If you’re a small business owner juggling marketing alongside everything else, you already know that Google Reviews can make or break your local visibility. But asking for reviews can feel awkward, pushy, or even desperate. The good news? It doesn’t have to be.

This guide and digital tool is for UK small business owners, freelancers, and solopreneurs who want to build a steady stream of authentic review, even though, right now you might not feel comfortable asking for feedback.

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How Google Reviews Benefit Your Business

Let’s start with the numbers. Verified Google Business Profiles receive an average of 1,803 views per month. That’s nearly 2,000 potential customers seeing your business every single month, simply because you’ve claimed and optimised your profile.

Even more compelling: 85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Think about that for a moment. Your Google Reviews carry the same weight as a recommendation from a trusted friend or family member. That’s powerful.

And if you needed more convincing, 64% of consumers check Google Reviews before visiting a business. In other words, most of your potential customers are reading what others say about you before they ever walk through your door or pick up the phone.

Research shows businesses who respond to reviews with an average of 140 words tend to rank in the top three positions in search results. Taking the time to write thoughtful responses shows both Google and potential customers that you care.

What Happens When You Ignore Your Google Business Profile & Reviews

Not managing your Google Business Profile is like having a shop window that’s never cleaned or updated. Here’s what you’re risking:

Lost visibility in local search. Businesses that rank in positions 1-3 on Google typically have around 240 reviews, whilst those further down have significantly fewer. Without actively managing your reviews, you’re essentially handing customers to your competitors.

Missed opportunities. Each additional review can result in 80 additional website visits, 63 direction requests, and 16 phone calls. That’s real business walking past you.

Damaged credibility. 63% of consumers lose trust in a business after seeing mostly negative written reviews. If you’re not monitoring and responding to reviews, you won’t know there’s a problem until it’s cost you customers. And good news, a critical review isn’t the end of the world, if it’s well-managed it can actually boost loyalty and customers

Lower revenue. Research shows that increasing ratings by one star can lead to a 5-9% rise in revenue. Conversely, businesses with poor ratings are leaving money on the table.

Where to Start: How to Access and Manage Your Google Reviews

Before you can improve your reviews, you need to know where to find them.

How Do I See My Google Reviews for My Business?

1. Go to business.google.com and sign in with your Google account
2. If you manage multiple locations, select the business you want to view
3. Click on “Reviews” in the left-hand menu

How Do I View and Edit My Google Reviews?

You can’t actually edit reviews that customers have written (that would defeat the purpose), but you can:

• Flag inappropriate reviews for removal
• Respond to reviews (which we’ll cover shortly)
• Monitor new reviews and track trends

Where Do I Respond to Google Reviews?

From your Google Business Profile dashboard:

1. Click on “Reviews” in the menu
2. Find the review you want to respond to
3. Click “Reply” beneath the review
4. Write your response and click “Post”

You can also respond directly from Google Search or Maps by viewing your business profile and clicking on reviews.

The Psychology Behind Asking for Reviews (And Why Most People Get It Wrong)

Here’s why asking for reviews feels uncomfortable: you’re asking someone to do you a favour, and nobody wants to feel like they’re begging.

The solution? Re-frame it. You’re not asking for a favour; you’re giving your happy customers an opportunity to help others make informed decisions. You’re also showing that you value their opinion.

When you ask matters too. The best time is when someone has just had a positive experience with your business, when the good feeling is fresh and genuine.

Proven Ways to Get More Google Reviews (Without Being Pushy)

1. Make It Ridiculously Easy

The number one reason people don’t leave reviews? It’s too much faff. They need to search for your business, navigate to reviews, and then write something.

Solution: Create a direct review link. Here’s how:

1. Search for your business on Google
2. Click “Ask for reviews” in your Business Profile
3. Copy the short link Google provides
4. Share this link via email, text, or QR code

2. Ask at the Right Moment

Timing is everything. The key is to catch people when their positive experience is fresh. They’re more likely to remember specific details and write a genuine, helpful review. Don’t wait weeks after the fact when the memory has faded.

