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How to Ask Customers for a Google Review (With Examples)

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Coordonnatrice Marketing | Rédactrice et graphiste. La création, c'est ma passion !

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Google reviews play an important role in the decision-making processes of buying online, but also of buying in a physical store.

During the Zero Moment of Truth period, which is the time prior to purchase, the potential customer searches for information about a product or service. They are in full consideration and they want to evaluate whether the products or services that your company offers make sense according to certain established decision criteria. They will question whether or not they can trust your organization. In this sense, they will need to feel reassured and validated by their peers at this stage to make an informed choice.

At that point, Google reviews come into play. They will allow your potential customers to read feedback about your business and choose you over a competitor. Likewise, Google reviews will be favorable for your organic search (SEO). Despite the fact that it is important to ask for a Google review, some people may find it difficult to provide such an incentive to their customers. How to ask customers for a Google review without appearing insistent to them, which might displease them? Keep in mind that you just have to have the right words, the right tools and ask for it the right way!

Here’s an article that will help you learn about best practices and the practices you should avoid while learning how to ask your customers for a Google review!

Download now: -> 13 online review response templates (positive and negative) [Free Guide]

How to ask your customers for a Google review: what benefits?

Google reviews have a crucial impact on your customers’ choice. According to a study conducted by Forbes, 88% of customers look at online reviews before choosing which company they will do business with. These comments are also a gold mine for implementing a customer experience improvement strategy: this will allow you to adapt your services according to your customers’ needs and comments and obtain better Google reviews afterward.

Google reviews also play an important role in your company’s place in Google search results. The higher the level of customer satisfaction with your services on your Google My Business page, the more likely your page will appear in the first search results of your potential customers. With this in mind, it is best to seek feedback from customers so that Google can position your business according to their level of satisfaction.

According to Digitad marketing agency, more than 91% of search clicks occur on the first page of Google. The vast majority of clicks are done from the first page, including the importance of optimizing your SEO and knowing how to ask customers for a Google review to ensure customer satisfaction.

5 tips to ask your customers for Google reviews

While it is important for a business to ask your customers for a Google review, it is sometimes difficult to know how to make the request, or when is the appropriate time to do so. How to ask customers for a Google review? Here are 5 tips to answer your question.

1. Optimize your Google My Business profile first

Google My BusinessDid you know that according to a HubSpot study, 9 out of 10 people do a local search on their phone at least once a week, and that 70% of these people will subsequently visit a place of commerce within a radius of 5 kilometers? In this sense, how do you break down local competition within a few clicks to win those potential customers?

Optimize the local SEO of your Google My Business page. This profile is, in a way, your company’s Internet showcase: it informs your customers about your schedules, prices and services in a single search. The more information your Google My Business file has, the more visibility it gains in search results. In the same way, the more Google reviews you get, the more you can interact with your customers and generate natural SEO. That’s why it’s important to know how to ask your customers for a Google review.

To optimize your Google My Business :

  • Complete each section of your profile ;
  • Update your information ;
  • Ask your customers to leave a Google review about their experience ;
  • Fill in your lists of photos representing your company and your services ;
  • Post via your Google My Business account. For example, it is possible to share publications about events, promotions, or new products and services to keep your customers informed about your business ;
  • Mention your products and services.

A) If you do not have a Google My Business

Asking your customers for a Google review is easy when you have the right tools. For local businesses, Google My Business is a must-have that allows your business to differentiate itself from the competition in just one click.

Do you want to create your Google My Business, but don’t know where to start?

Here is a small guide that will allow you to master this tool in 9 easy steps:

  1. Go to the Google My Business page ;
  2. In the upper right corner, click on “Manage Now”;
  3. If you don’t have a Google account (gmail), create one here with your email address. You can also help yourself with this article ;
  4. Complete the required fields :
    1. Your company name ;
    2. Your address ;
    3. Your opening hours ;
  5. Create a Product or Service ;
  6. Write a publication to share your promotions, articles, events, products and/or services ;
  7. Attach photos to your posts ;
  8. Optimize your SEO by creating posts, keeping your profile up-to-date, describing your business and using keywords related to your company’s field of expertise through your content ;
  9. Answer your customers’ questions on your Google My Business page.

Remember: it’s important to know how to ask your customers for a Google review to increase your place in Google searches!

B) If a Google My Business page associated with your business exists and you want to claim it

If a Google My Business page related to your business already exists, you can claim it by asking its current owner to transfer their ownership to you. In the event that your institution’s profile has already been validated and is spread across several websites, you can also request to have your role as an establishment manager validated with Google.

Once your request is sent, the current owner has three days to respond.

