You should ask all of your clients for Google reviews. It can feel pushy and awkward at first, but the rewards for making it a habit can be amazing. 70% of customers will leave a review for a business if asked, and that can add up to hundreds of new reviews for you.
In this quick guide, you’ll find out how to request a Google review the right way. You’ll also see how the numbers back up the necessity of asking for reviews, learn a set of methods you can use, and discover how software could make it all the more effortless.
Key Takeaways
- Using software to automate your review requests can make this task effortless and stress-free.
- Google reviews matter for your business. The numbers prove that asking for Google reviews is worthwhile.
- There are many ways to ask for reviews. Learn some practices that remove the stress and awkwardness of this process.
Why Google Review Requests Matter for Business Owners
Google is the world’s largest search engine and review platform. Everyone who makes local or product searches will see these reviews prominently displayed, making them some of the most visible reviews you’ll ever collect.
In addition, Gmail remains the most popular email platform, with over 1.8 billion users worldwide. All these users already have a Google account, allowing them to leave reviews without extra steps.
Getting more positive Google reviews also improves your business’s visibility in local search rankings. Positive reviews show trustworthiness and authority, which Google recognizes when analyzing how much your business profile or map location serves their searchers.
With Google’s high traffic (both as a search engine and review platform), businesses need to establish an authoritative presence on Google by requesting reviews. There are a lot of ways you can get started.
Get More Google Reviews: 11 Effective Ways to Ask
Before you ask for Google reviews, remember to ask legally. You can learn more here about avoiding fraud and forbidden practices. Generally, you’re in the clear as long as you’re not asking for fake reviews or offering incentives only for the good ones. As long as you follow those rules, you can:
| Ask for Reviews Using Email | Customer email addresses are generally not hard to collect, and email is a non-intrusive method of communication. That makes email one of the easiest ways to request reviews. Your customers also prefer it; over half of US consumers prefer brands to contact them via email over other methods. The most important thing to include in a review request email is a link to your review page. This will make it quicker and easier for the customer to write a review, increasing your chances of receiving one. It’s also important to address the customer by name, thank them for using your business, and express why you value their feedback. Still, you want to keep your emails brief and to the point. Long-winded emails can obscure the purpose of your message and even make customers lose interest. Review Request Email Example Template “Hi, (name), Thank you for choosing our business; we hope you enjoyed our (product/service). If you have a spare moment, could you write a review? We love to hear our customers’ feedback! We look forward to serving you again. (Your name/business name)” |
| Ask for Reviews Using Social Media | With engaging content, platforms like Facebook are perfect for generating an online buzz around your brand. If you take the right approach to get Facebook reviews, you can also drive more business. There’s no harm in creating a Facebook post that asks for Google reviews or draws attention to your Google Business page. This is another effective way you can get more Google reviews, even without directly asking. In fact, Google Business Profile Marketing Kit is ideal for this purpose. The free marketing tools will help you to create professional, visually appealing content that links to your Google review page or showcases a particular customer review. What’s great about social media is the creativity you have at your fingertips: the use of media (images, videos) and the brand voice you can adopt when posting content and replying to comments. Overall, social media can be highly effective for asking for reviews directly and indirectly, as it gives you the ability to engage with customers in multiple ways. Social Media Review Request Post Example “We love hearing our customers’ feedback! Check out our great reviews and, while you’re at it, why not tell us about your experience?” |
| Ask for Reviews in Person | If your business involves interacting with customers in person, you might be glad to know that there’s nothing wrong with asking for reviews post-purchase. This can be a short, casual comment that either prompts the customer to write a review or lets them know that your business is on Google (and that they can, if they want to, write a review). Asking for customer reviews in person should be done after a completed transaction or service, and ideally as the last thing said, so that the customer leaves thinking about it. However, one downside is that you cannot verbally give the customer a link to your Google review page, at least not easily. There’s a good chance that the customer won’t remember it, either. Despite that, requesting a review in person doesn’t require much effort from you or your staff, so it’s worth doing nevertheless. In-Person Review Request Example “Just to let you know, we’re on Google if you would like to write us a review. Thank you again and hope to see you soon!” |
| Ask for Reviews With Store Banners | Letting your customers know you have a Google Business page can help you get more reviews, even if it doesn’t involve directly asking. One of the ways you can do this is by displaying Google Business banners, signs, or logos in your store or place of business. This sends one simple message to your customers: your business is on Google, so they can write a review for it if they want to. For customers who actively write reviews, noticing a banner or sign (displayed on the counter or your window, for example) can incentivize them to search for your business on Google and write a review. You might be glad to know that the Google Business Profile Marketing Kit can also help you create Google banners and logos, including posters and window stickers. You can design your banners with text that encourages customers to either write a review (“Review Our Business on Google”) or simply check out your business page (“We’re on Google!”). To showcase your online reputation to customers, you can even design your banners to incorporate your current star rating and the total number of Google reviews your business has received. |
