How to Get More Google Reviews: A Practical Guide for South West WA Businesses

The most reliable way to get more Google reviews is to ask every customer who had a good experience, make the review one tap away, and reply to each review you receive. It is simple, but the details decide whether it works: when you ask, what you say, and what Google does not allow. This guide is for owners in Busselton, Bunbury, Margaret River, Dunsborough and Augusta who want a steady flow of genuine reviews. It builds on our Google Business Profile optimization guide, which covers the rest of your profile.

Why Asking Works

Most customers will write a review, but few think of it on their own. In BrightLocal's 2026 Local Consumer Review Survey, 94% of consumers said they are open to writing reviews and 78% had been asked to leave one in the past 12 months. Of those who were asked, 83% went on to write one. And 28% said they always write a review when asked, up from 16% the year before.

One caution: BrightLocal surveyed 1,002 US adults, so read these figures as a guide to behaviour, not a count of South West WA customers. Whitespark's 2024 local SEO guide reaches the same practical conclusion: you will typically get more reviews if you ask for them.

Know the Rules Before You Ask

Google lets you ask for reviews. It does not let you pay for them, steer them or filter them. Its Maps policy says businesses can encourage reviews that reflect a genuine experience, as long as they offer no incentives and do not try to influence the rating or the wording.

Do	Do not
Ask customers who really used your business	Offer payment, discounts or free goods for a review, or for changing or removing one
Ask every customer, whatever you expect them to say	Ask only the people you think will be happy
Share a link and let people write in their own words	Ask for specific wording, or for a staff member to be named
Let customers review when it suits them	Pressure customers to review while they are on your premises
Earn reviews with service worth writing about	Set staff a target number of reviews to collect

Google also says reviews from people with a conflict of interest, such as current or former employees and family members, are not allowed. So the owner's cousin cannot leave the first five.

Australian law applies as well. The ACCC says it is against the law for a business to create fake or misleading reviews, or to arrange for others to create them, and that offering incentives for positive reviews risks misleading consumers. Our article on online reviews and local trust explains what customers look for once the reviews are there.

Step 1: Make It Easy to Leave a Google Review

A customer is far more likely to finish a review if the link opens the review box directly. Google suggests asking customers to visit a Google link or scan a QR code, and it explains how to create both for your profile. Customers need to be signed in to a Google Account, but it does not have to be a Gmail address.

Put the link where customers already are. BrightLocal suggests sending requests by email or SMS, adding the link to receipts and following up after a visit. Whitespark recommends collecting a mobile number or email at the time of service, and writing simple instructions for customers who are not confident with technology.

Step 2: Choose the Right Moment

Ask when the customer is happiest, then let them respond in their own time. Google's policy says businesses should not require or pressure customers to leave a review while on the premises, so keep the ask light and hand over a link they can use later. Here is how that can look in a few local settings:

• A plumber or electrician in Bunbury: after the customer says thanks for a finished job, text them the link that evening.
• A cellar door or cafe in Margaret River: slip a small card with a QR code in with the bill, and send a thank-you email after the visit.
• An accommodation host or tour operator in Dunsborough or Augusta: email the link once guests have left, while the trip is fresh.
• A shop in Busselton: print the link or QR code on the receipt and on a small counter card.

Timing varies by business. Whitespark suggests testing your own request window, because an immediate request can annoy some customers. Try two or three different gaps and see which one brings more reviews.

Step 3: Ask in Your Own Words

A short, friendly request beats a polished script. Something like this works face to face: "Glad you're happy with it. If you have a minute, a Google review helps other locals find us. I'll text you the link." And by text: "Hi Sam, thanks for choosing us. If you were happy with the job, would you leave a quick Google review? A sentence or two is plenty."

Keep it that short on purpose. BrightLocal found that a long, detailed review is among the things customers care about least (26%), and its advice is that short and happy works perfectly. Do not ask for five stars, and do not tell people what to write. If someone does not respond, one polite reminder is enough.

Step 4: Reply to Every Google Review

Replies tell the next reader that a real person is paying attention. BrightLocal's 2026 data says 80% of consumers are likely to use a business that responds to all its reviews, and 50% are put off by generic, templated replies. Whitespark adds that you can reply to old reviews too, which shows the lights are on.

Google's guidance for replies is short and consistent:

• Keep it short and simple, and use the reviewer's name.
• Share a detail from their visit rather than pasting the same thank-you every time.
• Stay conversational, not promotional. Do not offer deals in a reply.

Google reviews every reply before it appears, usually within 10 minutes but sometimes up to 30 days. The reviewer is notified, and they can edit their review after reading your answer.

What to Do About Negative and Fake Google Reviews

A few critical reviews are normal, and Google says a mix of positive and negative feedback often feels more trustworthy. Reply politely, own any mistake, apologise where it is fair, and move complicated cases to a phone call or email. Google adds that following up on a concern may encourage the customer to update their review.

If a review breaks Google's content policies, for example because it is not based on a real experience, you can flag it. Be careful here. The ACCC says a business needs an adequate basis for believing a review is fake before it removes or edits it, and that removing a genuine negative review may mislead consumers. Never ask a customer to delete an honest review in exchange for a discount, because Google bans that too.

A Simple Weekly Routine

Steady beats a burst. BrightLocal found 74% of consumers only consider reviews from the last three months, and 32% look for reviews from the last two weeks. A weekly habit keeps your profile current:

• List the customers who had a good experience this week.
• Send each one your review link by text or email.
• Keep a QR card at the counter or with invoices and receipts.
• Reply to every new review within a few days.
• Check once a month for missing or suspicious reviews, as Whitespark advises.
• Fix anything that keeps showing up in complaints.

What This Means for South West WA Businesses

You do not need a clever trick. You need a habit: ask every customer, make it easy, reply to everything and play by Google's rules. Start this week with your link and one card by the till or in the ute. If you would like to see how your profile and reviews compare with local competitors, our free digital audit is a good place to begin.