Get more reviews

How to Get More Google Reviews (and Ask Without Breaking the Rules)

How to ask for Google reviews: when to ask, where (in person, text, email, QR, NFC), the official review link, and what Google and the FTC prohibit.

By Oz IlyasFounder of Revys

Published October 19, 2026

Contents

Your customers are happy, but your Google Business Profile doesn't show it: a handful of reviews, and the newest one is from last spring. Most people will leave a review if you simply ask. The trick is asking at the right moment, with a link that takes them straight to the form, and without crossing the lines Google and the FTC have drawn.

Why ask for reviews instead of waiting?

Because asking is what moves the number. Happy customers rarely think to review on their own; unhappy ones are more motivated. If you don't ask, your profile mostly reflects the extremes.

83%

of consumers who were asked to leave a review went on to leave one. 78% said a business had asked them for feedback in the past 12 months, and 28% say they "always" write a review when asked.

(BrightLocal, Local Consumer Review Survey 2026 (1,002 US adults))

Google says the same thing in plainer terms: remind customers to leave reviews, and give them a link or QR code to do it.

When should you ask for a Google review?

Right after the customer sees the result, not before. That's when the experience is fresh and the ask feels natural.

Business	Best moment	Most natural channel
Restaurant, coffee shop	When you bring the check	In person + QR code on the table or check presenter
Retail store	At checkout	In person + counter QR code, link on the receipt
Auto repair	When you hand back the keys	In person, then a text the same day
Home services, contractors	At the final walkthrough	In person, then text or email with the invoice
Dental, salon, wellness	At the end of the appointment	QR code at the front desk, text the next day
Ecommerce	A few days after delivery	Email
Hotel, vacation rental	At checkout	In person, then email after the stay

Two rules of thumb: send written requests the same day or the next, and follow up once, a few days later. More than that starts to feel like nagging.

What link should you send customers?

The official link that opens your review form directly, not your Google Maps listing. Customers land on the "write a review" window, which removes a step and gets you more reviews.

Get it from your Business Profile
On a computer, go to your Business Profile, select Read reviews, then Get more reviews. Copy the link, or right-click the QR code and choose "Save image as…". Google notes that review QR codes can currently only be generated from a desktop browser.
Or use a generator
Our free Google review link generator finds your business and gives you the official review-form link, ready to paste into a text, an email or your email signature. If customers aren't sure how to do it, send them our step-by-step guide on how to leave a Google review on a computer, Android or iPhone.
Test it before you share it
Open the link on your phone in a private window. The review form should open on your business. A sign-in prompt is normal: Google requires a Google account to post a review.

In Revys, every connected profile gets its review link and a QR code (SVG and PNG), including on the free plan.

How do you ask customers for a Google review?

Wherever you're already talking to them. Google's help center lists receipts, thank-you emails, the end of a chat, and a printed sign in your store.

In person

The most effective channel, and the most underused. One line is enough: "If you were happy with us today, a Google review really helps. The QR code's right here." Train the whole team to say it to every customer, not just the chatty ones.

On receipts and invoices

Print the QR code and one short line at the bottom of the receipt or invoice. The customer is holding it at exactly the right moment.

By text message

The most direct option for service businesses (auto repair, home services, salons, dental). Keep it short: their name, your business, the link, done. Stay under 160 characters so it goes out as a single message. We've written review request text and email templates you can copy.

By email

A good fit for ecommerce, booked services and B2B clients. A clear subject line, three sentences, one button. Don't bury the request in a newsletter between two promotions.

QR codes, signs and NFC cards

A counter sign, table tent or window sticker with a QR code: our Google review QR code generator makes the code and a printable poster. NFC cards and stands (customers tap their phone) do the same job with a different gesture; they have real limits, covered in our guide to Google review NFC cards vs QR codes.

Email signature and messaging apps

Add a "Review us on Google" line with the link to everyone's email signature. Google's Get more reviews window also lets you share the request by WhatsApp or as a Facebook post.

The same link for every customer, happy or not.
A direct link to the review form, tested on mobile.
A verbal ask from the whole team, every time.
A QR code where customers wait (checkout, tables, front desk).
A written request the same day or next, with one follow-up at most.
No rewards, no scripted wording.

What does Google prohibit when you ask for reviews?

Three things, all spelled out in Google Maps' prohibited content policy: paying or rewarding reviewers, filtering customers, and steering what they write.

