You are passionate about your business. You deliver results. Your clients leave happy.
All good then.
There’s one thing I recommed doing: Ask your clients to leave you a review on Google My Business. Your future-self will thank you.
In this guide I share real-life examples of how and when to ask for a review. I use these strategies with my own clients, from restaurant owners in Zürich to independent insurance consultants in small Swiss towns, and they work. And they work.
I’ve broken it down to three situations:
- Situation 1: Ask for a Google review during the service process
- Situation 2: Asking for a Google review right after you have provided the services
- Situation 3: Ask for a Google review 2-6 months after
We assume you run a service business: a restaurant, a hair salon, a bicycle shop, or something like an independent insurance consultancy or financial advisory.
Situation 1: Ask for a Google review during the service process
The moment a client says “oh wow, this is exactly what I needed” is your action window. Ask right there, while the emotion is fresh.
A hairdresser can ask mid-appointment when the client is admiring their colour in the mirror. A bicycle mechanic can ask when the customer test-rides their freshly tuned bike around the block. An insurance consultant can ask the moment the client understands how much premium they’re actually going to save.
How to ask for a Google review verbally
Keep it natural and low-pressure:
“I’m really glad that works for you. If you ever have five minutes, a Google review would mean the world to us. It helps other people find us.”
That’s it. No awkward script, no pressure. A few things that make this land better:
Be specific. Don’t say “leave us a review.” Say “share what you thought of the cut” or “tell others how we handled your claim.” Specific prompts are easier to act on than open-ended ones.
Frame it as helping others. “It helps other people find a good service” feels purposeful rather than self-serving. Clients respond to that.
Situation 2: Asking for a Google review right after you have provided the services
The farewell moment is powerful. The experience is fresh, and the client hasn’t yet moved on mentally to their next task.
Verbally at the Last Touchpoint
The moment of goodbye, whether they’re putting on their coat, walking to the door, or wrapping up a phone call, is your best in-person moment for this ask.
A few scripts that work:
For a hairdresser:
“You look amazing, seriously. If you’re happy with today, we’d love it if you left us a quick Google review. I can send you the link right now if you like?”
For an insurance consultant:
“I’m glad we found you a better policy. If this was helpful, a short Google review would help other people in the same situation find me.”
That last version works especially well for professional services: framing the review as helping others with the same problem makes the ask feel meaningful.
Asking for a testimonial via Email
If you have the client’s email address, a short follow-up within 24 hours of the service is one of the most effective review channels. Transactional emails get read, and the timing is right.
Template for an email
Subject: Quick question about your visit today
Hi [Name],
Thank you for [coming in / your appointment / trusting us with your insurance review] today.
If you have two minutes, I’d really appreciate a Google review. Your feedback helps other people decide whether to work with us, and it honestly means a lot.
Thanks so much,
[Your Name]
Notice: no star-rating language, a direct link, and a clear reason why you’re asking. That combination keeps you within Google’s guidelines and converts well.
Asking via WhatsApp
For businesses where you already communicate with clients via WhatsApp, a message after the appointment can feel more personal than email and gets read much faster. Think beauty salons, personal trainers, local repair shops.
“Hi [Name]! Great to see you today. If you’re happy with [the haircut / the repair / the session], a quick Google review would make my day. Here’s the link: [your Google Business Profile link].
Ask for a positive testimonial on the invoice
This is what I do. I add the review link to the invoice. Honestly, without a prompt it doesn’t work. But when I afterwards ask for a review personally people reply: “Oh yes, sure. I saw it on the invoice.”
A short line at the bottom is enough:
“Happy with our service? A Google review helps us grow: [link or QR code]”
If your invoices are digital (PDF or via a tool like Bexio, Abaninja or Banana), add a clickable link. I do not recommend adding a QR code on the invoice in Switzerland since it could be confused with QR invoice.
Stands and stickers in your store
If you have a physical location, whether a shop, salon, waiting room, or reception desk, there are several passive tools you can put in place that work around the clock without you having to say a word.
QR Codes
A printed QR code is the lowest-effort, highest-reach tool for a physical location. Generate your review QR code directly from your Google Business Profile dashboard, print it, laminate it, and put it somewhere visible. Good spots include the checkout counter, the waiting area (on a small table card), and the back of your business card.
A flyer version with the QR code. Example from Kantine Altstetten.
NFC Tags
NFC (Near Field Communication) tags are small stickers or cards that customers tap with their smartphone to open your Google review page directly, exactly like contactless payment, but for reviews. No scanning, no typing. Works on all modern smartphones (iPhone and Android).
You can buy pre-programmed NFC review cards and stickers from providers like Truzzer or PhoneTapify. They’re cheap and require zero maintenance once set up.
Stickers and Stands
A “Review us on Google” window sticker or tabletop stand catches attention passively. Most combine a QR code with a simple call to action. Good placement spots are the shop window (visible from outside), near the exit, on the counter next to the payment terminal, or even in the bathroom (yes, really, people are on their phones in there).
Situation 3: Ask for a Google review 2-6 months after
Right after a service, the client is happy but hasn’t yet fully experienced the result. A restaurant guest had a nice meal, but an insurance client hasn’t yet seen their reduced premiums land in their account. A bicycle customer hasn’t completed a full season of riding.
Two to six months later, the benefit is real and tangible. The client can speak from experience, not goodwill. That makes for a far more convincing review, both for Google and for potential customers reading it.
Via Email
Subject: A quick check-in from [Your Name]
Hi [Name],
It’s been a few months since we [switched your insurance / tuned your bike / cut your hair for the first time], and I was thinking of you.
