Guide
How to get more Google reviews.
Reviews are one of the clearest signals for Google Maps and for the AI assistants that recommend businesses. The businesses with the most reviews rarely got them by luck: they ask every customer, at the right moment, in a way that is easy to say yes to.
By Josh Gabbay, Co-founder & COO at Lexir · Updated · 5 min read
A simple system that works
- 1Get the review link from the Google Business Profile (“Ask for reviews”).
- 2Ask in person at the moment the customer is happiest, then send the link the same day by text or email.
- 3Keep the message short: thank them, ask for a few words about their experience, give the link.
- 4Ask every customer, not only the ones you expect to be glowing.
- 5Reply to every review, good or bad, within a few days.
- 6Track the count each month against the top three competitors on the map.
What not to do
Google removes reviews that break its policies and can restrict a profile that collects them, and fake reviews also break consumer protection rules in the US.
- Offer discounts, gifts or payment for reviews
- Ask only happy customers and steer unhappy ones elsewhere (review gating)
- Write reviews for yourself or have staff post them
- Buy reviews or use a service that posts them in bulk
How many reviews is enough?
There is no fixed number. What matters is how a business compares with the competitors showing above it for the same search: their count, their average rating and how recent their reviews are. Closing that gap is a concrete goal a business owner understands.
Showing the gap to a prospect
Lexir compares every business it audits with its nearby competitors on review count, rating and recency, so an agency can open with a specific line: “The three dentists above you on the map have 4 times your reviews.”
Questions
Is it allowed to ask customers for Google reviews?
Yes. Google encourages businesses to ask. What it prohibits is offering incentives, selectively asking only happy customers, and fake or employee reviews.
Do Google reviews help ranking?
Yes. Review count, rating and recency are part of how Google judges a business’s prominence in local results, and AI assistants also read reviews when recommending businesses.
Should I reply to negative reviews?
Yes, calmly and briefly, offering to resolve it offline. Future customers read the reply as much as the review.
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