How to Get More Google Reviews for Your Business

Do you know that over 80% of people read online reviews before making a purchase decision?

Yes, today’s customers often trust Google reviews just as much as personal recommendations. 

So, if you aren’t actively working to get more Google reviews, you’re actually missing out on new customers, better rankings, and higher revenue.

I’m sure that’s the last thing you want for your business. Never let another customer slip through your fingers. Start collecting Google reviews the right way.

Check out the 13 best strategies to get more Google reviews to attract more customers and boost your profits incredibly.

Why Google Reviews Matter

Here’s a look at the specific reasons why getting more Google reviews is important for your business.

Establish Trust

Your prospects become your customers only when they start trusting you.

For businesses, particularly those that are new or lack widespread brand recognition, a consistent stream of positive Google reviews acts as immediate validation.

Showcasing authentic customer reviews fosters an environment of transparency and helps build trust.

That said, getting more Google reviews signals legitimacy and trust, encouraging your potential customers to make a purchase. 

More Reviews, More Leads

Google reviews are modern-day word-of-mouth. The more reviews you get, the more credible you look to potential customers. 

Suppose you are looking for the best restaurant to dine out. Restaurant A has 100+ 5-Star Google reviews and Restaurant B has only 10+ reviews. It’s a no-brainer that you will choose restaurant A. That’s the potential of reviews.

Getting more positive Google reviews not only builds trust but also prompts your customers to make quicker decisions. 

Higher Local Rankings

Businesses with more reviews and higher ratings are more likely to show up in the Local Pack, the top 3 map results users see when searching for local businesses.

The velocity of reviews also matters. Google favors businesses that consistently gather fresh feedback over those with stagnant profiles. That said, you need a steady stream of quality reviews coming in.

Making it to Google’s enhanced local search results means more visibility and lead generation for your business.

Increased Sales and Revenue

Positive reviews don’t just drive traffic. They actually drive conversions. 

Yes, according to a recent study, a business with 25+ recent reviews can generate over 100% more revenue.

When customers see a strong rating with good reviews alongside your listing, they are more likely to choose you over your competitors.

13 Ways to Get More Google Reviews for Your Local Business

Now to the most important question: how to get more Google reviews? Check out the practical tips below.

1. Claim and Verify Your Google Business Profile (GBP)

Before you do anything else, make sure you claim and verify your Google Business Profile. Your GBP gives you the ability to respond to reviews, appear on Maps, and manage how your business shows up on Google.

A verified profile builds credibility and trust right from the first glance. Google has reported that businesses with complete GBP profiles get 70% more location visits and 50% more conversions than those without.

At Stan Ventures, the first thing we do when a client signs up for our Google My Business Optimization service is to ensure they have a verified GBP. In the process, we have spotted several accounts that weren’t verified or had wrong NAP details, which could harm SEO more than not having a GBP account. That’s why we always fix this before going to the next step.

2. Know Google’s Review Solicitation Policies

Google has specific guidelines in place for soliciting reviews.

You can ask for reviews. But you can’t offer discounts or freebies in return. Google strictly prohibits incentivizing reviews, gating feedback, or faking reviews.

Violating Google’s guidelines can affect your online visibility and local search rankings.

That’s why we ensure Google’s ethical guidelines are followed when managing our clients’ GBP accounts, ensuring they stay compliant and protected from penalties such as temporary or permanent suspensions.

3. Create a Google Review Link

Don’t make your customers search for you to write a Google review. Give them a direct path by creating a Google review link. This way, they can land directly on your review page by just clicking on the link.

You can include this link in emails, SMS, social media bios, and anywhere else your customers interact with you.

4. Leverage Link Shorteners

Long URLs can look messy, especially on printed materials, SMS or emails. 

Use tools like Bitly to shorten your Google review link to enhance user experience and attract more reviews for your business.

5. Generate a Google Review QR Code

By generating your Google review QR code, you make it easier for your customers to scan and leave a review on the go.