I hope everything is working well! If you’ve been happy with how things turned out, I’d be so grateful for a Google review. It really helps people like you find me. Here’s the link: [LINK]
Either way, feel free to reach out if anything comes up.
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
For an insurance consultant, I’d time this around the moment the client receives their first bill under the new policy and sees the savings. That moment of “oh, it actually worked” is the ideal trigger.
Via WhatsApp
“Hi [Name]! A few months ago we [did X for you] and I just wanted to check in. I hope you’re still happy with it! If you feel like leaving a quick Google review, here’s the link: [LINK]. Really appreciate it.”
The WhatsApp works well for businesses where you have an ongoing personal relationship with the client, like a personal trainer, a financial advisor, or a local craftsperson.
When clients forget to leave a review: Here’s how to follow up
The truth is: people forget to leave a review. They were meant to do it. It got on their to-do list, but life got in the way. Here are templates on how to follow-up
Via WhatsApp
“Hey [Name], I know you’re busy. Just wanted to quickly resend the Google review link in case it got lost: [LINK]. Really appreciate it.”
Via Email
Subject: Just in case this got buried…
Hi [Name],
A few days ago I sent a request for a Google review, and I completely understand if it slipped off your radar. We all have a lot going on.
If you still have two minutes, the link is here: [LINK]
Thanks so much either way,
[Your Name]
The “I completely understand” does a lot of work here. It acknowledges reality without guilt-tripping anyone, and it tends to convert well precisely because it’s low-pressure.
How to respond to Google Reviews as a service provider
Getting reviews is only half the job. Responding well is what compounds the effect, for the reviewer, for future customers reading your profile, and for your SEO.
Here’s what most businesses miss: include keywords in your responses.
Don’t write: “Thank you for your kind review!”
Write: “Thank you for letting us handle the battery replacement on your e-bike. We’re so glad you’re back on the road!”
That second version mentions the specific service. Google reads review responses, and mentioning relevant service terms and your location increases your chances of appearing for those search queries. Small change, real compounding effect.
A few other tips:
For positive reviews: Be specific, reference something from what they wrote, and avoid copy-pasting the same response to everyone. Google and real readers both notice.
For negative reviews: Stay calm, acknowledge the issue without being defensive, and offer to resolve it offline. A well-handled negative review can actually increase trust. It shows you’re human and that you care.
Response time: Try to respond within 24 to 48 hours. Businesses that respond to 80% or more of their reviews see a measurably higher local ranking.
Why Google reviews are important for local SEO
Let me be direct: Google reviews are an important ranking factor for local SEO.
Review recency matters too. A review from last week is worth more than a review from 2022. Consistent velocity beats a one-time burst every time.
When someone searches “best hairdresser near me” or “insurance consultant Zürich,” Google decides who shows up in the Map Pack based on three things: proximity, relevance, and prominence. Reviews are the main driver of prominence.
A note on honesty: Don’t cheat
A short but important note before you get started.
Buying reviews is not allowed. Neither is entering customers into a raffle, offering a discount, or exchanging anything of value in exchange for a Google review. All of this violates Google’s review policies.
Google is getting better at detecting fake or incentivised reviews, and the consequences, including removal of reviews or suspension of your Google Business Profile, are not worth any shortcut.
What is allowed: asking for honest reviews from real clients, at any point in the customer relationship, with no strings attached.
Every strategy in this post sits firmly within those guidelines.
Ready to take your local SEO further?
Reviews are one piece of the puzzle. Your Google Business Profile, local citations, on-page optimisation, and local content all work together to bring you more visibility in your city.
I offer local SEO consulting and help you optimise your entire profile, from reviews to category selection to local landing pages.
Book your Local SEO package starting at CHF 2400.00.
FAQ on Google Review
You can flag it for removal. You can try to speak to the person who gave you the review. I’ve als had once to take legal action. It was uncool but worked.
Yes. Google explicitly allows businesses to ask customers for honest reviews. What you cannot do is offer incentives, filter who you ask, or buy reviews. A genuine, open ask in person, via email, or via WhatsApp is fully within Google’s guidelines.
Right after a positive experience is typically the best moment, when the client is still emotionally engaged. That said, asking two to six months later can also be highly effective, especially for professional services like insurance consulting or financial advice, when the client has already experienced the full benefit.
There is no fixed number, but crossing 10 reviews tends to give a noticeable ranking boost. From there, consistency matters more than total volume. A business that receives five new reviews per month will outperform one that collected 100 reviews two years ago and has received nothing since.
Yes. Google has confirmed reviews as a ranking factor for local search. Review quantity, recency, average rating, and whether the business responds all influence where you appear in Google Maps and the Local Pack.
Yes, this is selective solicitation and it violates Google’s policies. You can ask all clients for their honest feedback, but specifically targeting only customers you know are satisfied, while avoiding dissatisfied ones, is considered manipulation.
Go to your Google Business Profile, click “Ask for reviews,” and Google will generate a shareable link and QR code. You can also find it by searching your business name on Google, opening your profile, and clicking “Write a review.”
Yes. Businesses that respond to 80% or more of their reviews tend to rank higher and convert better. For positive reviews, be specific and include relevant service keywords. For negative reviews, stay calm, acknowledge the issue, and offer to resolve it offline.
Absolutely. NFC tags and QR code stickers that link directly to your Google review page are widely used, easy to set up, and highly effective in physical locations. Google has no issue with them.
One follow-up message, sent three to five days after your initial ask, is appropriate and effective. Keep it brief, reference the original request, and include the direct link again. A single follow-up can double your response rate without coming across as pushy.
You can flag it for removal. You can try to speak to the person who gave you the review. I’ve als had once to take legal action. It was uncool but worked.
