Week Two: Reviews are your new home page
You won't be surprised to know that 71% of Kiwis go online looking for extra information — reviews, recommendations, references — before they buy, always or most of the time.* So what does this mean for your customers and business?
You need to make your business as visible as possible, and the good news is Google tells you how to do this. For every search, it's weighing up three factors, based on what information it can find about your business:
➡️ Relevance: how well you match what someone's searching for
➡️ Distance: how close you are to them
➡️ Prominence: how well-known and trusted you are
Reviews are what build that third one — trust. Google looks at how many reviews you have, your average star rating, how recently you got one, whether you reply to them, and even the words people use in them.
A business with 50 reviews averaging 4.7 stars will consistently beat a business with just 5 reviews at a perfect 5.0 — volume and recency matter more than flawless. So the goal isn't perfection. It's a simple, repeatable habit of asking.
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Here's how to do that 👇
Step One: Where to find your "leave a review" link
On your phone or computer, open Google and search your own business name. Your Business Profile will pop up — on the right side on a computer, or near the top on a phone. Look for a button called "Ask for reviews" (it sometimes shows as a small pencil or share icon). Tap it, and Google will show you a link — tap "Copy link". That's your review link, done.
Can't see that button? Open the Google Maps app instead, search your business name, tap on your listing, then tap "Share" and copy the link from there. It works exactly the same way.
Save this link as a note in your phone, or as a text message draft, so you're never hunting for it later.
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Step Two: When to ask
Timing makes all the difference. Ask while the good feeling is still fresh. For example:
Trades: the moment the job's finished, as you're packing up
Retail or hospitality: as they're paying, or as they're leaving happy
Health, beauty or professional services: right at the end of the appointment, or the next day if it's not the right moment mid-treatment
Don't leave it a few days — by then, you've slipped their mind, and the review won't happen.
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Step Three: What to say
You don't need to overthink this. A short, genuine ask works best. A few scripts to steal:
😀 Face to face, with a follow-up text: "Hey, I'm really glad that worked out well for you. Would you mind popping us a quick Google review? I'll text you the link right now — it only takes about 30 seconds." Then actually send the text before they leave, while you're both still standing there.
📱 By text message: "Hi [name], thanks so much for choosing us today! If you've got a spare minute, we'd really appreciate a quick Google review — here's the link: [your link]. It genuinely helps other locals find us. Thanks again! – [your name]"
📩 By email: Subject line: "Thanks for choosing [business name]!" "Hi [name], thanks so much for [the job / your visit / your order] — we hope you're happy with how it turned out. If you have two minutes, we'd love a quick Google review: [your link]. It makes a real difference for a small business like ours, and we read every single one."
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Step Four: Make it easy
✔️ Keep your review link saved as a text template so you can send it in seconds
✔️ Ask Google to generate a QR code for you (it's right next to that same "Ask for reviews" button) and print it on invoices, receipts, or a small sign at your counter or in your van
✔️ Add the link to your email signature, so it's there on every single email you send
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Step Five: Managing replies
It doesn't need to be long. "Thanks so much [name], it's been a pleasure working with you" is enough. It shows the next person reading your profile that you're paying attention — and it costs you nothing.
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A wee footnote on bad reviews
At some point, even the best businesses get one. Don't ignore it, and don't get defensive — reply calmly and briefly, and take it offline if there's an actual issue to sort out:
"Hi [name], sorry to hear this wasn't the experience you expected. We'd really like to put it right — would you mind giving us a call on [phone number] so we can sort it out?"
That's it. You're not trying to win the argument in public — you're showing every future customer reading it that you take problems seriously. And only ask Google to remove a review if it's fake, spam, or breaks their rules — a genuine unhappy customer, even one you disagree with, isn't grounds for removal.
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You don't need fifty reviews by the end of this week. You just need one simple habit — asking at the right moment, in the same easy way, every time. Do that now, and the reviews take care of themselves.
If you'd like a hand putting any of this into action, get in touch — I'm always happy to chat about Google reviews or what's happening in your business.
That's this week's bite-sized tip sorted. Keep an eye out for the next one, or subscribe to A Bit More and I'll pop it straight in your inbox 📥
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* 2022 New Zealand Consumer Survey, run by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
