10 Proven Strategies to Get More Google Reviews for Your Business

If you’re serious about building trust and outranking competitors, this is the playbook you need. Read on and start getting more 5-star reviews today. 🚀

Why Google Reviews Matter More Than Ever

Let’s cut to the chase: Google reviews are your business’s secret weapon. They shape your reputation, boost your visibility, and drive customers through your door (or to your checkout page).

Here’s the deal: 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. And 97% of people read reviews before making a purchase. That means if you’re not actively collecting and managing reviews, you’re leaving money on the table.

But here’s the best part: getting more Google reviews isn’t rocket science. It just takes a few proven, repeatable strategies that work. Let’s break them down.

How People Search for Local Businesses

Most people looking for a local business type in searches like:

🔹 “insurance near me”

🔹 “realtor near me”

🔹 “marriage lawyer near me”

And what pops up first? Google’s Map Pack. This is the section with a list of businesses, pinned locations on Google Maps, and star ratings displayed front and center.

Here’s what happens next:

1️⃣ Users skim the star ratings right after the business name.

2️⃣ They usually click on the business with the most reviews—even if it’s not ranked first.

3️⃣ They read the reviews before making a decision.

Bottom line? Google Reviews aren’t just for credibility—they directly impact whether customers click on your business or your competitor’s.

1️⃣ Just Ask—Yes, It’s That Simple

We get it, it can feel weird to ask for a review sometimes. But it doesn’t have to. A short and to-the-point prompt at the end of the transaction can make all the difference.

✅ 20% of customers will leave a review if you just ask.

✅ 40% will do it if they had a great experience.

✅ Even more will leave a review if you make it ridiculously easy.

How to do it:

Have door signs, tabletop displays, and coasters in your point of sale asking for a review with a QR code or NFC technology so customers can leave a review by simply scanning or tapping their phone.

Ask customers face-to-face right after a purchase or service.

Train your staff to ask politely: “We’d love your feedback! Would you mind leaving us a Google review?”

Add review requests to invoices, receipts, or packaging.

💡 Pro Tip: Don’t ask for “positive” reviews—just honest ones. It makes your business more credible, and Google frowns on asking only for good reviews.

2️⃣ Automate Review Requests (Set It & Forget It)

Why rely on memory when you can automate the process? Set up a system that sends review requests right after a transaction—when the experience is still fresh.

✅ Use SMS or email automation to request reviews (97% of texts are opened within minutes!).

✅ Trigger review requests post-purchase via CRM tools like HubSpot, ActiveCampaign OR a checkout process like Square, Stripe or Paypal.

✅ Make the process one-click easy—no searching, no logging in, just a direct link.

💡 Pro Tip: Time it right. Send review requests within 24 hours of a purchase or service. Any longer, and customers forget.

3️⃣ Build a Review Landing Page (Like Opinion Marketing’s)

Want more reviews? Make the process effortless. Opinion Marketing uses a review landing page with built-in review link protection to ensure customers have a seamless, secure experience.

✅ A dedicated review landing page removes all friction.

✅ Prevents negative reviews from going public (by directing unhappy customers to private feedback first).

✅ Gives customers a direct path to leaving a 5-star review on Google.

How to do it:

Use a branded review page that collects and redirects customer feedback efficiently.

Include a Google review link, testimonials, and a simple CTA.

Add Review Link Protection to safeguard your reputation while encouraging real customer feedback.

💡 Pro Tip: If you don’t have a review landing page, Opinion Marketing’s solution is a game-changer. Use it to increase Google reviews while protecting your brand.

4️⃣ Leverage Text Messaging, Email, or WhatsApp

People ignore emails but read texts instantly. That’s why SMS, WhatsApp, and email review requests work like a charm. A reputation management software like Opinion Marketing gives you the ability to send review requests through all these channels at once, ensuring that no opportunity is missed. With automation, you can engage customers on their preferred platform—whether it’s a quick SMS, a WhatsApp message, or an email follow-up—making it effortless for them to leave a review with just one click.

✅ 97% of text messages are opened within 3 minutes.

✅ Response rates are 8x higher than email.

✅ Simple, fast, and non-intrusive.

