The habit that works
Plenty of happy customers never think to leave a review. They’d do it if asked, at the right moment, with a link that drops them straight onto the review form. That’s the whole method. Everything else is about making the ask easy and keeping it inside Google’s rules.
Google’s own tips boil down to one line: ask customers to visit a Google link or scan a QR code. The link and code come from your Business Profile, and Google suggests putting them on receipts, in thank-you emails, at the end of chat conversations and on a printed sign in your store.
Choose your moment
The best time to ask is when the customer has just experienced the good part. That differs by business:
- Restaurants and cafes: on the receipt or a table card, not mid-meal.
- Trades and home services: in the invoice email, after the job is signed off.
- Clinics and salons: in the appointment follow-up, a few hours later.
- Shops: a QR sign near the till, plus the link in any order emails.
Pick one moment and stick to it for everyone. Consistency is what keeps you clear of gating.
The moment also decides the channel. A customer who just paid at the counter will scan a code; one who booked online will tap a link in an email. Match the ask to where the customer already is, and keep it to one sentence and one link.
Google’s policy bans incentives, asking only happy customers, pressuring people on the premises and staff review quotas. The full list of banned asks is on our review gating page.
Make it easy to finish
Every extra tap loses people. The link from your profile opens the review form directly. Customers must be signed in to a Google Account to post, though Google says that account can use any email address, not just Gmail. If a regular customer says they couldn’t post, check that first.
Keep the conversation going
Replying to reviews, good and bad, shows future reviewers that someone reads them. Google’s tips suggest skipping identical thank-you notes and focusing on reviews where you can add something useful. A few thoughtful replies each week encourage more people to write in the first place.
If it doesn't work
- Customers say the link doesn't work: they must be signed in to a Google Account. A non-Gmail address is fine.
- Reviews come in and then vanish: a burst or pattern can trip Google's filters. Ask steadily rather than in a single push.
- You only want to send the link to happy customers: that's review gating, which Google's policy bans.
- Staff want targets: Google's policy names review quotas for staff as rating manipulation.
Questions owners ask
What should the ask actually say?
One plain sentence, the same for everyone, plus the link. Something like: 'If you have a minute, we'd appreciate a Google review. Here's the link.' Our advice is to leave out any hint about what rating to give or what to mention.
Should I send the link to a customer who complained?
Yes, if they're at the point in the visit where you ask everyone. Leaving them out is selective asking, which Google's policy bans as gating. If the complaint is still open, sort it out first, then send the same ask you'd send anyone.
How often should I ask?
Google doesn't give a schedule. Its policy flags unusual volumes or patterns of reviews, so a steady flow from asking everyone at the same point in their visit is safer than occasional pushes.
Is it OK to ask customers to review us while they're still in the shop?
You can mention it and point to the QR code. Google's policy says merchants shouldn't require or pressure users to leave ratings or reviews while on the premises, so avoid handing over a device or standing by while they write.
Sources
- Tips to get more reviews (support.google.com)
- Create a Google link or QR code to request reviews (support.google.com)
- Prohibited & restricted content (Maps user contributed content policy) (support.google.com)
Checked 13 Nov 2026. When the platform changes its process we update this page and log it in What changed.