Quick answer Ask every customer you served, make it easy with your review link, ask right after a good result, and reply to reviews. Don't offer money, discounts or gifts for reviews, don't only ask the customers you think are happy, and never post or buy fake reviews.
Reviews matter for local businesses in Vancouver, Camas, Battle Ground, Ridgefield and the rest of Clark County. People read them before they call, and they compare your replies as much as the star rating. The good news is you don't need tricks to get more of them. You need a simple habit, done every week, inside the rules. This guide covers how to ask, and what Google and federal rules say you can't do.
Get your review link
Your Google Business Profile lets you share a link that takes customers straight to the place to leave a review. Google's own tips page for getting more reviews explains how to find and share it. Save the link on your phone, add it to your email signature, and put it in your end-of-job message. The fewer taps it takes, the more people follow through.
Ask at the right moment
The best time to ask is right after a good result. The patient who walked in sore and walked out feeling better. The homeowner whose water heater works again. The client whose matter just wrapped up. Ask in person first, in plain words: "Would you mind leaving us a Google review? I'll text you the link." Then send it that same day while the experience is fresh. A request that arrives a week later is easy to ignore.
Ask everyone, not just your fans
It's tempting to only ask the customers you know loved you, or to send unhappy customers to a private feedback form instead. Google's policy says merchants should not discourage or prohibit negative reviews, or selectively ask positive customers for reviews. So send the same request to everyone you served. It also keeps your profile believable. A long run of perfect reviews with no detail can look less real to a reader than an honest mix with thoughtful replies.
Never pay for reviews
Google's policy says merchants should not offer incentives, such as payment, discounts, or free goods or services, in exchange for posting a review or for changing or removing a negative one. Google's tips page also says reviews offered in exchange for incentives are considered fake engagement. That rules out "10 percent off for a 5 star review" and raffles tied to reviews.
Federal rules point the same way. The FTC's rule on consumer reviews and testimonials, 16 CFR Part 465, finalized in 2024, treats fake or false consumer reviews as an unfair or deceptive practice and has a section on buying positive or negative consumer reviews. Read the rule text linked below if you have a specific question, and ask your own attorney if you're unsure.
Don't review yourself
Never write reviews for your own business, and don't have staff, family or friends post them unless they were real customers. Google's policy flags reviews from people with a conflict of interest, such as family relationships or competitors, and says content should reflect a genuine experience. Content that breaks the policy can be removed.
Watch the rules for your industry
Some industries need extra care. Health care providers, like dentists, chiropractors and med spas, should be careful never to confirm that someone is a patient when replying to a review, even if the reviewer said so first. Keep replies general: "Thanks for the kind words. We appreciate you taking the time." Attorneys should check the Washington Rules of Professional Conduct on advertising and confidentiality before asking clients for reviews or replying to them. When in doubt, talk to your compliance advisor or professional association.
Reply to reviews
Thank people for good reviews. Keep it short and real. For a bad review, stay calm and don't argue in public. Acknowledge the concern, offer to talk offline, and give a phone number or email. Future customers read how you handle complaints. A fair, polite reply often does more for you than the review hurts.
Make it a weekly system
- Add a review ask to your end-of-job or checkout checklist
- Send the link by text or email the same day
- Put a small sign or card with a QR code to your review link at the front desk
- Pick one day a week to read new reviews and reply
- Send the same request to every customer, so you never drift into only asking the happy ones
None of this takes special software. If you do use a tool to send review requests, check that it sends to every customer and doesn't filter people based on whether they seem happy first.
A simple script you can use
Here is a short message you can copy and adjust for your business: "Hi, thanks again for choosing us today. If you have a minute, would you leave us a Google review? It helps other people in Clark County find us. Here's the link. Thank you!" Send it the same way to every customer. Keep the wording neutral. Don't ask for a 5 star review or tell people what to write, since Google's policy says merchants shouldn't try to influence the rating or the contents of a review. Just ask for their honest experience.
What to do next
Reviews work best on a profile that is complete and accurate. If you haven't checked your category, hours and service area lately, our step by step Google Business Profile setup guide walks through each part.
Quick answers
Can I ask friends and family to review my business?
Google's policy says reviews should reflect a genuine experience, and it flags reviews with conflicts of interest such as family relationships. Only ask people who were real customers.
Can I give a discount in exchange for a review?
No. Google's policy says merchants should not offer incentives such as payment, discounts, or free goods or services in exchange for posting a review.
Can I remove a bad review?
You can report a review that breaks Google's policies, for example spam or fake content. Negative reviews from genuine customers are allowed under the policy, so the better move is a calm, helpful reply.
Is it OK to only send review requests to happy customers?
No. Google's policy says merchants should not discourage negative reviews or selectively ask for positive reviews from customers.
Sources
- Google Maps User Generated Content Policy: Prohibited and restricted content
- Google Business Profile Help: Tips to get more reviews
- eCFR, 16 CFR Part 465: Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials (FTC rule)
If you would rather have someone set up a review routine for you, Genius Marketing does this work for Clark County businesses. This site is published by Genius Marketing.
Filed under Reviews · For all industries: Attorneys · Med Spas · Chiropractors · Dentists · Home Services
Related guides
- Google Maps and Business Profile
How to Set Up Your Google Business Profile in Vancouver WA, Step by Step