Most customers check reviews before they visit a shop, call a plumber or book a clinic. A steady flow of recent, genuine reviews is one of the best free ways to win new customers. Most happy customers will leave one if you ask at the right moment and make it easy.
Quick answer
- Get your review link from your Google Business Profile.
- Ask right after a good experience, in person or by message.
- Make it easy: send the direct link or show a QR code.
- Reply to every review, good and bad.
- Never buy reviews, write fake ones, or offer rewards for positive reviews.
Step 1: Get your review link
Open your Google Business Profile, find the Ask for reviews (or “Get more reviews”) option, and copy the link. Save it somewhere you can paste it quickly. Add it as a WhatsApp quick reply (e.g. /review).
Step 2: Ask at the right moment
- When the customer says “thank you” or compliments you
- Right after delivery or a completed job
- After a problem was solved well (these customers are often your biggest fans)
Step 3: Use a simple message
“Hi [name], thank you for choosing [business]! If you were happy with [service], would you mind leaving us a quick review? It really helps a small business like ours: [review link]. Thank you! 🙏”
Keep it short, personal and polite. Ask everyone, not only the customers you think will be positive.
Step 4: Make it easy everywhere
- QR code at your counter, on receipts, menus and packaging. See QR codes for business.
- Email signature: add “Happy with our service? Leave us a review.” See professional email signatures.
- Invoices and thank-you emails: add the link at the bottom.
- Follow-up message 1–3 days after purchase.
Step 5: Reply to every review
| Review | How to reply |
|---|---|
| ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Positive | Thank them by name, mention what they liked, and invite them back. Keep it short. |
| ⭐⭐⭐ Mixed | Thank them, acknowledge the issue, and say what you’re improving. |
| ⭐ Negative | Stay calm and polite. Apologize for their experience, don’t argue in public, and invite them to contact you directly to fix it. |
AI can help you write calm replies. See how to use AI to answer customer messages.
What not to do
- ❌ Buying reviews or using review services
- ❌ Writing reviews yourself, or asking staff and family to pose as customers
- ❌ Offering discounts or gifts in exchange for (positive) reviews
- ❌ Asking only happy customers while filtering out others (“review gating”)
- ❌ Arguing with or insulting reviewers
Google and other platforms can remove reviews or suspend profiles that break their rules. Fake reviews may also break consumer protection laws.
Turn reviews into marketing
- Share great reviews (with the customer’s first name only) on social media.
- Add a few real reviews to your website, with a link to your Google profile.
- Use common complaints as a free to-do list for improving your business.
Quick summary
- Ask every customer at the right moment, and make it one click with a link or QR code.
- Reply to every review, politely.
- Never fake, buy or reward reviews.