Google Reviews are the single most important factor for local businesses looking to attract new customers. With 93% of consumers reading online reviews before visiting a business, your Google review profile is often the first impression you make.
1. Ask at the Right Moment
Timing is everything. The best time to ask for a review is immediately after a positive experience — when the customer is still feeling great about your service. For restaurants, that is right after the meal. For service businesses, it is right after the job is done well.
2. Automate Your Review Requests
Manual follow-ups are inconsistent and time-consuming. An automated system sends personalized review requests via email or SMS after every customer interaction, ensuring you never miss an opportunity.
3. Use Multi-Step Follow-Ups
Not every customer responds to the first ask. A multi-step follow-up sequence with 2-3 gentle reminders can increase your response rate by 40% or more.
4. Make It Easy With Direct Links
Every extra click reduces your response rate. Provide a direct link that opens the Google review form — no searching, no navigating. One tap and they are writing their review.
5. Use QR Codes for In-Person
For brick-and-mortar businesses, branded QR codes on receipts, table tents, or counter cards let customers scan and review immediately while the experience is fresh.
6. Respond to Every Review
Businesses that respond to reviews get 12% more reviews on average. It shows potential reviewers that their feedback is valued. AI-powered auto-reply tools can handle this automatically.
7. Use a Sentiment Gate
A sentiment gate asks customers how their experience was before directing them to leave a public review. Happy customers go to Google; unhappy ones get a private feedback form so you can resolve issues first.
8. Drip Past Customer Lists
Upload your past customer list and send requests over time — not all at once. This creates natural-looking review growth that Google rewards, and typically converts 10-15% of your past customers into reviewers.
9. Leverage NFC Tap Cards
NFC-enabled tap cards let customers tap their phone against a card to open your review page instantly. No typing URLs, no scanning — just tap and review.
10. Track and Optimize
Monitor which channels, templates, and timing generate the most reviews. Use analytics to continuously improve your approach and maximize your review volume.
Key Takeaway
The businesses that get the most Google reviews are the ones with a system — not the ones that ask occasionally. Automate your requests, follow up consistently, and make it as easy as possible for happy customers to share their experience.