How to get more Google reviews (without being pushy or awkward)
Learn how to get more Google reviews with simple timing, scripts and tools that feel natural, boost local SEO, and grow trust without sounding pushy or desperate.
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Picture this.
A happy client is thanking you, saying the nicest things about your team. You can almost hear them reading that same praise in a Google review, yet the idea of asking makes your stomach tighten.
If you have ever typed how to get more Google reviews into a search bar and then done nothing about it, you are far from alone.
We speak with small business owners every week who feel stuck between wanting more reviews and not wanting to feel desperate.
No one starts a restaurant, dental practice, or plumbing business dreaming of chasing people for stars on a screen. At the same time, online reviews matter a lot.
Around eight out of ten people trust reviews as much as friends, and Google uses those stars when it decides which local businesses to show first.
So the question is not whether reviews matter. The real question is how to get more Google reviews in a way that feels natural, kind, and respectful of your customers.
At Monsieur Click, we see reviews as an extension of good service, not as begging for approval. When you set up simple systems, happy customers do most of the work for you.
In this guide, we will walk through timing, wording, and tools that help reviews roll in without awkward conversations.
You will see exactly when to ask, how to make leaving a review effortless, what mistakes to avoid, and how to respond when a review is less than perfect.
By the end, you will have a clear, step‑by‑step plan to grow your Google reviews confidently, with or without our help.
“The best advertising you can have is a loyal customer spreading the word.”
– Shep Hyken
- Link the ask to a happy moment. Asking for reviews feels strange when it is random, yet it feels natural when it is linked to a clear happy moment in the customer experience. Timing makes the ask feel like part of good service instead of a sales pitch. That alone removes a lot of pressure.
- Remove friction from the process. People skip writing reviews when the process is hard, not because they are unwilling. A direct Google review link, a QR code, and simple instructions can cut the work down to a few taps. Short paths lead to more stars.
- Reply to every review. Responding to every review shows that someone at the business is listening. Public replies make customers feel seen and they also impress new visitors reading your profile. This habit turns reviews into an ongoing conversation instead of a one way rating.
- Stay honest and within the rules. Incentives and tricks damage trust and break Google’s rules. Clear, honest requests for feedback bring in reviews that feel real to future customers. Long term, that honest approach wins far more business than any shortcut.
- Use automation to stay consistent. Automation removes the awkwardness by taking the ask out of your mouth and putting it into a polite message. With Monsieur Click’s review tools, requests go out at the right time with one tap access to your review page. You focus on service while the system keeps new reviews coming in.
Why most businesses struggle to ask for reviews (and why that needs to change)
When we ask owners why they are not getting more Google reviews, the most common answer is simple. They feel weird asking. There is a real fear of sounding needy, annoying loyal clients, or putting staff in uncomfortable spots.
That discomfort often comes from a few beliefs:
- Worry about sounding pushy or desperate
- Fear of bothering long‑term customers
- Staff not knowing what to say or when to say it
- Concern that asking will bring more negative reviews
On top of that, many people still believe that “good work speaks for itself.” That idea made sense when word of mouth happened only over coffee or at a football game.
Now, if a business has no online reviews, many people act as if it does not exist at all. They click on the competitor with a long list of stars, even if your service is better.
Here is the hard truth. Most happy customers are busy. They leave your office, salon, or showroom and move straight on to kids, emails, or traffic. Research shows that most people are willing to write a review when asked, yet very few sit down and do it without a clear nudge. Silence online usually means no one asked, not that no one cared.
The cost of that silence is high:
- Fewer reviews mean you appear lower in local Google results
- Fewer people discover you when they search
- Old or sparse reviews make choosing you feel risky
- Competitors with steady feedback win trust faster
We like to reframe reviews as a service to future customers. When you invite someone to share their experience, you are helping the next person feel safe choosing you.
Once you see it that way, the real problem is not asking. The real problem is not having a gentle, repeatable system for asking at the right moment.
The perfect timing: when to ask for a review (without killing the moment)
Timing is the secret sauce in learning how to get more Google reviews without feeling pushy. Ask too early and it feels odd. Ask too late and the moment has passed. The sweet spot is right after a clear win for the customer, when their relief or excitement is at its peak.
