How to get more Google reviews, without breaking the rules
Most businesses don't lack happy customers. They lack a moment and a method for asking. Here's both, plus the rules that get reviews deleted.
Ask at the right moment
- Services and trades: when you hand over the finished job, or in the text you send with the invoice.
- Restaurants and cafés: a stand on the table or at the register. Staff saying "if you enjoyed it, there's a QR on the table" roughly doubles scans.
- Clinics and offices: a card at checkout; a follow-up text the same day.
Make it one tap
A QR code or short link that opens the review box directly. Every extra step (searching for you, finding the button) loses people. Make the QR code, and send the same short link by text.
The words
Keep it to one line and make it easy to say no: "Thanks for choosing us. If you have a minute, a Google review helps us a lot: [link]."
The rules (reviews get removed for these)
- No rewards. No discounts, gifts or raffle entries for reviews.
- No gating. You can't ask only the customers you think are happy, or send unhappy ones to a private form instead.
- No writing reviews for people, on their phone or from your own accounts, and no buying reviews.
- No review stations in your business where many reviews come from one device or network. Google may flag them.
Google: Prohibited and restricted content (reviews) · checked Oct 2026
Reply to every review
Replies show future customers you're paying attention, and they're where you can politely set the record straight on an unfair one. Keep replies short and specific.