Getting reviews
How to get more Google reviews without making the ask awkward
Build a simple review routine: when to ask, what to say, where to share your link and how to measure responses without confusing clicks with reviews.
A customer thanks you at the counter. You say goodbye. A week later, that conversation is still the best review your business has received—except nobody else can see it.
Getting more reviews starts with giving that conversation a next step. You need a clear invitation, a link that works and a routine your team can actually keep. Here is how to put those pieces together.
Ask when the customer has something specific to say
Match the request to the experience. For a haircut, that might be after the appointment. For a repair, wait until the customer has had a chance to check the result. Asking before someone has used your service leaves them with little to describe.
Choose one moment your team can recognise. ‘After the customer confirms the job is complete’ is easier to repeat than ‘whenever it feels right’. Invite honest feedback consistently, including from customers whose visit was imperfect.
Make one request, in ordinary language
Thank them for the visit, ask for their experience and give them one link. Avoid a paragraph about how hard you work or a request for five stars. The review belongs to the customer.
Adapt this example to the service they actually received. The bracketed fields are placeholders, not a finished message.
Example to adapt
Hi [first name], thanks for visiting [business] today. If you have a moment, would you share how it went? Your feedback helps us improve and helps others know what to expect: [review link]. Thank you, [your name].
Test the whole journey on a phone
Open the link as a customer would. Check that the right business appears, that the page is readable and that any QR code scans from the actual printed material. A correct destination is more valuable than a beautifully designed card that points to the wrong place.
Google provides a review link and QR code in Business Profile. Customers need to be signed into a Google Account to publish there. If someone cannot complete that step, a private comment can still help you improve the service.
Use a gentle reminder, then leave the decision with them
If a customer has agreed to hear from you, a short reminder may be appropriate. Decide in advance when to stop. Repeated messages can turn a small request into a chore.
Do not offer a discount, free item or prize in exchange for a Google review. Google prohibits incentives for reviews. Make the invitation about their experience, with no pressure about the rating.
Example to adapt
Hi [first name], just leaving the feedback link here in case it got buried: [link]. No problem if now isn't a good time. Thanks again for choosing [business].
Count completed actions, not hopeful assumptions
Keep a simple weekly record: requests sent, form opens, responses received and new reviews visible on Google. These are different steps. A click on a Google button does not prove that a review was published.
If few people open the link, look at the message and timing. If they open it but do not respond, try the form yourself. If responses arrive but Google reviews do not, check the handoff and the sign-in step. Change one part of the process at a time so you can learn from the result.
Where Sayso fits into the routine
Sayso gives you a shareable review form and QR code, a feedback inbox and a widget for testimonials you approve for your website. Starter includes one project and five responses per month, with up to ten testimonials in the website widget.
Growth and Scale add the option to continue to Google after submitting feedback. The customer still chooses whether to publish there. Start by sharing the link through a channel your customers already use and checking the journey from their side.
Put it into practice
Start with one service, one moment and one message. Test the link yourself, use it consistently and review what happens before adding more steps.
Sources and further reading
Give your next customer a way to tell you.
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