For most businesses, that sweet spot looks different by type, yet the idea is the same. You wait for a wow moment, then you give the person a simple path to share what they just said out loud. When you do that, the ask feels more like letting them help than like asking for a favor.
- Service businesses such as plumbers, electricians, and cleaners do best when they ask right after the job is complete and the customer is happy with the result. You might hear them say the sink looks amazing or that the space has never been this clean. That is the perfect time to say that the same feedback on Google would help other people feel safe hiring you. A quick ask while they are still smiling feels natural.
- Restaurants and cafes often see peak happiness at the end of a great meal or the next morning when people talk about it again. Servers can thank guests when they pay and mention that a quick Google review really supports the team. Later, a short follow up text or email the next day can catch guests while the memory is still fresh. Both touches feel like a thank you, not a demand.
- Retail shops and boutiques tend to see excitement right after a purchase when the customer loves what they found. Staff can celebrate the choice with them and mention that sharing a few words on Google helps other shoppers discover the store. Printed cards or a QR code at the counter make the next step easy. The key is to connect the ask to that shopping high.
- Professional services such as dentists, lawyers, coaches, and consultants do best when they ask after a clear milestone or outcome. That might be finishing a treatment plan, winning a case, or hitting a fitness goal together. A quick conversation that recaps the win followed by a gentle request for a review feels like closing the loop. The client sees it as part of the relationship, not an extra chore.
You can think of timing for different business types like this:
Business type
Best moment to ask for a Google review
Service & trades
Right after the job is finished and the customer checks the work
Restaurants & cafes
When paying or the next day while the meal is still remembered
Retail & boutiques
Right after purchase, at the counter or by follow up email
Professional services
After a clear result or milestone in the client’s case or plan
In most cases, there is also a helpful follow up window of twenty four to forty eight hours. Within that time, people still remember details, which makes their review richer and more believable. Longer than that and life gets busy, so the chance fades.
There are also bad moments to avoid. Do not ask while you are handling a complaint, rushing someone out the door, or before they have fully used what they bought.
When you respect timing and feelings, the request aligns with their natural desire to share a good experience. That sets up the next step, making the process almost effortless.
Make it ridiculously easy: removing friction from the review process
Even when timing is perfect, people will not write reviews if the process feels confusing. The number one reason willing customers never follow through is friction.
They cannot find your profile, the page will not load, or they get lost trying to remember a password. Your job is to remove every one of those barriers.
Start by creating a direct link to your Google review window. Log in to your Google Business Profile, look for the section that mentions getting more reviews, and copy the link they give you.
Google's official documentation on how to Work with review data provides technical details on accessing and managing your review information through their APIs.
This link skips the search page and takes people straight to the star rating box.
Then use a simple link shortener such as Bitly so you have a clean, easy address instead of a messy string of characters.
Next, turn that link into a QR code inside your profile dashboard. Download the image so you can print it on cards, stickers, and signs. This simple graphic lets someone point their phone at your counter sign and land on your review window in seconds.
They do not have to type anything, which makes a big difference on small screens.
Aim for what we call the three click rule.
From the moment someone scans or taps, they should be able to leave a star rating and a short line of text in under a minute with no more than three actions.
If the path is longer than that, rethink it until it is smoother.
It also helps to place your review link and QR code in several gentle touchpoints rather than one single place:
- Add a short review request to your email signatures so every message carries a soft reminder. A simple line that thanks people for working with you and invites them to share their experience works well. Over time, this turns everyday emails into steady review opportunities. No extra work is needed once it is set up.
- Include your review link on receipts, invoices, and thank you emails sent after a visit or job. These messages already land right after the service, when feelings are strong and details are fresh. A small sentence with the link at the bottom can bring a slow but steady stream of reviews. Both printed and digital versions can carry the same message.
- Use printed pieces such as business cards, table tents, or small signs near your checkout. When staff mentions reviews in person, they can point to the card or sign so customers know exactly what to do next. People often keep these cards in a wallet or on a fridge, which brings extra chances to review later. The QR code makes the process painless.
