How to Get More Google Reviews for Your Business in 2026
More reviews mean more customers. It's that simple. Businesses with 50+ Google reviews get 266% more leads than those with fewer than 10. Your review count and average rating directly influence whether someone clicks on your listing or scrolls to a competitor.
But most businesses struggle to consistently collect reviews. Customers intend to leave one and forget. Staff feel awkward asking. The process is too many steps.
Here's how to fix that.
Make It Ridiculously Easy
The #1 reason customers don't leave reviews is friction. They have to find your business on Google, tap "Write a review," sign in, and type something. Every extra step loses people.
Solution: Direct review links. Google lets you generate a direct link that opens the review form immediately. Share it via text message, email, or put it on a receipt.
Even better: use a QR code. Print it on a table tent, receipt, or sticker at the checkout counter. Customers scan it with their phone and they're writing a review in 30 seconds.
FiveReply generates both a review link and a printable QR code automatically when you connect your Google Business Profile.
Ask at the Right Moment
Timing is everything. The best time to ask for a review is immediately after a positive experience — when the customer is happiest.
For restaurants: When the customer compliments the food, or right after they pay the bill.
For dental offices: After a successful procedure when the patient is relieved and happy.
For salons: When the customer sees their new look and loves it.
For home services: Right after completing a job and the homeowner expresses satisfaction.
Don't wait until the next day to send an email. The emotional high fades fast.
Use the "Sandwich" Ask
Asking for a review directly can feel transactional. Instead, use the sandwich technique:
Example script: "Thank you so much for coming in today! If you have a moment, we'd love to hear about your experience. You can scan this QR code — it takes about 30 seconds."
Send Follow-Up Campaigns
Not everyone will leave a review on the spot. A follow-up text or email 2-4 hours after their visit catches the ones who meant to but forgot.
Keep it short and personal:
"Hi Sarah, thanks for visiting Seoul Garden today! If you enjoyed your meal, we'd really appreciate a quick Google review. Here's the link: [review-link]. It takes about 30 seconds and helps us a lot!"
FiveReply's campaign feature lets you send personalized review request emails and SMS messages to customers, complete with tracking so you know who opened and clicked.
The Smart Funnel Approach
Here's the problem with asking everyone for a Google review: unhappy customers will leave a bad one.
A smart review funnel solves this. Instead of sending everyone directly to Google, you send them to a simple page that asks "How was your experience?" with a star rating.
This way, happy customers boost your Google rating while unhappy customers give you a chance to fix the problem privately.
This is FiveReply's Smart Review Funnel — and it's one of the most effective ways to protect your rating while still collecting more reviews.
Track What's Working
You can't improve what you don't measure. Track:
FiveReply's dashboard gives you all of this in one place, with weekly email reports so you never lose track.
The Bottom Line
Getting more Google reviews isn't about gaming the system. It's about making it easy for happy customers to share their experience. Remove the friction, ask at the right time, and use a smart funnel to protect your rating.
Start collecting more reviews today. Try FiveReply free for 14 days — no credit card required.