Google reviews

Reviews are one of the few things Google names as a reason a business ranks higher on Maps. These guides cover getting more of them, asking without being pushy, replying well, and what to do about the bad ones.

• How to get more Google reviewsAsk every happy customer, right after the job, with a link that opens the review box straight away. Make it a habit, not a campaign: two new reviews a week beats twenty in one month and none after.
• How to respond to Google reviewsOpen your Business Profile, choose Read reviews, then the reply button next to the review. Keep it short and personal: thank them, mention something specific, and for a bad review, say sorry and offer to put it right offline.
• How to ask customers for a Google reviewAsk in person when the job is done, then send your review link by text the same day. Keep the message to two or three lines, use their name, and say it only takes a minute.
• How to remove a bad Google reviewYou can't delete a review yourself. You can report it to Google, and Google removes it only if it breaks Google's content rules, such as spam, fake reviews, hate, or someone who was never a customer. A review that's just negative stays up, so reply to it calmly.