When was the last time you chose a restaurant, hired a plumber, or booked a service without checking Google Reviews first? Exactly! Your customers are doing the same thing right now, and if your business doesn’t have reviews, you’re practically invisible.
If you run a business, it’s in your best interest to gather as many Google Reviews as possible. They’re one of the strongest trust signals people rely on before deciding where to spend their hard-earned money.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the six most effective tactics for collecting reviews that actually move the needle. But before we dive into how to get them, let’s take a closer look at why Google Reviews matter so much in the first place.
Let’s be honest, we all want to see our business with a sparkling five-star rating. But it’s not only the overall rating and the stars that matter.
Having lots of positive reviews on your Google Business Profile helps you rank higher when somebody is searching for services or products like yours. They also reveal what your customers really think about you and your business.
Let’s go over a few reasons why Google Reviews matter so much.
If you’re looking to promote your business locally, you definitely want it to be discoverable on Google and have positive reviews to push your business profile higher. Google highlights businesses with plenty of strong reviews, especially in local search results and on Maps.
Say you’re a salon owner. Positive reviews will help you rank for search queries like “salon near me,” making it easier for new customers to discover you. The same principle applies to any local business: the more reviews you collect, the more visible you become when people are searching nearby.
Shoppers trust other shoppers more than anything else.
BrightLocal’s 2025 survey found that 20% of consumers look for reviews from the past two weeks before trusting a business, and another 27% want to see reviews from the past month.
A steady stream of recent reviews shows your business is active, reliable, and delivering great service today, not just years ago.
Reviews double as free customer research.
They reveal what customers love most about your business and highlight areas that could use improvement. By paying attention to recurring themes in your feedback, you can make changes that boost satisfaction and generate even more positive reviews in the future.
Receiving reviews also helps you build trust with your customers. BrightLocal’s survey reveals that most consumers will not use a business unless it has an average rating of 4 stars or higher.
High ratings send a strong signal that you consistently deliver on your promises. Over time, that credibility makes it easier to attract new customers and turn first-time visitors into repeat ones.
Before you can start collecting reviews, you need to make sure your business shows up on Google.
Setting up a Google Business Profile is quick and free—and it’s your ticket to appearing on Google Search and Maps.
Here’s how to do it step by step:
1. Go to the setup page: Head to Google Business Profile and click Start now.
2. Enter your business name: Type your business name and click Continue.3. Choose your business type: Select whether you’re an online retail store, a local store, or a service business that visits customers. 4. Add your region: Choose the country where your business is based.
5. Fill in your business info: Add your services, contact details, website URL, and address if customers visit you in person.
6. Set your hours: Add your regular opening hours.
7. Write your business description: Tell people what you do in a clear, simple way. You have up to 750 characters—focus on your main services and what makes you different.8. Upload photos: Add a storefront photo so people can recognize your location. Upload photos of your space, products, or services to make your profile feel more real and help people know what to expect.
9. Verify your business: Google will ask you to verify. They do that usually by postcard, phone, or email. Complete this step to get your profile live.
Once verified, your profile is active and ready to collect reviews!
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💡 Pro tip: If you have holidays or days off throughout the year, add them as special hours in your profile. Otherwise, customers might show up at your doorstep only to find a handwritten “We’re closed” note. That’s a fast track to a 1-star review. |
Now that your Google Business Profile is live and polished, it’s time to actually fill it with reviews. Here are the most effective strategies you can start using today. 👇
One of the most popular ways to ask for a Google review is through a follow-up message after an appointment or service.
I’m sure you’ve received these yourself. I just had to glance at my inbox to find plenty of examples where businesses sent a quick “thanks for visiting, please leave us a review” email (see one below).
If you run a service business, a scheduling tool like YouCanBookMe (YCBM) makes this process effortless. YCBM automatically sends meeting confirmations, reminders, and follow-ups for every booking. And that follow-up email or SMS is the perfect place to drop in your Google Reviews link, so customers can leave feedback while their experience is still fresh.
“We set up an automation to send customers a pin code an hour before their booking. After the session ends, they automatically receive a thank-you message with a link to leave a Google review—and as an extra incentive, they get one free hour for their next booking.”
– Trisyia Irdina, Producer, Studio 5 Spaces
Another easy way to collect reviews is by placing a printed QR code at your front desk, checkout counter, or even on receipts that links directly to your Google review page. Customers can scan it with their phone and leave feedback in seconds, while their experience is still top of mind.
This tactic is free, apart from the cost of printing, and it works especially well for local businesses like salons, cafés, or fitness studios where people interact in person.
That’s exactly how Viewpoint Fitness collects their reviews. They placed a simple QR code at their front desk, shared it on social media, and reminded members how much their feedback matters.
The best way to get more 5-star reviews is to deliver service so good that customers can’t help but rave about it. Blow them away with small touches, consistency, and genuine care, and many will leave a glowing review without you even asking.
Don’t let your best reviews just sit on your Google Business Profile. Put them to work by sharing them on Instagram Stories, creating carousel posts with screenshots, or designing simple graphics to showcase customer praise. This is a free tactic that showcases your happy customers and encourages others to leave a review for the chance to be featured.
We do this at YouCanBookMe! We often share customer reviews on our social channels to show our appreciation and because we genuinely love hearing their feedback. See an example from Geraint Gardner below👇
Whether the feedback is glowing or difficult to read, make it a habit to reply to every review. Responding shows that you value your customers’ opinions and that you are paying attention. A quick thank you to someone who leaves five stars makes them feel appreciated and encourages repeat business.
Negative reviews are just as important to reply to. When you handle criticism with professionalism and empathy, you show potential customers that you take feedback seriously and are committed to improving their experience.
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👉 Received a negative review and not sure what to reply? Check out our guide to best practices on how to respond to negative reviews. |
Your Google Business Profile is not something you set up once and forget. Keeping it fresh shows that your business is active and engaged. Customers notice when a profile feels outdated, and Google does too.
Keep it fresh by updating:
Knowing how to ask clients for reviews is important, but choosing the right moment matters just as much. If you ask when the experience is still fresh, customers are more likely to leave feedback.
Here are some of the best times to ask:
Google Reviews are more than stars on a page. They are proof that your business delivers on its promises, and they influence whether new customers choose you or move on to someone else. The good news is you do not need a huge budget or a complicated plan to start. With just a few tactics, you can build steady momentum and turn happy customers into your biggest promoters.
If you run a service-based business, a tool like YouCanBookMe makes the whole process easier. It not only handles scheduling but also automates reminders and post-appointment follow-ups, giving you a simple way to collect feedback and encourage customers to leave reviews without extra effort.
Try YouCanBookMe for free today!