If you’ve already claimed your Google Business Profile (GBP), nice work—you’re one step ahead. But if you’re not getting the clicks, calls, or bookings you expected from the platform, your reviews might be the missing piece.
A hungry traveler pulls up Google Maps to find a quick bite nearby. Are they scrolling through every option in the area? Nope. They’re heading straight for the restaurant with the best star reviews, a solid business name, and glowing write-ups from real customers.
Now think about your own business. If you’ve already claimed your Google Business Profile (GBP), nice work—you’re one step ahead. But if you’re not getting the clicks, calls, or bookings you expected from the platform, your reviews might be the missing piece.
More online reviews = more results. So let’s break down how to ask for them—and what to do with them once they start rolling in.
Encourage your customers to leave reviews
A whopping 97% of consumers read reviews before making a purchase decision—so they’re not something to sleep on.
The more reviews you’ve got (even if they’re not all five-star ratings), the more credible your business appears. They act as social proof, showing consumers that real people have interacted with your business, which helps build trust and drive conversions.
Reviews don’t just influence decisions—they can also give your local search engine optimization (SEO) a leg up. Google tends to prioritize businesses with a steady stream of authentic feedback, helping you rank higher in Google Search and Maps.
Here’s how to ask for more reviews—without the cringe.
Ask customers to leave reviews
One of the easiest ways to get feedback? Just ask.
Easier said than done, though—we know asking can feel a little uncomfortable. But with the right approach, it doesn’t have to be.
Train staff on how to request reviews during everyday interactions, like at checkout or after a service is complete. But keep it casual. A simple “Thanks for coming in! If you have a minute, we’d love a review” goes a long way.
Encourage your team to read the room. If someone had an amazing experience, that’s a green light.
But don’t forget to prioritize honesty. Let customers know you’re open to all types of feedback—positive and negative. That transparency shows you’re listening, and it helps foster trust over time.
Use review QR codes
QR codes make it easy for customers to leave a review with their mobile device—just point, scan, and type. No need to search for your business review page or fumble with clunky URLs.
They’re handy for your team, too. Print review QR codes on signage at checkout, table tents, receipts, store windows, or even business cards. That way, when someone’s had a great experience, your staff can help them post a review while it’s still top of mind.
Creating a QR code is simple, and you can do it right from your Google account:
- Log into your Google Business account.
- Tap Read reviews, then Get more reviews.
- Right-click the QR code and select “Save image as” to download it.
- Print and post it wherever it makes sense!
Want a more customized code or the ability to track scans? Use a QR code generator like Bitly or QR Code Monkey to create your codes. All they’ll need is your Google review link, which you can get from the same dashboard as the QR code.
Send email reminders
Did you know that 58% of people check their emails daily before doing anything else online? That makes email a great place to gently ask subscribers to leave reviews.
But don’t rush it—give customers enough time to experience your product or service before sending an email reminder. For example, if you sell skincare products, wait at least two weeks. If you sell electronics, wait at least seven days.
Sending a reminder after some time passes increases their likelihood of responding. Here are some ways to make your request even more effective:
- Include a clickable Google review link for convenience
- Offer small incentives (think discounts or bonus points)
- Personalize the message—use their name, mention what they purchased, and keep it casual
It’s not pushy—it’s helpful. And it gets results.
Add a review link to your website
Some folks will find your website before they stumble upon your Google business listing, so why not meet them where they are?
Adding a review link to your site gives happy customers an easy way to leave feedback. It also helps on-the-fence customers find real experiences from real people, building trust before they book or buy.
You’ve got a few options here:
- Embed your review link in a bold, clear call-to-action (CTA) button on your homepage.
- Integrate a Google review widget in a high-traffic section of your site—like your footer or sidebar.
- Create a dedicated reviews landing page and pop it in your main navigation menu.
Whichever option you choose, make it simple to spot and even easier to click.
Spotlight the best reviews on your website
If your website gets a lot of traffic, but conversions are lagging, it might be time to let your best GBP reviews do the talking.
One way to do this is to create a dedicated testimonials page that focuses entirely on customer experiences. Another approach (our personal fave)? Do what Sked does and weave your top reviews right into your product pages.
Either way, aim for variety. Highlight different wins—like fast shipping, standout service, product quality, or inclusive sizing—to give potential customers a well-rounded view of what it’s like to shop with you.
