How to get more Google reviews, the right way

Why reviews matter

People check your Google reviews before they call or visit. Reviews appear next to your business on Google Maps and in search. A steady flow of recent reviews, with replies from you, shows that the business is open and cares.

Know Google's rules first

• Asking is allowed. You can ask customers to leave a review, and share a link or a QR code to make it easy.
• Incentives are not. Free or discounted goods or services in exchange for a review count as fake and misleading content under Google's rules.
• Reviews must be genuine. They must reflect a real experience. Never write, buy or swap reviews.

Seven ways to ask

1. Get your review link. Copy the review link or QR code from your Google Business Profile. Everything below uses it.
2. Ask at the right moment. Right after the haircut, the consultation or the delivery, while the experience is fresh.
3. Send the link on WhatsApp. A short, personal message with one tap to the review form works well in India.
4. Put the QR code where customers are. The counter, the bill, the packaging, the waiting room.
5. Ask every customer. Not only the ones you expect to be happy. You get a fairer picture, and no one is left out.
6. Keep the message short. Say thank you, say it takes a minute, and include the link. Write in the language your customer uses.
7. Make it a habit for your team. Decide who asks, when, and how. A request that depends on someone remembering will be missed.

Reply to every review

Replying is part of the job. Google's advice is to keep replies polite, short and relevant, to use the reviewer's name, and to reply quickly. Don't use a reply to advertise.

A reply to a good review

Thank you, Priya. We're glad the colour came out the way you wanted. See you at your next visit.

A reply to a bad review

Thank you for telling us, Rahul. We're sorry your order was late. We'd like to put this right. Please call us on the number on our profile and we will look into it.

• Acknowledge what went wrong. Don't argue.
• Say what you can do, and take the detail offline.
• Never share the reviewer's private details.
• If a review breaks Google's content policies, you can report it. Google decides whether it is removed.

Keep it going

Check for new reviews once a week and reply within a day or two. This is also where AI helps. It can send the review request after each visit, draft a reply in your tone for you to approve, and alert you when a review is negative.