3. Send a Follow-Up Email

An email sent 2-3 days after a purchase or service is perfectly acceptable and not pushy at all. This timing allows customers to actually use your product or experience the full benefit of your service before asking for their opinion.

The benefit of email is that it’s non-intrusive. Customers can respond when it’s convenient for them, and you can include your direct review link to remove any friction. Many businesses see their highest review response rates from well-timed follow-up emails because they’re personal, convenient, and show you care about their experience.

Explore the Page 1 Google Visibility System for more ideas and scripts and processes for managing negative reviews.

You Need to Respond to Every Review (Yes, Every Single One)

Businesses that respond to reviews rank higher in search results. Businesses in top positions write responses averaging 140 words, showing genuine engagement.

Why does this matter? Responding to reviews shows potential customers that you’re actively engaged with feedback. It demonstrates professionalism, accountability, and that you value customer opinions. Even negative reviews become opportunities to showcase your customer service and problem-solving skills.

When responding to positive reviews, acknowledge specific details they mentioned and add a personal touch. For negative reviews, you need to take ownership of the issue, and offer to resolve it offline. Never get defensive or argue publicly; it reflects poorly on your business and can deter future customers. We have scripts for managing review feedback here.

The Page 1 Google Visibility System

Managing all of this whilst running your business can feel overwhelming. Between responding to reviews, optimising your profile, monitoring feedback, creating content, and tracking your results, it’s easy to see why many business owners simply don’t have the time.

That’s where a structured system comes in.

Common Questions About Google Reviews

How many reviews do I need? Whilst more is generally better, quality matters too. Businesses ranking in top positions have around 240 reviews on average, but even reaching 40-50 genuine reviews will put you ahead of many competitors.

What if I get a fake negative review? Flag it immediately through your Google Business Profile. Google will investigate and remove reviews that violate their policies.

Should I ask customers to mention specific keywords? No. Ask for honest feedback about their experience. Authentic reviews that mention natural details about your business are more valuable than keyword-stuffed reviews.

How often should I ask for reviews? After every positive interaction is ideal, but at minimum, implement a system to ask at least once per customer transaction.

Your Next Steps

Building a strong Google Review profile doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s one of the most valuable marketing investments you can make. Here’s what to do today:

1. Claim and verify your Google Business Profile (if you haven’t already)
2. Create your direct review link and save it somewhere easily accessible
3. Identify three recent happy customers and reach out to request a review
4. Set a calendar reminder to check and respond to reviews weekly
5. Consider implementing The Page 1 Google Visibility System to get the complete framework, templates, and scripts that make this process simple and sustainable

Remember: you’re not being pushy by asking for reviews. You’re giving satisfied customers a chance to help others whilst building the credibility your business deserves. With the right approach and system in place, generating reviews becomes a natural part of your customer journey rather than an awkward afterthought.

Sources

1. Verified Google Business Profiles receive an average of 1,803 views per month – Cool Gadgets Research, August 2025: https://coolest-gadgets.com/google-my-business-statistics/
2. 85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations – WiserReview, September 2025: https://wiserreview.com/blog/online-review-statistics/
3. 64% of consumers check Google Reviews before visiting a business – Red Local SEO, April 2025: https://www.redlocalseo.com/google-business-profile-statistics/
4. Businesses ranking in positions 1-3 typically have around 240 reviews – Starfish Reviews, October 2025: https://starfish.reviews/google-business-profile-statistics/
5. Each additional review results in 80 additional website visits, 63 direction requests, and 16 calls – Starfish Reviews, October 2025: https://starfish.reviews/google-business-profile-statistics/
6. 63% of consumers lose trust after seeing mostly negative reviews – Red Local SEO, April 2025: https://www.redlocalseo.com/google-business-profile-statistics/
7. A one-star increase can lead to a 5-9% rise in revenue – Search Endurance, February 2025: https://searchendurance.com/google-business-profile-statistics/
8. Businesses in top positions write review responses averaging 140 words – Blogging Wizard, January 2025: https://bloggingwizard.com/google-business-profile-statistics/