  • If your application is approved: you can now manage your institution’s file.
  • If your application is rejected: You can propose file changes to the current owner, or challenge the decision if necessary.
  • If you don’t get an answer: try to claim the profile yourself :
  1. Open your original confirmation email received after your ownership request;
  2. Find your application and follow the instructions to validate it.

You can also log in to your company’s landing file and press the “Claim” or “Validate” button on your dashboard.

Free french EBook 13 online response templates (positive and negative)

2. Be committed to optimizing your customer experience

Google SEONow that your Google My Business page is ready, optimized and claimed, it’s time to truly care about your customers’ well-being and implement a strategy to improve your customer experience. Feedback collection is a good way to get feedback from your customers. However, if you don’t take the time to improve your upstream customer experience, especially before referring your customers to your Google My Business page, feedback from online reviews will not meet your expectations.

In everything you do in customer experience, make sure you do it for the right reasons, which is to provide the best experience possible to your customers. This sincerity will be reflected in how your business treats your customers. Afterwards, this will allow you to gather reviews that will be more positive.

In any case, knowing how to ask your customers for a Google review will be a major asset in improving your services, since Google reviews are very concrete and useful feedback.

After asking your customers for a Google review, take the time to read your customers’ reviews to evaluate the services and products offered by your company. Don’t be afraid of negative reviews : they will help you study the needs of your clients. Based on your customers’ feedback, you will be able to adapt your services to their needs, so you can optimize your customer experience while improving your company’s CSAT. This is how asking your customers for a Google review can help you to optimize your customer experience.

Don’t hesitate to ask your customers for a Google review to see what your customers think about your services : this will allow you to regularly optimize your customer experience. However, it is important to put in place an upstream customer experience improvement strategy to ensure that your online reviews are positive and contribute positively to your brand image.

3. Important: Do not organize contests or give anything in return

A Google review is only useful if it is sincere and objective. To this extent, it is strictly prohibited by Google to ask for a Google Review as part of a contest, or in exchange for privileges or money. If these Terms of Use are not complied with, Google reserves the right to remove your Google Reviews from your Google My Business if they are deemed to be false reviews or spam.

Rather than soliciting your customers’ attention with prizes, we encourage you to follow Google’s best practices:

  • Be sure to validate your establishment with Google to receive feedback from your customers.
  • Ask your customers for a Google review by sharing your Google My Business page with them.
  • Respond to feedback from your customers to build confidence in your business.

If you’re not sure how to ask for customers for a Google review while following Google’s Guideline, please read the Prohibited and Restricted Content section at Google. This will save you a lot of trouble!

4. Important: Do not seek fake Google reviews

How to ask customers for a Google review without getting false reviews?

A fake Google review is a review generated by someone who is not a customer of your business. It can be a family member, a stranger, or you – and even if you believe that a fake Google review cannot do any harm, it’s just as prohibited as contests and prizes.

It is of utmost importance to ask only your real customers for a Google review. Google uses automatic spam detection measures to remove reviews that appear to be fake or spam. Their measurements are used to guarantee Google users the authenticity of your comments and reviews on your Google My Business page. Your content must reflect your company, so you don’t have the right to manipulate your reviews, at the risk of seeing your Google reviews deleted and, by the same token, downgrading in Google searches. Make sure you have an online review process in place that meets ethical standards on the web and never ask for a Google review from someone who is not your customer.

5. How to ask your customers for a Google review at the right time

It’s important to ask for a Google review when the customer has a fresh memory of their experience with your business. But how to ask your customer for a Google review at this perfect moment? Too soon, and the customer might find your insistence suspicious. Too late, and he will probably have forgotten the quality of your services or will no longer have any interest in leaving you a review. To maximize the chances that your customer will agree to leave a Google review about your business, you need to find the optimal time to ask.

When and how to ask your customers for a Google review?

In fact, it is recommended to ask a customer for a Google review on the day of their visit. You can make your request at the checkout or at the door in your store to facilitate a fluid and pleasant interaction. For example, remind your customer how much their opinion would be appreciated when they pay, or when they are about to leave your business : thus, they will have had time to receive your services before giving their opinion.

If you prefer to request a Google review via email or SMS, it is advisable to wait between an hour and a few hours before sending your link to leave a Google review to your customer. This will give your client time to assess the quality of services received and respond when available.

Free french EBook 13 online response templates (positive and negative)

How to ask customers for a Google review by using my Google My Business link?

Getting the link to your Google reviews on your Google My Business page is one of the first steps to increasing your Google reviews. This is the link that allows your customers to leave feedback about your services on your Google My Business page. However, with Google’s ever-changing interface, it is sometimes difficult to know where it is. How to ask customers for a Google review by using your link to your Google My Business page?

With this simple procedure, you can find your reviews’ link in just a few clicks, so you can easily request a Google review from your customers!

