How to ask for Google reviews without breaking Google's rules

Most happy customers never leave a review. It isn't that they don't want to. Nobody asked, or it wasn't easy enough. December is a great time to fix that, because you'll see more customers this month than in most others.

The catch is that Google has firm rules about how you ask. Getting them wrong can cost you far more than a few missed reviews.

Step one: get your review link and QR code

Google gives every verified business a direct link that opens the review form. Here's how to find it:

1. Open your Business Profile and select Read reviews.
2. Select Get more reviews.
3. Copy the link, or right-click the QR code and save the image.

Google notes that the QR code can currently only be created from a computer browser, not on a phone, so do this one at your desk.

Step two: put it where customers already are

Google suggests a few places to share it:

• On receipts
• In thank-you or follow-up emails
• At the end of a chat with a customer
• As a printed QR code in your shop
• By email, WhatsApp or a Facebook post

Keep the ask simple and friendly. Something like "If you enjoyed your visit, we'd love to hear about it on Google" works fine. Customers do need a Google Account to post, though Google points out they can create one with any email address, not just Gmail.

What Google doesn't allow

This is the part many small businesses get wrong, often with good intentions. Google's policy for reviews on Maps prohibits all of the following:

• Offering anything in return. No payments, discounts or free goods or services in exchange for a review. That also covers offering something to get a customer to change or remove a negative review.
• Only asking happy customers. Google bans selectively asking for positive reviews, and discouraging or blocking negative ones. Ask everyone or no one.
• Pressuring people on the spot. Google says businesses shouldn't require or pressure customers to leave a review while they're still on the premises. A QR code on the counter is fine. Standing over someone until they post is not.
• Review quotas for staff. You can't ask employees to collect a set number of reviews, or to get reviews with specific content, including content that identifies a staff member.
• Reviews from people with a conflict of interest. Google lists current or former employment, contractual relationships, competitors and family ties as examples.
• Fake reviews of any kind. That includes reviews posted from several accounts by one person.

What happens if you break the rules

Google doesn't just remove the reviews. Its help center says it may also restrict the profile. Examples it gives include:

• Your profile can't receive new reviews or ratings for a set period.
• Your existing reviews and ratings are unpublished for a set period.
• A warning appears on your profile telling customers that fake reviews were removed.

Google emails the owner before a restriction is applied, and you can appeal if you think a mistake was made. Still, a public warning on your profile during the holidays is the last thing any business needs.

Then, reply to what comes in

Asking for reviews is only half the job. Customers notice when a business answers them, and Google lists replying to reviews among its tips for helping your profile stand out. Wimi takes care of that half for you, replying to every new Google review in your voice, the same day.

Start free – Wimi replies to your Google reviews in your voice. Free for up to 7 replies a week per location.