You can print your Google review QR code on receipts, thank-you cards, flyers, or even display them at your checkout counter. The easier you make it, the more Google reviews you get.

6. Respond to Existing Reviews

According to a study by BrightLocal, 88% of consumers prefer businesses that reply to all their reviews.

Also, according to a Harvard Business Review study, businesses that reply to reviews get 12% more new reviews than those that don’t.

Connecting the dots, responding to reviews can significantly influence both customer acquisition and satisfaction.

Responding to both positive and negative reviews is a sign that you value customer feedback and care about their satisfaction.

This can improve trust, bolster your SEO and help you get more Google reviews.

ALERT: Toxic fake reviews can reverse the impact created by real positive reviews and silently kill your online reputation.

If you suspect a fake review, report it from your Google Business Profile.  If Google doesn’t remove it, you can appeal using their Reviews Management Tool. 

Meanwhile, post a professional response stating you have no record of the corresponding reviewer to maintain trust with future customers.

At Stan Ventures, we help our clients weed out fake reviews seamlessly by handling the end-to-end process on their behalf.

7. Add a Google Review Page on Your Website

Have a dedicated Google review page on your website to showcase existing reviews and encourage new ones. 

In fact, studies suggest that 83% of users find businesses with user-generated reviews displayed on their landing pages to be trustworthy. 

Make sure you add the testimonials in text form and not screenshots. This allows Google to better understand the content when crawling your page. Plus, text-based testimonials create natural keyword opportunities, improving your chances of ranking for relevant transactional queries.

8. Place Google Review CTA in Footer

Consider adding a clear CTA  like “Leave a Google Review” pointing to your Google Business Profile at your website’s footer.

This way, it will be visible on every page of your website gently reminding them to write Google reviews, without being intrusive or affecting user experience.

9. Run Email Campaigns to Get Google Reviews

Follow-up emails are a great way to get customer feedback. Set up automated emails a few days after every sale asking your customers for feedback. Remember, timing matters. 3 to 7 days after sales is often the sweet spot.

Make sure the emails are short and to the point. Use simple language like “We’d love your feedback” or “Share your experience with us.”

You can also schedule a second follow-up if the first one didn’t result in a review. In that case, ensure you keep it polite and low-key. 

10. Feature a Google Review Explainer Video

Sometimes, customers need a little guidance. Create a short video explaining how to leave a review to encourage your existing customers to rate and review their experience with you. 

Embed the explainer video in relevant places on your website, in follow-up emails, or even share it on social media.

11. Include Google Review Link in Your Email Signature

Leverage every fair way to ask for Google reviews, even your email signature.

When you send emails to your existing customers, make sure you add a one-liner like “Loved our services? Leave us a review!” in your email signature along with the review link. 

It’s a passive yet powerful way to collect reviews in the long run. This strategy works especially well across sales and customer support teams.

12. Use Review Management Tools

Review management tools are a must-have, especially if you run a multi-location business. 

These tools can automate review requests, monitor new feedback and allow you to manage your online reviews seamlessly.

You can use tools like SEMRush, Birdeye, Podium and GatherUp to save time while ensuring efficient review management across locations.

13. Leverage Social Media

Share positive reviews for your business on your official social media handles to encourage your followers to write their reviews. Consider running an engaging social media series like “Review of the Week” to keep it going.

Engage with users who tag you positively and create a ripple effect that complements your business across social networking platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and more. This is, in fact, a strategy we implement to drive results for our clients, and it works.

Google reviews can be your business’s best friend or its biggest blind spot. How you handle them makes a big difference.

You can magnetize genuine customer feedback that fosters SEO and business growth if you know how to get more Google reviews ethically.

Put the above tips into practice to keep more Google reviews coming in and let your happy customers become your brand ambassadors.

Need professional help to get more Google reviews for your business? Contact us to get a bigger picture of our dedicated Google My Business Optimization service.