Google Reviews are an important part of any coffee shop business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They tell prospective customers what to expect, they help you know what\u2019s working (and what isn\u2019t), and they can even help boost your Google Business Profile<\/a> online. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But figuring out how to get<\/em> those Google reviews? That isn\u2019t as easy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Are there ways to encourage reviews without actually asking<\/em>? Are you allowed to reward people for leaving a review? And are there any red flags to avoid with Google reviews in particular?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this blog, we\u2019re talking about why Google reviews matter, how to get more Google reviews for your coffee shop, and how not<\/em> to approach Google reviews if you want to keep things authentic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s get into it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The number one reason your coffee shop should be strategizing how to get more Google reviews?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because your customers care<\/em> about Google reviews. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A recent survey<\/a> by SEO company BrightLocal found that Google is customers\u2019 go-to website for looking up business reviews. A whopping 83% of customers choose Google for review research, which is almost twice the number of people using Yelp (44%) and around three times the number of people using TripAdvisor (22%). <\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, Google reviews can help boost the visibility of your coffee shop\u2019s Google Business Profile (GBP)<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Google support<\/a>, three things can determine a business\u2019s local ranking, one of which is prominence. Prominence is how well-known a business\u2019s GBP is, which is based on factors like the number of times other websites link to your business, how well-known your business is\u2026 and <\/em>how many Google reviews you have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, the more Google reviews your business has, the better your prominence is \u2014 and the better your prominence is, the better your visibility is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The easier you make it for customers to leave you Google reviews, the better \u2014 which is where QR codes come into play. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Add QR codes that link directly to your Google review page to different areas of your coffee shop, like menus, countertop signs, or even on physical products like napkins. That way, customers can easily leave you a Google review whether they\u2019re enjoying their coffee in-store or to go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro tip \u2192 You can generate a QR code for free with tools like <\/em>QR Code Creator<\/em><\/a> or <\/em>Canva<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Customers love to be rewarded for their loyalty<\/a>, and writing a Google review is no exception. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When a customer leaves a review, respond with your thanks and offer a discount or freebie for next time. People checking out your Google reviews will see how you reward customers, and they may be incentivized to do the same after they visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember: this only works as a \u201cthank you\u201d to customers who wrote reviews because they wanted to.<\/em> Offering rewards in exchange <\/em>for Google Reviews is unethical, misleading, and goes against Google\u2019s merchant policies<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mobile apps<\/a> offer your customers more than just convenience and loyalty. They\u2019ve got Google review-encouraging features, too! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Certain mobile app providers (like Craver<\/a>!) enable push notifications and in-app nudges. So, after a customer picks up a mobile order or reaches a loyalty milestone, for example, you could schedule an in-app notification asking them to leave a Google review of their purchase (or overall experience).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro tip \u2192 If you want customers to write a Google review, make sure your nudges and notifications specifically say \u201cGoogle review.\u201d Don\u2019t leave room for interpretation! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t have a mobile app \u2014 or if you want to supplement your in-app push notifications \u2014 you can also send a Google review request email or SMS. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are tons of different ways to approach Google review requests, but the general consensus among small business owners<\/a> is that short, sweet, and to the point is the best strategy. Don\u2019t forget to make leaving the review as easy as possible with in-email (or in-SMS) links straight to your GBP. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro tip \u2192 Make sure your subject lines are engaging and exciting without being clickbait-y or misleading. Our <\/em>Ultimate Email Subject Line Playbook<\/em><\/a>is a great resource for this!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Google reviews work well as social proof, showing prospective customers what your current <\/em>customers love the best about your coffee shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are tons of different ways you can highlight your best Google reviews. For example, you might create a social media post<\/a> featuring your top reviews or feature them on your menu next to the item the review is about. You could even create a \u201cwall of fame\u201d where you display your best-of-the-best Google reviews on a wall or digital screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Showing off your top reviews not only helps \u201cprove\u201d that your coffee shop is top-shelf, but it can encourage other customers to leave a Google review, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The last (and arguably the easiest) way to get more Google reviews is by asking for them! <\/p>\n\n\n\n You could integrate Google reviews into your baristas\u2019 customer service \u201cscript,\u201d asking customers to leave a review as they\u2019re picking up their order or leaving the store. It doesn\u2019t have to be overly sales-y or pushy, either. Something as simple as \u201cIf you like your coffee, let us know on Google!\u201d works great. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Or, if you don\u2019t want to ask for Google reviews in person, try on social media! An Instagram story or quick TikTok with a link to your Google Business Profile can work just as well as an in-person ask. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, now that you know the best <\/em>ways to get more Google reviews, what about the worst<\/em> ways?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are three things you should never do to get new and positive Google reviews. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When a customer leaves a positive Google review, and you respond with a discount or reward for their next visit, that\u2019s a kind gesture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But if you offer a customer a reward, a discount, or even money in exchange<\/em> for leaving a positive Google review? <\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s not only unethical, but it\u2019s considered \u201cfake engagement\u201d by Google \u2014 and it goes against their \u201cprohibited & restricted content<\/a>\u201d policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you only ask satisfied customers to leave a Google review of your coffee shop, that\u2019s called \u201creview gating<\/a>,\u201d and it\u2019s: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026a triple whammy lesson in \u201cwhat not to do to get Google reviews.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Posting fake Google reviews \u2014 or reviewing your own business under fake accounts \u2014 also goes directly against Google\u2019s \u201cprohibited & restricted content<\/a>.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n But, unlike the other two not-so-great Google review practices, violating this one can have legal consequences. According to a new Federal Trade Commission ruling<\/a>, any business found to be posting fake or false consumer reviews can be hit with a civil penalty of up to $51,744<\/a> per violation and<\/em> taken to court. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you know how <\/em>to get more Google reviews for your coffee shop, it\u2019s time to put some things into action. Here are a few things you can do today to kick-start the Google review process: <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy getting more Google reviews matters <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to get more Google reviews (authentically!)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1 \u2014 Link to Google reviews with a QR code<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2 \u2014 Reward customers as a thank you<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3 \u2014 Set up in-app nudges <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4 \u2014 Send a post-visit email or SMS <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5 \u2014 Highlight your best reviews<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6 \u2014 Just ask!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How not<\/em> to get more Google reviews<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t ever pay for Google reviews <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t ask only happy customers for Google reviews <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Don\u2019t post fake Google Reviews (or review your own business)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Wrap up <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Download our Review Response Template for fast, easy responses to every kind of Google review \u2014 good, bad, and everything in between. <\/h3>\n\n\n