Asking a happy customer to “leave us a review on Google” usually goes nowhere. They mean to, then they have to search for your business, find the reviews section, and work out where to click. A direct review link cuts all of that out: one tap and they’re writing. Google gives you that link for free from your Business Profile, along with a QR code.
Here’s how to get your Google review link using Google’s current steps (checked in October 2026), where to share it, and how to ask in a way that gets reviews written.
How do you get your Google review link?
- Sign in to the Google account that manages your business and go to your Business Profile. Searching your business name on Google while signed in usually brings up the management panel.
- Select Read reviews.
- Select Get more reviews.
- Select Copy to copy the link, or use the share options to send it directly.
- To get a QR code, right-click the code and choose Save image as.
Google’s help page notes that review QR codes can only be created from a computer browser, not on a phone, so do this bit at a desk. The link itself works on any device. Google also offers sharing by email, WhatsApp or a Facebook post from the same screen.
Save the link somewhere you can find it quickly, like a phone note or a text shortcut, so you’re not hunting for it every time.
Where should you share it?
- In a text right after the job. This is where most reviews come from, because the customer still has their phone in hand and the good experience fresh.
- On your invoice or receipt, as a link or QR code.
- On a leave-behind card with the QR code, for home service visits.
- In your email signature and follow-up emails.
- At the counter, as a printed QR code, if customers come to you.
What should you say when you ask?
Ask personally, keep it short, and make it about them. A text that works:
“Hi Linda, thanks for having us out today. If you were happy with Dan’s work, would you mind leaving a quick Google review? It really helps a small business like ours. [link] Thanks, Mike at Brightwater Plumbing.”
Or in person, at the end of a job: “If you’re happy with everything, a Google review would mean a lot to us. I’ll text you the link so it’s easy.” Then actually send it before you leave the driveway.
When is the best time to ask?
As soon as the job is done and the customer is happy, the same day if you can. The longer you wait, the less likely they are to bother. A single, friendly reminder a few days later is fine for someone who said yes but didn’t get round to it. More than that starts to feel pushy.
What’s not allowed?
- Offering incentives. Google treats discounts, gifts or entries into a draw in exchange for reviews as fake engagement, and prohibits it.
- Writing reviews for customers, or posting reviews from staff, friends or family.
- Buying reviews. Apart from breaking the rules, it’s usually obvious to readers.
Also worth knowing: customers need to be signed in to a Google account to leave a review, though it doesn’t have to be a Gmail address. If an older customer says the link “didn’t work”, that’s often why.
Do you need permission to text customers the link?
You should have the customer’s consent to text them. A review request is closer to marketing than an appointment reminder, so it’s worth being careful. Our guide to SMS confirmations and the TCPA explains how consent works for business texts.
Reviews start with answering the phone
The customers most likely to leave a glowing review are the ones whose call got answered and whose problem got sorted fast. The ones who hit voicemail three times tend to review someone else. Ansdale, which is ours, is an AI receptionist that answers every call in your business name, books the job and sends urgent calls to you, from $49 a month. Our guide to missed call text back for contractors covers another way to keep callers from slipping away.
Questions people ask
How do I get a link for customers to leave a Google review?
Go to your Business Profile, select Read reviews, then Get more reviews, and select Copy. You can also share the link by email, WhatsApp or Facebook, or download a QR code from a computer browser.
Can I make a QR code for Google reviews?
Yes. Google provides one on the same Get more reviews screen, but only in a computer browser. Right-click the code and choose Save image as.
Can I offer a discount for a Google review?
No. Google prohibits offering incentives for reviews and treats it as fake engagement.
Do customers need a Gmail account to leave a review?
They need to be signed in to a Google account, but it doesn’t have to be a Gmail address.
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