How to Get Google Reviews for My Business in 2025?

Quick Answer: To get more Google reviews for your business, start by claiming and verifying your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business)so customers can find you on Google Maps and leave reviews. Next, actively encourage your happy customers to share their feedback. Make it as easy as possible – for example, share a direct link to your Google review page via email, text, or social media, or even generate a QR code that customers can scan to write a review. Let customers know that leaving a review only takes a minute and that their input helps others; a gentle reminder is often all it takes for them to act. Provide excellent service so that customers have positive experiences to write about, and ask for reviews shortly after a purchase or service when satisfaction is high. Be sure to respond to every review – thank customers for positive comments and professionally address negative feedback – as this shows you value their opinions and can encourage more people to share their own reviews. Finally, follow Google’s guidelines: don’t offer incentives or rewards for reviews and never purchase fake reviews (this can lead to penalties). By consistently requesting feedback and making the process simple, you’ll steadily build up genuine Google reviews for your business.

Why Google Reviews Matter for Your Business

Google reviews aren’t just nice-to-have accolades – they directly impact your business’s reputation and visibility. Consumer trust in online reviews is extremely high; in fact, 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. People often read multiple reviews before deciding on a business. And importantly, Google’s algorithm takes reviews into account as a local ranking factor – more frequent positive reviews can help your business appear higher in local search results. Positive reviews also make your listing stand out with a high star rating, providing instant social proof to anyone searching for your services. In short, Google reviews build credibility, improve local SEO, and drive more traffic and sales to your business.

1. Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile

The first step to getting Google reviews is ensuring you have an active Google Business Profile (GBP) listing (formerly known as Google My Business). Claim your business on Google Maps and complete the verification process. Only a verified profile allows customers to leave reviews (and lets you respond to them). Make sure your profile is fully filled out with accurate information – business name, address, phone, hours, and category – as well as plenty of photos and updates. A complete, up-to-date profile makes your business look professional and helps customers trust that your listing is legitimate: In fact, over 81% of people check Google reviews first when researching a local business:, so your profile needs to impress at first glance. Optimizing your GBP (adding attractive photos, responding to Q&As, posting updates, etc.) can encourage more engagement and ultimately more reviews from customers.

2. Provide Great Service and Ask at the Right Time

Earning glowing Google reviews starts with excellent customer experiences. Focus on delivering quality products or services and friendly customer service consistently – happy customers are more likely to become your reviewers. Timing matters: the best moment to request a review is immediately after a customer has a positive experience. If a customer expresses their satisfaction, thank them and politely ask if they’d share that feedback in a Google review. Emphasize that it’s quick to do and that their review will help others find your business. Most customers (about 86%) are willing to write a review when asked – often, all you need to do is ask. Be genuine and appreciative, not pushy, and you’ll start to see a steady increase in Google reviews.

3. Make It Easy: Create a Direct Review Link (and QR Code)

Customers are more likely to leave a review if you make the process as simple as possible. Google provides a way for business owners to generate a direct link to their review form. Through your Google Business Profile dashboard, you can generate a shareable review URL for your business. When a customer clicks this link, it takes them straight to the “Write a review” popup for your business – no need for them to manually search your name. Share this convenient link with your customers whenever you ask for a review. For instance, include the short URL in invoices, in follow-up emails, or on thank-you pages. You can even generate a QR code that points to the same link. QR codes are free to create and extremely handy for physical locations: print the QR code on a “Review Us” card, on receipts, or on a poster at your checkout counter. Customers can simply scan it with their phone and be taken directly to the review screen for your business. Google itself suggests sharing your review link (or QR code) and reminding customers that it’s quick to add a review. Removing unnecessary steps (friction) makes it more likely they’ll follow through and leave you a review on the spot.

4. Ask for Reviews via Email or SMS Follow-Ups

One of the most effective ways to get new Google reviews is through follow-up communications after a customer’s interaction. Leverage email and text messages to politely ask for feedback. For example, send a thank-you email a day or two after a purchase or service completion, expressing gratitude for their business and including a direct link to your Google review page. Google’s best practices recommend adding your review link in thank-you emails or chat messages with customers. Keep your message short and personal: thank the customer by name, say you value their feedback, and include a clear call-to-action like “Please share your experience on Google.” The same idea works via text message or messaging apps – a brief thank-you note with your review link can be very effective. In fact, about 69% of customers will leave a Google review when prompted directly with a link. The key is to be courteous and make the process one-click simple. One well-timed request is usually enough to generate a review. (And remember not to send too many reminders or you might annoy the customer.)