- Create a simple reviews page on your website where you show off a few of your best reviews and include a clear button that leads to your Google review link. Visitors who are already checking you out online are more open to sharing their own experience. This page also adds social proof for new prospects. It becomes a hub for feedback instead of hiding reviews in one corner.
If you want to go a step further, record a quick thirty second screen video that walks through the review process on a phone. Place it on your site or link to it in follow up messages.
Many people appreciate being shown exactly what to tap. For busy owners who prefer to hand this whole process off, Monsieur Click’s review generation tools can send timed requests, include one tap links, and follow up automatically, all while staying friendly and human.
“Don’t make me think.”
– Steve Krug, on good user experience
The art of asking: scripts and approaches that feel natural, not sales-y
Now we reach the part that makes most owners nervous: the actual words.
The good news is that when timing and ease are in place, the ask itself can be short and warm. Industry experts like Sean Garner share proven strategies on How to Get More Google reviews through authentic, customer-focused approaches.
Think of it as saying thank you and inviting the customer to copy what they just told you onto Google.
Gratitude should always come first.
When someone compliments your work, pause and really receive it. Then you might say, “That feedback means a lot to us. If you are open to it, a quick Google review like that helps other people feel safe choosing us too.” Notice how the focus is on helping others, not boosting your ego.
Here are some simple approaches for different channels that our clients use every day:
- In person, start by reflecting their own words back to them. If a client says you saved their weekend by fixing a leak, say that you are glad you could help and that sharing that story on Google would support other homeowners. Offer a small card or point to a sign with your QR code so the path is obvious. End with a phrase such as “no pressure at all” so they feel free to say no.
- In email, send a short thank you message after the visit or project wraps up. Mention one specific detail to show it is not a robot talking, such as the project type or appointment date. Then add a direct link and a line that says you would be grateful for a quick review so others can hear how it went. Keep the whole note short enough to read in a few seconds.
- In text messages, keep things casual and concise because people are often on the move. You can thank them for choosing you, mention that you hope everything feels good, and then add your direct link with a note that even one line of feedback helps a lot. Many people are more willing to tap a phone link than dig through email. This method works well for trades, salons, and fitness studios.
- For your team, give them simple scripts and practice them together so they feel natural. Role play both easy cases and harder ones where the customer seems rushed or unsure. Encourage staff to adapt the wording to their own voice while keeping the core message the same. When everyone knows what to say, asking feels less like a scary extra task and more like a normal part of service.
A few things to avoid when asking:
- Do not beg or sound desperate
- Do not suggest any kind of reward in return for a review
- Do not pressure people who seem uncomfortable
- Do not promise only five star reviews are acceptable
If even this feels heavy, remember that Monsieur Click can handle the wording and sending for you, delivering polite, branded requests at the right time without any awkward face to face ask.
What never to do: avoiding the pushy mistakes that damage trust
When owners first ask how to get more Google reviews, they sometimes repeat shortcuts they have heard from others. Some of those shortcuts may work for a week, then cause serious harm. Knowing what to avoid is as important as knowing what to do.
Here are practices you should never use:
- Paying for reviews. Discounts, gift cards, free drinks, or prizes in exchange for a review all go against Google’s rules. They also make your feedback less believable to people reading it. Reviews need to come from honest experiences, not rewards.
- Review gating. This is where you only ask happy customers and quietly avoid anyone who might be upset. While it is smart to check in with unhappy clients, only inviting praise paints an unreal picture of your business. Google has made it clear that this kind of filtering is not allowed.
- Buying fake reviews. Paying strangers online or asking friends and family who have never used your service to post glowing comments is risky. Google’s systems are good at spotting patterns that do not look natural. When they catch it, they can delete a lot of reviews at once or even suspend your Business Profile. Future customers who sense fake reviews will lose trust fast.
- Pestering customers. If someone ignores your first request or politely declines, accept that answer. Do not send a string of reminders or corner them in person. Respect makes a bigger impression than insistence.
- Attacking competitors. Under no circumstances should you attack competitors with fake one star ratings or nasty comments. That kind of behavior can lead to legal trouble as well as platform penalties. A strong reputation comes from building your own reviews the right way, not tearing others down.
“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.”
