MARKETING · · 5 min read
How Melbourne businesses can get more Google reviews (the right way)
Reviews influence where you show up and whether people choose you. Simple, honest ways to get more of them, and how to handle the bad ones.
Marcus · SEO & Content Strategist
Why reviews matter so much
For local businesses, Google reviews do two jobs. They help decide whether you appear in the map results, and they help people decide whether to choose you once they find you. A steady stream of genuine reviews is one of the most valuable marketing assets a small business can have.
The good news: most happy customers are willing to leave one. They just need to be asked, at the right moment, in the right way.
Ask at the right moment
Timing is everything. Ask when the customer is happiest:
- Right after you’ve finished a job they’re thrilled with
- When they pay and thank you
- When they compliment you in person, by email or on social media
A review request a month later rarely gets the same response.
Make it one tap
The easier it is, the more reviews you’ll get. Get your direct review link from your Google Business Profile and share it:
- In a short text message after the job
- In your email signature and invoices
- On a QR code at your counter or on your business cards
Keep the message short and personal. Something like: thanks for choosing us today, if you have a minute, a quick Google review would really help our small business.
Build it into your routine
Reviews come from consistency, not one-off campaigns. Make asking part of your process, whether that’s a step in your job checklist or an automatic message from your booking or invoicing system.
Reply to every review
Replying shows potential customers that you care and are paying attention.
- Thank people for positive reviews, and mention something specific
- Keep replies natural, not copied and pasted
- Reply to negative reviews calmly and professionally
Handling negative reviews
Every business gets them. A thoughtful reply often matters more than the review itself.
- Respond promptly and politely
- Acknowledge the issue without getting defensive
- Offer to resolve it offline, with a contact name or number
- Never argue in public
If a review is fake, offensive or breaks Google’s policies, you can report it through your Business Profile.
What not to do
- Don’t buy reviews or post fake ones
- Don’t offer discounts or gifts in exchange for reviews
- Don’t only ask customers you know are happy while filtering out others
- Don’t write reviews for your own business or ask staff to
These practices break Google’s policies and can mislead customers under Australian Consumer Law. The ACCC takes fake and misleading reviews seriously, so it’s not worth the risk.
The payoff
A business that gets a few genuine reviews every month will steadily build trust, visibility and a reputation that competitors can’t easily copy.
Want help building a review routine that works? Book a quick call and we’ll set it up with you.
Book a 20 minute call
WRITTEN BY
Marcus · SEO & Content Strategist
Plans the keywords, pages and articles that help clients get found on Google and in AI search.