Collaborate effortlessly, save time and spend less
Why settle for a lackluster social media management tool when you could be using Sked Social? With unlimited collaborator access, streamlined approvals and advanced auto-post technology that lets you schedule to all major platforms, Sked Social offers everything you need.
Get Started for FREERespond to reviews to engage with your customers
Regularly responding to reviews is one of the best ways to manage your Google Business Profile effectively. Not only does it help you optimize your presence, but it can also boost retention, improve your online reputation (especially with new customers), and give your local business ranking a lift by showing Google you’re actively engaged.
But we get it—staying on top of it all can feel like a full-time job—especially for small businesses that receive a high volume of reviews or have limited bandwidth.
There are many reasons business owners and marketers fall behind on GBP reviews:
- Limited time and resources
- No clear ownership over who should respond
- Forgetting to check GBP dashboards for new reviews (oops)
- Too many reviews—especially spammy or fake ones
- No response strategy
- Avoiding negative feedback and any resulting confrontation
- Failure to ask for reviews after positive experiences (so the negative ones take over)
- Underestimating the impact of reviews on local SEO
- No automation to help manage the flow
The good news? Managing your GBP doesn’t have to be a hassle. A smart social media management solution like Sked Social makes it easy to stay on top of reviews from every channel—all in one place.
Here’s how Sked’s Google Business Profile tool can help:
- See everything in one place: View and respond to reviews, social media DMs, and comments from your centralized inbox—no more jumping between platforms.
- Respond faster: See instant notifications for new reviews or messages and keep response times snappy.
- Stay on-brand: Use saved replies and team workflows to keep your voice, tone, and policies consistent with your brand.
- Delegate with ease: Assign reviews to the right team members and track responses directly from your dashboard.
- Spot trends and issues: Sked’s built-in analytics help you identify recurring customer concerns and opportunities for improvement.
- Reduce negative impact: Use AI-powered suggestions to address complaints before they escalate, demonstrating your responsiveness and protecting your reputation.
- Streamline multi-location management: Whether you’ve got two storefronts or 200, Sked helps you handle reviews across all your franchises or multi-location businesses—without the chaos.
And that’s just your customer reviews. Sked also supports post scheduling and provides valuable insights into your online visibility and performance across social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and yes—Google Business Profile. With Sked, you can keep every account active, measure what’s working, and share results with key stakeholders.
How to respond to positive reviews
Don’t just leave your fans hanging. A little appreciation goes a long way. Here are some best practices to keep in mind when responding to positive reviews:
- Show gratitude for taking the time to share their experience.
- Keep your tone on-brand. Make sure your reply feels like you.
- Add a personal touch—use their name if you can, or reference something specific they said.
How to respond to negative reviews
Not-so-great reviews? Still a great opportunity. Handle them well, and you might just turn a critic into a loyal customer.
- Respond quickly to show that you care.
- Keep your tone polite and professional, even if you feel some reviews are unfair.
- Acknowledge customers’ disappointment—you could say, “We’re sorry to hear you had this experience.”
- Suggest a solution or invite the reviewer to discuss the issue privately. You could say, “We’d love to fix this—please reach out to [contact info].” Pro tip: If you offer to take it offline, be prompt in your follow-up so they don’t go back to the OG review to vent again.
- Highlight what you’re doing to address legitimate concerns.
- Respond professionally to suspected fake reviews—you might say, “We can’t find a record of your visit. Please contact us to resolve this,” and then report it to Google.
- Follow up with customers after resolving their issues and ask if they’d consider updating their reviews.
- End on a positive note—something like, “We appreciate the feedback and hope to serve you better next time.”
- Encourage happy customers to leave reviews to help maintain a strong overall rating.
Simplify review replies with Sked Social’s centralized inbox
Managing Google reviews effectively means stronger customer relationships, a better brand reputation, and higher local search rankings. But staying on top of it all isn’t always easy—especially when you’re managing multiple pages, responding across platforms, and trying to keep up with every new notification. Without the right tools, things can fall through the cracks.
Sked makes business review management easier, helping you stay organized, respond faster, and turn feedback into growth opportunities. Our centralized inbox pulls in all your Google Business Profile reviews—alongside comments and messages from platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn—so you can reply from one place.
With instant alerts and team workflows, you’ll stay connected to your audience and on top of every conversation that matters.
Sign up for Sked today to simplify review management and strengthen your digital marketing strategy.