– Warren Buffett
At Monsieur Click, we design every part of our review and reputation tools to stay inside Google’s guidelines. Our focus is always on making it simple for real customers to share real experiences. That steady, honest approach brings lasting benefits you can rely on.
Turning negative reviews into opportunities (and getting more positive ones as a result)
One of the biggest fears we hear is, “What if asking for more reviews just brings more bad ones?” It is a fair worry. No one enjoys public criticism.
The surprising truth is that inviting feedback and responding well to negative comments can actually make your business look more trustworthy and encourage more happy customers to speak up.
Most people checking out your profile do not expect perfection. In fact, a page with nothing but five star reviews can feel suspicious.
A mix of mostly good reviews and a few bad ones, all with thoughtful owner replies, feels real. Studies even show that nearly everyone who reads reviews also reads how the business responds.
When a rough review comes in, resist the urge to defend yourself right away. Google's guide on how to Manage customer reviews - outlines best practices for responding professionally and within platform guidelines.
Take a breath, read it from the customer’s point of view, and then follow a simple response frame:
- Start with empathy and acknowledgment. Begin by acknowledging what they experienced and say you are sorry for their frustration. This opens the door to a calmer exchange and shows readers that you are not brushing off complaints. Even if you disagree with part of the story, you can still be sorry that they left unhappy. People notice that tone.
- Accept fair responsibility. Take clear responsibility where it is fair without throwing your team under the bus. You might admit that wait times were longer than normal or that a miscommunication happened. Avoid long explanations that sound like excuses. Short, honest lines build more respect.
- Offer a way to resolve the issue. Provide a path to make things right, often by moving the detailed conversation off the public page. You can invite them to call, email, or visit again so you can resolve the issue. This shows anyone reading that you are willing to put in effort to fix problems. Many customers simply want to feel heard and helped.
- Close with gratitude and learning. End by thanking them for the feedback and saying you will use it to improve. This signals that reviews are not just stars for you but information you act on. Over time, this attitude leads to better experiences and fewer complaints. It also encourages onlookers to share their positive stories.
Here is a simple example you can adjust:
“Hi Sarah, we are sorry to hear that your appointment started late and did not meet your expectations. That is not the level of service we aim for. Please call our office and ask for Maria so we can learn more and try to make this right. Thank you for taking the time to share this, we are always working to serve our clients better.”
When people see you handle hard feedback with calm and care, many feel moved to post their own good experiences to balance the picture. Some unhappy reviewers even update their rating after a problem is fixed.
“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.”
– Bill Gates
Monsieur Click’s reputation tools can alert you quickly when a negative review appears, suggest response templates, and track patterns so you can spot issues early.
Automating the process without losing the personal touch
Manual review requests sound simple on paper, yet real life gets in the way.
Staff forget to ask during busy times, follow up messages never get written, and good intentions fade after a few weeks.
That is why so many owners start by asking how to get more Google reviews, then give up when they cannot stay consistent.
Automation solves the consistency problem without turning you into a robot. Instead of relying on memory, you can set rules such as “send a thank you and review request one day after an appointment” or “text a link after a repair is marked complete.”
The system takes care of timing, while you and your team focus on the actual work.
The key is to keep automated messages warm and specific:
- Use the customer’s first name
- Mention the service they received
- Send messages at natural times of day
- Sign off with your own name or your business name
When people see that you remember what you did for them, even an automatic message feels personal.
Smart automation also uses more than one channel. Some customers respond better to email, others to text, and in some cases an in app message works well.
You can set gentle reminder sequences so that if someone does not click the first request, they receive one more friendly nudge a few days later. The tone stays light, and they always have the option to ignore it.
This is where Monsieur Click shines. We offer an all in one review and reputation service built for small businesses that do not want to manage a stack of different tools.
Our platform can connect with your booking system or invoicing software, send out branded review requests at the right times, and route feedback to the right places.
Behind the scenes, AI powered sentiment checks help you spot unhappy customers early so you can reach out before they post a harsh public review.
You also get a single dashboard where you can read, respond to, and analyze reviews across Google and other key sites. In short, you keep the human touch in your interactions while the heavy lifting happens quietly in the background.
