How to Get More Google Reviews for Your Business
Google reviews help you rank on Maps and convince people to choose you. How to ask for them, make it easy, reply to them and handle bad ones, without breaking Google's rules.
When someone finds you on Google, the first thing they look at after your name is your star rating and the number of reviews. A business with 4.7 stars from 120 reviews looks far safer than one with 5 stars from three, or none.
Reviews also help you rank in local results. Here's how to get more of them.
Step 1: Get your review link
In your Google Business Profile dashboard, find the option to ask for reviews or share a review form. Copy the short link. That's what you'll send customers.
Step 2: Ask at the right moment
The best time is right after a good experience:
- When an order is delivered and the customer is happy.
- When a service is finished and they thank you.
- When they compliment you in person or on WhatsApp.
Step 3: Make it personal and easy
Hi Kojo, thank you for choosing us! If you have 30 seconds, a Google review would really help other customers find us: [link]. Thank you!
Short, warm, one link. Send it by WhatsApp or SMS, which most Ghanaian customers prefer to email.
Step 4: Ask everyone, consistently
Don't only ask the customers you think will be happiest. Make it part of your process for every customer, ideally automated a day after delivery or service. See AI automation for small businesses.
Other places to ask
- A QR code at your counter, on receipts and packaging.
- A line in your email signature.
- A follow-up message after delivery.
- Staff asking in person, then sending the link.
Reply to every review
Replying shows people you care, and helps your profile.
- Positive: thank them by name and mention what they liked. "Thanks Ama, glad the braids lasted! See you next month."
- Negative: reply quickly and calmly, apologise for their experience, and offer to fix it privately. "We're sorry about the delay, Kofi. Please message us on 055 000 0000 so we can make it right."
A fair reply to a bad review often builds more trust than the review costs.
Stay within Google's rules
- Don't buy reviews or post fake ones.
- Don't offer incentives like discounts in exchange for reviews.
- Don't review your own business or have staff do it.
- Don't only ask happy customers selectively in a way designed to filter out negative reviews.
Google can remove reviews and penalise profiles that break these rules.
Common questions
Can I delete bad reviews?
You can't simply delete them. You can report reviews that break Google's policies, such as spam or offensive content. Otherwise, reply well and get more good reviews.
How many reviews do I need?
More than your competitors, and a steady flow of new ones. Recent reviews matter.
Do reviews in local languages count?
Yes. Reviews in any language are fine.
For more on ranking locally, see local SEO in Ghana, or let us manage it with our SEO and Google Business Profile service.