How to get more Google reviews for your business, within Google's rules

To get more Google reviews, ask every customer at the moment they are happiest, make the review link one tap away, and reply to the reviews you already have. Do not offer anything in return and do not ask only the customers you expect to be positive, because Google's policy forbids both.

What Google's policy allows and forbids

Google's Maps user-contributed content policy says businesses may encourage reviews that reflect a genuine experience. It does not allow businesses to:

• offer incentives such as payment, discounts or free goods in exchange for reviews, or for changing or removing a negative one
• discourage negative reviews or selectively ask only happy customers, a practice often called review gating
• set staff targets for a number of reviews
• pressure people to review while they are on the premises, or ask for specific content
• post reviews from employees or anyone with a conflict of interest

Reviews posted because of an incentive are treated as rating manipulation and removed. In 2026 Google also banned asking customers to name staff in reviews; our post on the staff-name change covers it.

When to ask

Ask once the customer has had the result, not before. For a restaurant that is as the bill is paid; for a clinic, after the follow-up; for a trade, when the job is signed off. A short follow-up message the same day works better than one a week later.

How to ask

• Make the link short. Use the review link from your Google Business Profile and put it on receipts, emails and a QR code at the till.
• Ask everyone. Asking all customers keeps you within the policy and gives a truer picture of the business.
• Keep it plain. "If you have a minute, a Google review helps other people find us" is enough. Do not suggest what to write.
• Train staff to mention it without targets attached to them.

Reply to the reviews you already have

People are more likely to leave a review when they can see the business reads them. Reply to positive reviews briefly and personally; our 5-star reply examples help. For complaints, see how to respond to negative reviews.

For groups with several branches

Each branch has its own profile and its own link. Give each site its own QR code and check each branch's volume separately, because a group total can hide a site that has stopped asking. Loculens shows review counts and averages per branch in one dashboard and tracks which reviews still need a reply.

Related reading from Braivex

Businesses that hire for each site may want our guide to writing a UK job advert. If you want to share good customer stories on LinkedIn without inventing anything, see writing LinkedIn posts in your own voice.

Frequently asked questions

Can I offer a discount for a Google review?

No. Google's policy forbids incentives, and reviews given for one are removed.

Can I ask only happy customers?

No. Selectively asking for positive reviews is against Google's policy.

Can my staff leave reviews?

No. Reviews from current or former employees count as a conflict of interest.

Is a QR code allowed?

Yes, as long as you ask everyone and do not pressure people to review on the spot.

Next step

See every branch's review volume side by side with a 14-day trial at loculens.braivex.com.