Practice	Allowed?	What Google's policy says
Asking every customer for a review	Yes	Google recommends it, with a link or QR code
Discount, freebie or prize drawing for a review	No	Merchants may not "offer incentives – such as payment, discounts, free goods and/or services - in exchange for posting any review"
Asking only happy customers	No	Merchants may not "selectively solicit positive reviews from customers"
Discouraging negative reviews	No	Merchants may not "discourage or prohibit negative reviews"
Asking for specific wording (a staff name, a keyword)	No	Merchants shouldn't "request that specific content be included"
Reviews from staff, family or an agency	No	"Content that is based on a conflict of interest"

Reviews that break these rules can be removed, and Google can restrict the profile.

Review gating: the trap built into many tools

Plenty of review request tools start with a "How did we do?" screen. Customers who tap 4 or 5 stars are sent to Google; everyone else goes to a private feedback form. That's review gating, and it's exactly the selective solicitation Google prohibits.

You can give every customer a way to contact you about a problem. But the Google review link has to go to everyone, including the customer who just complained.

What does the FTC rule say about reviews?

The FTC's Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule (16 CFR Part 465) took effect on October 21, 2024. Among other things, it prohibits fake reviews, buying reviews that are conditioned on being positive (or negative), certain undisclosed reviews by insiders, and suppressing reviews through intimidation or false accusations. Courts can impose civil penalties for knowing violations.

Two nuances matter for small businesses:

Incentives. The FTC rule doesn't ban every incentive, only those that require or imply a particular sentiment. Google's policy is stricter: no incentive of any kind for a Google review. For Google, follow Google.
Review gating. The FTC says the rule has no specific ban on it, but warns the practice could still violate the FTC Act. Google bans it outright.

We go deeper into enforcement and how to report fake reviews in our guide to fake Google reviews.

What rules apply to review request texts and emails?

Keep it to real customers, say who you are, and make opting out easy. A review request that's purely about a service the customer just received is usually treated differently from marketing, but mixing in promotions can change that under CAN-SPAM and the TCPA. Our templates page links to the FTC and FCC guidance. If you're unsure, check with counsel.

What should you do once reviews come in?

Reply, then put them to work. Both matter as much as collecting.

Reply to every review
Thank positive reviewers with one specific detail; handle negative ones calmly and offer a fix. Google recommends replies that are polite, brief and relevant, without sales pitches. The full method: how to respond to Google reviews.
Save time on replies
When volume grows, Revys AI review replies (Pro plan) draft a response in the tone you choose. You approve it, or it posts automatically after a delay, and negative reviews can stay in manual approval.
Show them on your website
Fresh reviews also persuade the people visiting your site. The Revys Google reviews widget puts them in your page's HTML, refreshed nightly and readable by Google and AI crawlers (WordPress plugin or server include).

What Revys does, and what it doesn't

For each connected Google Business Profile, Revys gives you the direct link to your review form and a printable QR code. It doesn't filter customers or offer rewards: one link for everyone, the way Google requires.

What it doesn't do today: send review request texts or emails for you, or sell NFC cards. You keep your usual sending tool (POS, booking software, CRM) and paste the link into it.

FAQ

How can I increase my Google reviews fast?

Ask every customer, every time, with a direct link to your review form. Start with what you already have: a verbal ask at checkout, a QR code at the counter, and a short text or email the same day. There's no legitimate shortcut beyond asking more people more consistently.

Is it legal to buy Google reviews?

No. Fake reviews break Google's policies, and in the US the FTC's Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule (in effect since October 21, 2024) prohibits buying fake reviews and lets courts impose civil penalties for knowing violations. Google can also remove the reviews and restrict your profile.

Can I offer a discount for a Google review?

Not for Google reviews. The FTC rule allows some incentives if they don't depend on the review being positive, but Google's own policy bans any incentive, including payment, discounts, and free goods or services, in exchange for a review.

How do you politely ask for a review?

Keep it short and personal: thank them by name, say a review helps a small business, and give them the direct link. For example: 'Thanks for coming in today, Sam. If you have a minute, a Google review really helps us: [link]'.

Can I only ask happy customers for reviews?

No. Google prohibits selectively soliciting positive reviews. A survey that sends happy customers to Google and unhappy ones to a private form is review gating. Send the same link to everyone.

Do customers need a Google account to leave a review?

Yes. Google requires reviewers to be signed in to a Google account. The account can use any email address, not just Gmail.

How many 5-star reviews do I need to raise my rating?

It depends on how many reviews you already have and your current average: the more reviews you have, the more it takes to move the number. A steady flow of new reviews works better than a one-off push.