Ask every customer, the same way, with nothing offered in return. Share your Google review link or QR code soon after the job is done. No discounts or gifts, no asking only the happy customers, and no reviews from staff or the owner.
What Google allows
Google says you can ask customers to leave a review by sharing a link or a QR code. Customers need to be signed in to a Google Account to post one.
What its content policy prohibits:
- Incentives. No payment, discounts, or free goods and services in exchange for a review. A prize draw for reviewers is an incentive too. The rule covers new reviews, changed reviews and removed reviews alike.
- Review gating. You can’t discourage negative reviews, or ask only satisfied customers. Sending everyone a satisfaction survey first, and the Google link only to those who answer well, is gating.
- Staff quotas. Google lists requiring staff to collect a set number of reviews among the things it does not allow.
- Conflicts of interest. No reviews from the owner, from employees, or from anyone else with a stake in the business.
Reviews that break these rules can be removed, and Google can restrict the profile. It isn’t worth it.
Get your review link and QR code
Every Business Profile has its own review link, and Google can turn it into a QR code. You find both in your Business Profile, under the option to ask for reviews. Google’s help page, linked above, has the current steps.
The link opens the review box directly. One tap, no searching for your business first. Use it everywhere you ask.
When to ask
Ask when the experience is fresh and complete: at the till, when the job is signed off, when the order has arrived. Not before the customer has what they paid for, and not weeks later.
Ask everyone at the same point, in the same way. That is what keeps it fair, and it is also what makes it work. A routine gets done. A judgement call gets skipped.
How to ask
In person
The simplest request is a person asking. One sentence is enough:
“If you have a minute, a Google review would really help us. The QR code is on your receipt.”
By email or text
“Thank you for choosing [business]. If you have a minute, we’d be grateful for a review on Google: [link]. Good or bad, we read every one.”
Check that you are allowed to send the message. In the EU and the UK, marketing by email or text generally needs consent or an existing customer relationship. Send one message, not a series.
On paper
Print the QR code on receipts, invoices, packaging, or a small card at the counter. Keep the wording neutral: “Review us on Google”, not “Give us five stars”.
What to expect
Most customers won’t leave a review, and that is normal. A steady trickle from real customers is the goal. It keeps your rating current, and it means one unfair review weighs less.
Some reviews will be critical. That is the price of asking everyone, and asking everyone is the only version Google allows. Reply to them well.
Occasionally a genuine review disappears. Google says its automated spam detection sometimes removes legitimate reviews by mistake, and that you can contact its support when that happens. See why Google reviews disappear.
If you want it set up for you
Our review request service sets up your review link, printable QR codes, message templates and a short script for your team. Fully compliant: no rewards, no filtering.