action.
So, if you’re wondering how to get more reviews and sales, remember to showcase existing feedback. Some practical ways to do so include:
- Adding testimonial sections to landing pages.
- Adding positive review highlights to your homepage.
- Embedding reviews into product pages.
- Sharing reviews across social media.
- Incorporating reviews into email newsletters and other marketing materials.
3. Ask for Reviews on Social Media
If you frequently engage with customers on social, take the time to craft some fun review requests on your high-engaegment channels.
To leverage social media for reviews, consider:
- Requesting reviews during peak times based on engagement statistics.
- Ask ingfor reviews on posts that have already received many comments and shares.
- Publishing new posts asking for reviews with eye-catching graphics.
- Working review requests into interactive features such as polls and live sessions.
- Responding to followers regularly to sustain audience engagement.
- Using clear and concise CTAs.
4. Ask for Reviews via Email
Another way to get reviews for your business is to ask for them through email marketing. However, for maximal returns, you need a targeted approach.
Start by segmenting your audience. Ideally, you want to target customers who have made repeat purchases or indicated a positive experience in other communications (such as social media comments or customer service queries).
Once you know who to contact, here are a few tips to follow when asking them for feedback:
- Personalize your greeting and message.
- Keep email content and subject lines simple.
- Use a CTA with clear instructions.
- Provide a direct link.
- Thank customers for their time.
5. Ask for Reviews via SMS
SMS is a great way to seek reviews. However, to comply with legal requirements for this marketing channel, ensure you have permission to contact your customers beforehand.
To leverage SMS effectively:
- Send messages a few days after a purchase.
- Limit text to under 160 characters.
- Personalize messages using customer names and other details.
- Use a short CTA.
- Include a link.
- Track engagement for future optimization.
6. Integrate Review Requests Into the Purchasing Process
If you’re not asking customers for Google reviews during the purchasing process, you’re missing out on opportunities to get feedback when the experience is most fresh in their minds. Make sure you do the following things:
- Include service feedback requests in order confirmations.
- Add review links or QR codes to receipts and invoices.
- Send product review requests after delivery.
- Use package inserts with review QR codes.
- Include review requests in past order pages of customer accounts.
7. Respond to All Reviews
While you may be spending a lot of time figuring out how to get reviews, remember to leave some time for reputation management. Responding to reviews helps SEO, and it also encourages others to leave reviews when they see that you value previous feedback.
When you receive positive reviews, thank the customer and encourage them to tell their friends or share their experience on social media. To address negative reviews, be polite and offer solutions instead of excuses. These are opportunities to turn unhappy customers into loyal brand advocates while showing other people your business takes complaints seriously.
Should I Use Review Gating To Safeguard My Reputation?
I get it — once you start collecting those stars, you don’t want a negative review to knock down your average. But review gating isn’t the way to protect yourself.
Rather than gating reviews so that only happy customers can share their experience, focus on making everyone’s experience positive. Of course, you can’t please everyone — and that’s ok. A company that only has 5-star reviews is practically a unicorn.
When you do receive less than stellar feedback, be sure to respond and address any critiques. Learn more about responding to negative reviews here.
Boost Your Local SEO Presence
Struggling to get more Google reviews? Positive reviews not only drive sales but also benefit local SEO, so optimizing your request method is crucial to long-term growth. Book a free SEO consultation, and we’ll help you create a local SEO strategy that gets you there faster.