5 steps to get your link

Here are 5 easy steps to find your Google review link :

1.    Access the dashboard on your Google My Business page.

2.  Go to the home page.

3.  Next, click on “Share Form”.

Step 3 get Google My Business link

4.  Press “Click to copy link”.

Step 4 get Google My Business link

5.  Send the link to your customers!

Although your default URL is a long series of letters and numbers, there is a way to create a custom link. To do so, change your short profile name on your Google My Business profile. This technique will make it easier for your customers to identify you!

How to ask your customers for Google reviews?

Asking your customers for a Google review must be a simple process : the more effort your customer has to make, the less likely they are to leave you one. Now that you have your link to your Google My Business, how to ask your customers for a Google review?

It depends on your communication channel. Depending on your choice, customize your customer’s experience and integrate your hyperlink to your Google My Business page directly into your messages (emails, SMS) to increase your chances of getting customer reviews.

With one click, this link will guarantee your customers a quick, easy and accessible review.

A) How to ask customers for a Google review face-to-face in your store

Avis Client Face a FaceOne of the options to ask your customers for a Google review is to ask them face-to-face in-store. Although some customers try to smile at you out of politeness or forget with time to leave a review, knowing how to ask customers for a Google review in-store can, in some cases, be interesting to get hot reactions. Using this method, you will receive relevant and accurate feedback, since the client has just obtained your services. In addition, this human contact with the customer will show them that their opinion matters to you: if their experience has been satisfactory, it is an ideal way to build a bond of trust with them. However, the client may be too uncomfortable to share their true opinion with you if it is negative, which can skew the results.

When you are in-store, it is recommended to wait just before the customer leaves the point of sale to ask them for a Google review of your business. This will give them time to complete their experience to better assess the quality of your services. By understanding how to ask customers for a Google review while they are in your store, you can get a more precise and accurate opinion. However, it may seem more difficult for some people to ask customers for a Google review directly at the point of sale to leave reviews. Lack of time, embarrassment, discomfort: the reasons can be multiple. If this is your case, don’t worry: there are other methods that are more relevant to asking your customers for a Google review!

B) How to ask customers for a Google review with a QR code

Avis Client QR CodeDisplayed on signs in your store or on business cards, the QR code is another interesting way to ask your customers for a Google review. The customer just has to use his phone to scan the code: they will immediately be redirected to the link to leave a Google review, or on your Google My Business. But how to ask your customers for a Google review by using a QR Code?

To maximize the chances of your customer leaving a review, place your QR code prominently in your store, preferably near the entry or exit. Explain how to use the code on the chosen medium, so your customers can leave their opinion in a single click!

However, there are some risks associated with this method : the request for an opinion is not pre-selected for people with a positive experience. In this sense, it is possible that a dissatisfied customer will pass the QR code and decide to leave a negative opinion about your business. This is an aspect to consider!

C) How to ask customers for a Google review via SMS

Avis-Client-SMSAsking a customer to leave a Google review via SMS (text message) is a simple, efficient, and most direct means of virtual communication. As their phone is an integral part of their daily life, it makes sense to ask them for a Google review via an SMS reminder. However, there are also a few instructions to follow if you want the customer to respond. .

Keep in mind that your message must be short, clear and precise. Don’t drift on another topic: you may lose your customer. Instead, encourage them to leave a Google review with a URL link: a single click, and they can grow your e-reputation on your Google My Business page.

There are benefits to knowing how to ask customers for a Google review from an SMS for your business. Here are a few :

  • SMS is the most direct means of virtual communication you have with your client ;
  • It allows to contact the customer at all times ;
  • With some tools, it is possible to automate the customization (name, date and service) of SMS messages.

D) How to ask customers for a Google review via email

Avis-Client-CourrielIt is easy to learn how to ask your customers for a Google review via email. Like SMS, you need to write a short, simple and structured message to emphasize to the customer how much their feedback is appreciated and will be used to improve their future experiences. This will help them feel heard : they will be more willing to invest their time if you remind them that their comments matter to you.

When you ask for a Google review by email notification, remember to customize your message. For example, you can include in your message the name of the customer, the date of their visit, and the product or service purchased if possible. Include a call-to-action at the end of your message with your Google review link, so they will only take one click to leave their review. It is also important to end your email with your company’s signature : this will allow your customer to distinguish you from spam.

When you know how to ask customers for a Google review by using Google email notification request, you can take advantage of these benefits :

  • It allows a more personal contact with your customers ;
  • Email is a communication platform which is known by more people than social networks ;
  • A template can prevent you from rewriting a message, saving you several hours of management time.

E) How to ask customers for a Google review via your social media

Avis-Client-Médias-SociauxFacebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, LinkedIn: the list of social media is long, but your list of subscribers is probably even longer!

