Why do Google reviews matter?
They help you show up on Google Maps, and they help people decide to call you. Google says the number of reviews you have is part of how it ranks local businesses, and that more reviews and positive ratings can help.
They also send people to your website. In BrightLocal's 2026 survey, 54% of people said they go to a business's website after reading positive reviews.
How do I get my Google review link?
Sign in to your Google Business Profile on a computer, choose Read reviews, then Get more reviews. You'll see a short link you can copy and a QR code you can download.
Google only makes the QR code on a computer, not on a phone. Once you've saved it, you can print it or use it anywhere.
When and how should I ask for a review?
Ask every customer soon after the job, while it's fresh, and send the link so leaving a review takes one tap.
- Ask in person when you finish, then text the link the same day.
- Add the link to your invoices, receipts, and thank-you emails.
- Put the QR code at your counter, on a card you leave behind, or on your truck.
- Keep the request short. One sentence and the link is enough.
A text like this works:
Hi Sam, thanks for choosing Oak Street Plumbing today. If you have a minute, a quick Google review would really help us: [your review link]
Send it to every customer, not just the ones you think loved you. That's one of Google's rules.
What doesn't Google allow when asking for reviews?
Google doesn't allow rewards for reviews, asking only happy customers, or reviews that don't come from a real customer experience. Reviews that break these rules can be removed.
- No rewards. Don't offer money, a discount, or anything free in exchange for a review, even if you don't ask for a good one.
- No picking who gets asked. Don't ask only customers you think are happy, and don't send unhappy customers somewhere else first. This is often called review gating.
- No reviews from inside the business. Owners and employees shouldn't review their own business, and no one should review a visit that didn't happen.
- No staff quotas or name requests. Since April 2026, Google doesn't allow businesses to give staff a review quota or have them ask customers to mention them by name. Customers can still name someone on their own.
- No deals to change a bad review. Don't offer anything in exchange for editing or removing a negative review.
Ask steadily after each job instead of all at once. Google treats unusual bursts of reviews as a possible sign of manipulation, so a sudden batch can get filtered.
Paying for fake reviews is also against federal law. A Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule banning fake reviews took effect in October 2024.
How should I reply to Google reviews?
Reply to every review you can, good and bad, and keep it short. Google says replying shows customers you value their feedback, and the reviewer gets a notification when you reply. You need a verified profile to reply.
- Good reviews: thank them by name and mention the job if you can, like “Glad the new water heater is working well.”
- Bad reviews: stay calm, say you're sorry about their experience, and give a phone number or email to sort it out. Don't argue in public. People reading later will see how you handled it.
- Reviews that break the rules: if a review is fake, from a competitor, or not about your business, report it from your Business Profile. Google won't remove a review just because it's negative.
Never share private details about a customer in a reply, like what they bought or what you did for them.