5. Leverage Your Website and Social Media

Think about all the places your customers engage with your business online – these are opportunities to encourage them to leave a Google review. On your website, make sure there’s an easy-to-find call-to-action for reviews. This could be a “Leave a Review” button or link on your homepage or contact page that leads directly to your Google review form. Some businesses even create a dedicated testimonials or reviews page on their site that showcases customer feedback and includes a prominent button for visitors to add their own Google review. Featuring real positive reviews on your site provides social proof to new customers and also nudges existing customers to contribute their feedback

On social media, periodically encourage your followers to review your business on Google. For example, post a thank-you message to customers and invite anyone who hasn’t reviewed yet to “leave a quick review on our Google Business page.” A smart approach is to share one of your 5-star reviews (for example, a short quote from a happy customer) and add a caption encouraging others to share their own feedback. Include your Google review link in the post to make it one-click easy for them. Also, consider adding your Google review link to your social media profile bios. By weaving review requests into the online places your customers already follow you, you keep a steady reminder of how much their feedback means to your business.

6. Encourage Reviews In-Store and Offline

If you run a brick-and-mortar business or interact with customers face-to-face, don’t miss the chance to ask for reviews in person. Train your staff to mention reviews during positive interactions with customers. A friendly prompt like, “If you have a moment, please leave us a quick Google review – it really helps!” can be very effective. Consider providing “Review Us” cards or flyers with a short URL or QR code to your Google review page. Customers can take one and leave a review later at their convenience. You can also print a QR code on receipts or display a poster by the counter asking customers to rate your business on Google. Often, customers won’t think to review you unless invited, but many are happy to do so when asked politely.

7. Respond to All Reviews (Show That You Care)

Many business owners focus only on getting new reviews, but what you do after receiving reviews is equally important. Taking the time to respond to every Google review – positive or negative – can actually help you get more reviews in the long run. When people see that you regularly reply to feedback, it signals that you truly value your customers’ opinions. In fact, 89% of consumers are more likely to choose a business that responds to its reviews. Being responsive not only engages those who already reviewed but also encourages others to write a review, knowing you’re paying attention. For positive feedback, always reply with a sincere thank-you. For negative reviews, respond promptly and professionally, addressing the issue and showing you want to make things right. This demonstrates to everyone that you care about customer satisfaction. Even a negative review, if handled gracefully, can turn into a positive impression of your business. Overall, an active, engaged owner fosters trust, leading to even more customers and feedback over time. Make it a habit to check for new Google reviews (you can receive alerts) and reply to each one promptly. This level of engagement can set you apart from competitors and keep the steady flow of reviews coming.

8. Avoid Fake Reviews or Incentives (Follow Google’s Guidelines)

While you’re working to gather more Google reviews, it’s crucial to stay within Google’s rules and ethical practices. Google’s Terms of Service strictly prohibit businesses from generating fake reviews or paying for reviews. This means you should never purchase fake Google reviews – not only is it unethical, but Google’s algorithms can detect fake patterns and may penalize your listing by removing reviews or worse. Likewise, do not offer discounts or incentives in exchange for reviews. That tactic also violates policy and can lead to reviews being removed. Moreover, fake or biased-looking reviews are often easy for customers to spot, hurting your credibility. Focus on genuine, organic reviews from real customers – these carry far more weight with readers (and with Google’s ranking system). If you do get an unfair or malicious review, you can flag it for Google to review.. But don’t obsess over a few bad comments – having a mix of ratings actually makes your profile look more trustworthy. By playing by the rules and not taking shady shortcuts, you’ll build a stable, positive reputation that won’t suddenly vanish from a Google crackdown.

Conclusion: Grow Your Reviews and Your Business

Boosting your Google reviews is an ongoing process, but it’s one that pays off in increased customer trust and improved online visibility. By claiming your profile, delivering great service, and consistently encouraging customers to share their feedback, you’ll create a virtuous cycle: more reviews will lead to more visibility and new customers, which in turn can lead to even more reviews. Remember to make the reviewing process easy, ask through various channels (without being pushy), and always show appreciation for every customer who takes the time to write a review. Over time, your business will build a strong collection of Google reviews that sets you apart.

If you’re looking for an extra boost in gathering reviews or need help managing the process, consider using a professional reviews support service. Our team offers a convenient Google Reviews enhancement service that can help streamline the review-gathering process (always focusing on genuine feedback) – a soft approach to jump-start your online reputation. Combined with the best practices above, this can accelerate your growth while keeping things authentic.

Written by Robiul Alam

Founder of BGR Services, Robiul is a trusted voice in review marketing and local SEO. With years of hands-on experience helping businesses grow through reputation and trust, he writes to guide others on how to ethically and effectively build their online presence in 2025.