| Ask for Reviews On Customer Receipts | Paper receipts and even order confirmation emails can be used to get more reviews on Google. Much like store signs and banners, displaying a small Google Business logo at the bottom of receipts and order emails is a simple but effective way to tell customers that your business is on Google. You can also include a short message to inspire action, such as: “How did we do? Write a review on Google!”. Not all customers will look at their receipts and order confirmation emails. However, for the customers who do, this is another way that you can draw attention to your Google Business Page to get more Google reviews. Receipt Review Request Template “Thank you for filling out our survey! Do you have any other thoughts to share? Help us recognize great team members or find areas to improve by leaving a review. Find our profile here: [link].” |
| Ask for Reviews With Feedback Surveys | Customer reviews are a form of customer feedback, and all feedback is essential for improving your business. It helps you to find out what your customers like (what needs to stay the same) and what your customers dislike (what needs to change or be improved). While customer reviews can offer valuable feedback, it’s up to the customer to choose what to write about. Reviews are not always ideal for collecting data, especially when you want feedback on something specific. That’s where feedback surveys come in, which you can leverage to ask your customers the questions you want answers to. Your questions can be about anything: your products, customer service, in-store experience, website, or social media content. You can design your feedback surveys to be short and simple or long and detailed, with multiple-choice answers or written answers. These can also be physical handouts or online questionnaires. However, no matter how you choose to design them, feedback surveys are another effective way to ask for a Google review, as you can close the survey with a small prompt, such as: Feedback Review Request Template “Thank you for filling out our survey. If you have another minute, please help us further by summarizing your feedback in a Google review.” |
| Ask for Reviews From Loyal Customers | If a customer uses your business for a second time or more, you’re definitely doing something right. If you notice this, it’s a prime opportunity to ask the customer for a Google review since there’s a good chance that their review will be positive. However, you can ask for a testimonial if the customer has already posted a Google review. Repeat customers are typically happy, so it’s well worth reaching out to them to ask if they can share their experience online. The same applies to customers who tag your business or products on social media, sign up for your email list after making a purchase, or refer a friend using a promo code. These are all signs of a positive experience, making them ideal opportunities to ask for a review. |
| Ask for Reviews Using Delivery Thank You Notes | Along with the customer’s product and order receipt, consider including a short thank-you note that ends with a review request. Most customers will appreciate this personal touch, which will increase their chances of writing a review for your business. This thank you note can be handwritten or printed, depending on how you want to present it. Either way, an example for how to word a thank you note and review request can be along the lines of: Thank You Note Review Request Template “Hi (name), we hope you enjoy your (product)! Feedback helps us improve our service for valued customers like yourself, so we would love to know your thoughts. Simply use the URL address below to share your experience – it only takes a minute! Thank you for ordering from (your business name).” |
| Ask for Reviews On Your Website | Embedding Google reviews on your website is the best way to make your website more professional, legitimize your products or services, and increase your business’s credibility. Showcasing customer reviews on your business website can serve the same purpose as testimonials: to back up the quality of the products or services you claim to provide while inspiring trust and confidence in new website visitors. With a professional Google reviews widget, you can display your best Google reviews on the website pages of your choice. This should be where potential customers are most likely to see them, such as on your homepage or products/services pages. The best Google reviews widgets will effortlessly pull in your most recent Google reviews, as well as directly link the review(s) and your Google Business page. This can engage potential customers and inspire returning customers to share their experience with your business in a review. Aside from using a reviews widget, you can also display a Google logo that links to your Google Business page, accompanied by a short message that asks for a review, such as: Website Review Request Template “Have you used our (products or services)? Write a review on our Google page!” |
| Ask for Reviews Using SMS | SMS, or text messages, are another effective way to reach out to your customers and ask for Google reviews. SMS has a 98% open rate compared to emails, as text messages are short and quick to read. As long as the customer has willingly provided their mobile number (for example, by signing up or filling in a form) and agreed to receive text messages from you, you can use SMS to ask for Google reviews. Despite being short, SMS review requests still require careful attention, as they need to be to the point (under 160 characters) yet friendly and persuasive to avoid being blunt or unengaging. SMS Review Request Example Template “Hi (name), thank you for choosing (business). If you have a minute, we would love to hear your feedback! Please tap the link to write a review: (URL).” |
Ask for Reviews Using Automated Review Requests
You can automate review requests to get more reviews. Sending emails and text messages to ask your customers for reviews has one thing in common: the process is manual and time-consuming. If your business deals with hundreds of customers per month, sending review requests is far too much to keep track of.
This is where automation can change your life. With a powerful review request tool like ReputationStacker, you won’t have to send review requests to customers manually; it will do it automatically. This will boost workflow efficiency and also increase the chance of getting reviews.
Automation is by far the easiest and most effective way to get more Google reviews, compared to any item on the list.
Start Getting More Google Reviews with ReputationStacker
Using a fully featured software is the most effective way to get more reviews on Google. It streamlines the entire process, making review requests automatic so you don’t have to experience an awkward moment.
ReputationStacker can effortlessly grow your business’s online reputation using a proven review funnel that increases your reviews. It works for Google, Facebook, and more.
Put simply, this is the most effective way to ask for Google reviews. You don’t even have to ask; ReputationStacker simply takes care of everything for you.