With your social networks, you can ask your community for a Google review: a single post via your profile or your authorized automated email from your Google My Business link will allow you to reach hundreds of people. You can also encourage your subscribers to leave you a customer notice via your monthly newsletter. But do you know how to ask your customers for a Google review through your social media and how it can affect your ratings?

Indeed, this technique does not come without a certain risk. By inviting everyone to leave a review on your Google My Business page, dissatisfied customers or people who have bad intentions may take the opportunity to leave negative feedback on your business. In addition, you could also get false positive reviews, which would violate Google’s code of ethics and put you at risk of having your Google reviews deleted.

In this sense, asking for a Google review via your social media is not an optimal option to collect online reviews.

However, there are some ways to get online reviews effectively. For example, the InputKit solution will ensure your customer satisfaction before sending them the URL for your Google My Business. This allows you to target satisfied customers at the right time, so you’ll be sure to have genuine, concrete Google reviews from real customers from your business.

Optimize your online Google reviews request process with InputKit

Reviews before after InputKit dental clinicInputKit’s Google Customer Review Improvement Solution is used by more than 350 companies worldwide. With this automated solution, you will be able to ask a Google review to your satisfied customers at the right time, without having to spend management hours to customize each of your messages. Your requests will also be automatically accompanied by your link to your Google My Business page : you will be able to collect a maximum number of reviews in record time! Our artificial intelligence will also offer you a range of responses adapted to your customers’ feedback for a professional approach and a bond of trust to your active customers.

Our solution guarantees 3 to 10 times more Google reviews per month : it consolidates these feedback on a page to make it easier to manage your comments and see which ones you haven’t responded to. Interesting, isn’t it?

You know how to ask customers for a Google review with your Google My Business’ link, but it takes you hours to send to each client? We’ll take care of it! When you want to request a Google review from your customers, InputKit allows you to generate your Google My Business feedback link automatically.

If you have only one location : sign in to your Google My Business account via InputKit. This will give you your automated URL.

If you have multiple locations : use the InputKit solution system to map each of your businesses. With this technique, your URLs for your Google reviews will be generated and automatically linked to each of your sites.

With InputKit, you can become the first search result of your potential customers. You won’t need to spend several hours of management to request a Google review from your customers! Many satisfied customers with the InputKit online review solution would not go back. To this end, consult a customer testimonial on the subject if you feel like it!

How do you ask your customers to leave positive Google reviews?

Asking for a positive customer review can be a daunting task for some businesses. How to ask your customers for a Google review? And when is the right time to do it?

In fact, getting your customers to leave positive feedback is easier than you think. Here are some good practices for asking your customers for a positive Google review :

  • Optimize your customer experience with a review collection strategy ;
  • Invite the customer to leave a Google review at the right time, a few hours after their visited your company ;
  • Customize your message with the name of the customer, the date of their visit and the service or product purchased ;
  • Include the Google reviews link on your Google My Business page in your message ;
  • Thank the customer for their time ;
  • Don’t give prizes or money in exchange for a Google review.

Schedule a demo with InputKit to automate online review requests with your satisfied customers

Check out our sample Google Reviews Requests template for your customers

An email template

Hello Mr. Robert,

I want to make sure our installation team has lived up to your expectations. That’s why I’d like to get your opinion on a couple of quick questions.

Our survey takes less than 1 minute to complete.

We value your confidence in our team and thank you for taking the time to provide us a review.

You can answer anonymously.

Call to action: Give my opinion now : [URL to your Google My Business notice page].

An SMS template

[Company Name]: Hello Mr. Robert,

I want to make sure our installation team has lived up to your expectations. That’s why I’d like to get your opinion on a couple of quick questions.

Our questionnaire takes less than 30 seconds to complete.”

Call to action: Give my opinion: [URL to your Google My Business notice page].

SMS sent automatically

Finally, even if understanding how to ask your customers for a Google review may seem tricky, there are several techniques to make it easier for you. Improve your customer experience, follow Google’s ethical rules, beware of false reviews, and ask your customers to leave you a Google review at the right time to get ahead of Google searches and get better reviews. As a bonus, by having more positive reviews, you will improve your SEO (SEO on search engines)!

Don’t forget to include the link to your Google My Business reviews page when you ask your customers for a Google review. Write a short, clear and precise message : personalize your text according to the services received, and thank your customers for the time they give you. By knowing how to ask customers for a Google review and showing them how much you value their feedback, they will be more likely to leave you a positive review and return to your business!

From your side, which advice mentioned captured the most of your attention? Do you need further help to understand how to ask customers for a Google review? If you need a helping hand to automate the collection of positive reviews on Google from your customers, don’t hesitate to schedule a demo of the InputKit online review solution!

FREE FRENCH EBOOK
13 online review response templates (positive and negative)

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