How to do it:

Send a friendly, personalized text:“Hey [Name]! Thanks for choosing us. If you had a great experience, we’d love your review: [Google Review Link].”

Keep it short. No one wants to read a novel.

💡 Pro Tip: Use SMS automation tools like Twilio, SimpleTexting, or Podium to scale this.

5️⃣ Ask in Person (and Make It a Habit)

Your team should be trained to ask for reviews—every single day. It should be part of your culture.

✅ Make it standard practice at checkout or after a service.

✅ Have staff mention it during positive interactions.

✅ Offer a simple way for customers to leave a review on the spot.

💡 Pro Tip: Set team incentives—reward employees when they hit a monthly review goal.

6️⃣ Incentivize Reviews (Without Breaking Google’s Rules)

Can you offer rewards for reviews? Sort of. Google prohibits paying for reviews, but you can encourage engagement by making it fun.

✅ Run a giveaway: “Leave a review this month for a chance to win [prize]!”

✅ Offer a bonus for photos/videos in reviews (e.g., a discount on their next visit).

✅ Make it gamified—show a leaderboard of top customer reviews on social media.

💡 Pro Tip: Never buy fake reviews. Google can detect them, and it tanks your credibility.

7️⃣ Feature Reviews in Your Marketing

Want more reviews? Make your existing ones highly visible.

✅ Share top reviews on social media (Instagram Stories, Facebook, LinkedIn).

✅ Showcase them on your website (dedicated testimonial page + homepage).

✅ Feature reviews in ads & email campaigns—they add trust.

💡 Pro Tip: Shout out customers who leave great reviews—it encourages more people to do the same.

8️⃣ Feature Reviews in Your Website with Widgets

Want more reviews? Make your existing ones highly visible.

✅ Share top reviews on social media (Instagram Stories, Facebook, LinkedIn).

✅ Showcase them on your website (dedicated testimonial page + homepage).

✅ Feature reviews in ads & email campaigns—they add trust.

✅ Showcase your great reviews on your website or social media using Opinion Marketing's Website Widgets.

Carousel Widget. Find the perfect presentation for your reviews on your website with this sleek and modern option, which showcases 3 reviews on desktops and 1 on mobile, with easy navigation for users to see them all. It also displays your overall star rating and allows visitors to leave a review themselves.

Feed Widget. Similar to a social media feed, this layout displays your platform ratings and all your reviews in a clean column format. Ideal for any website with a reviews landing page.

Pop-Up Widget. Keep your website dynamic and engaging with Opinion’s Live Pop-Up Display. This widget automatically showcases a new customer review every 20 seconds, creating a subtle yet powerful form of social proof.

✅ Captures attention without being intrusive

✅ Builds trust instantly by highlighting real customer experiences

✅ Encourages visitors to take action—because they see others already have

Turn passive visitors into confident customers. Let your reviews do the talking. Effortless Website Integration. Adding widgets to your website is a breeze. Simply copy the provided HTML code and paste it into your website. We’re happy to help if you encounter any issues during installation.

💡 Pro Tip: Shout out customers who leave great reviews—it encourages more people to do the same.

9️⃣ Respond to Every Review (Yes, Even the Bad Ones)

If you ignore reviews, customers assume you don’t care.

✅ Reply to every single review—good or bad.

✅ Personalize responses (don’t just copy-paste generic replies).

✅ Turn bad reviews into wins—acknowledge, apologize, and offer solutions.

💡 Pro Tip: Engaging with reviews boosts SEO—Google rewards active businesses.

🔟 Build a Review-First Culture

If reviews aren’t a priority for your team, they won’t be a priority for your customers.

✅ Train employees to ask for reviews every day.

✅ Set monthly review goals (make it a KPI).

✅ Make it part of your customer service playbook.

💡 Pro Tip: Recognize & reward team members who bring in the most rev

Final Thoughts: Your Move

Your next steps? 👇

✅ Set up a review landing page with Review Link Protection (like Opinion Marketing’s).

✅ Pick 2-3 strategies from this list and start implementing them TODAY.

✅ Measure what works—and double down.

Now go get those reviews. 🚀

Reputation Marketing vs. Reputation Management: What’s the Difference?