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08 December 2025
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Review
Getting five star Google reviews has become a goal for every business that cares about its position on search engines. Yet many do not know where to start or mistakenly think they must buy reviews to get a good rating.
It is tempting… but risky !
Buying fake reviews on various platforms harms your e reputation, violates Google’s rules, and leads to sanctions. Most importantly, these reviews do not reflect anything real or lasting for your business !
The good news ? There are simple, effective, and compliant methods to get positive reviews naturally.
Il suffit de structurer votre démarche autour de trois piliers :
You only need to structure your approach around three pillars :
👉 In this ultimate guide, we show you how to get five star Google reviews in a legal, engaging, and profitable way.
Before trying to get more reviews, you first need to understand why they matter so much for your visibility, your reputation, and the growth of your business.
Trust plays a central role when choosing a service provider or a shop.
A business with a good Google rating and many five star reviews immediately appears more serious and more reliable.
A high average rating acts like a magnet for potential customers, especially when the purchase decision involves a significant budget.
According to the data, fifty eight percent of customers are willing to pay more or travel farther to buy from a well rated business (source : Findstack).
In other words, a strong online reputation can directly impact your conversion rate !
About nine out of ten consumers, eighty nine percent, check online reviews before making a purchase (source : Qualtrics).
For many, customer reviews carry as much weight as advice from someone they know. This is called social proof, when many people share positive feedback, it reassures others and encourages them to buy.
Having many five star reviews can change everything, it can turn simple interest into a real purchase !
To put it simply, the more positive reviews you have, the more likely your business is to appear at the top of search results on Google, especially on Google Maps
This visibility attracts more nearby customers, increases visits to your Google Business Profile, and leads to more sales through local SEO.
Google reviews are not only useful for attracting new customers, they also help support customer loyalty. By analyzing the feedback left, you better understand what customers like and what disappoints them.
This allows you to improve your products, adjust your services, and show that you truly listen to your customers. When people see that their opinion matters, they come back. And often… they talk about you to others !
Your online reputation is directly built on your Google reviews. Publishing recent reviews and replying publicly, even in case of criticism, shows that you are active, reliable, and committed.
A good mix of positive reviews, sincere interactions, and proper handling of dissatisfaction builds trust among future customers. This is how a strong and lasting brand image is created.
Several studies show that gaining one extra star on a platform such as Yelp can lead to a five to nine percent increase in revenue.
Even though Google works differently, the effect is similar : the higher the rating, the more real the commercial impact.
There is a clear link between the number of Google reviews and sales : businesses with more than 200 reviews earn on average twice as much as those with very few.
Five star reviews are not only a matter of image, they become a direct growth lever for your revenue !
So, how do you fully benefit from customer reviews and turn your profile into a real growth engine ?
👉 In the rest of this guide, you will discover three key steps to build a strong and lasting strategy :
Each level builds on the previous one, it is impossible to get long term results without a solid foundation.
By applying these best practices step by step, you maximize your chances of improving your Google rating in a lasting way.
The first requirement for receiving five star reviews is to offer a truly high quality customer experience.
A customer who feels neglected or disappointed will not take the time to recommend you, and may even leave a negative review.
To maximize your chances of receiving positive feedback, make sure you meet expectations… and even better, exceed them.
Here are the best practices to achieve this.
1. Listen to customer feedback
It is not enough to ask your customers for feedback, you must also listen to what they truly say.
Take the time to read every comment, identify useful insights, and thank even the critical customers.
This active listening shows that you value their opinion. And above all, it helps you improve your offer in a concrete way.
2. Measure customer satisfaction
To get more five star Google reviews, you first need to understand the actual experience your customers are having.
Do not guess what they think. Rely on concrete and measurable data.
Use several tools, surveys, direct feedback, or usage statistics.
Indicators such as NPS or CSAT give you a clear idea of satisfaction levels. Open comments help you better understand emotions.
The more you understand what your customers experience, the better you can improve your offer and generate positive reviews.
3. Continuously improve the customer experience
Your business should always aim to improve the customer experience.
Use customer feedback to fix what can be fixed quickly and plan deeper changes when needed. For example, you can simplify an ordering process or improve a service.
Some improvements are quick, such as a better welcome. Others require more time, such as a new product or new features. But everything should start from what your customers say.
When customers see that their feedback is heard and applied, they feel attached to your brand… and are more motivated to leave a positive review.
4. Provide responsive customer service
Good customer service can turn a negative experience into a positive review.
Often, a customer remembers how they were helped more than the initial problem. This is called the peak end rule.
That is why your team must be trained to respond with empathy, calm, and efficiency. A quick and human response makes the customer feel valued.
Service does not end after the sale. It continues if the customer has questions or runs into an issue.
The more responsive and transparent your support is, the more likely you are to receive five star Google reviews and prevent negative feedback.
5. Be sincere and human in your interactions
Authenticity is a valuable quality in any commercial relationship.
Consumers quickly perceive whether an interaction is sincere or purely transactional. Whether you respond to a review, handle dissatisfaction, or ask for feedback, always use a genuine and natural tone.
Customers appreciate feeling like they are speaking to a real person, not a scripted message.
This closeness strengthens the relationship.
And often, it is exactly what motivates people to leave a five star review.
Loyal customers who feel this sincerity become true ambassadors. They recommend you and speak about you to others.
Once the customer experience is strong, your entire team must understand the importance of Google reviews.
If no one feels concerned, reviews will be forgotten. And without collective involvement, it will be difficult to achieve lasting results.
1. Set clear numerical objectives and KPIs
To involve your whole team, give yourself a precise goal for the number of Google reviews to obtain each week.
This is what many businesses do, they track the number of reviews received and measure progress.
It motivates everyone, especially people who interact with customers, and it creates a positive dynamic.
Result : a regular, natural, and almost automatic flow of positive reviews.
2. Involve and motivate your team
To get more five star reviews, the entire team must be involved, not just management.
If employees do not understand the value of customer reviews, they may not pay attention to them.
Explain why these reviews matter. Show real numbers or examples, and set a target number of reviews per quarter.
You can also set up a reward system for those who collect the most reviews or help improve your rating. This type of motivation increases both the number of reviews and the quality of customer service.
3. Optimize your Google Business Profile
Make sure your Google Business Profile presents a clear and professional image.
Update your opening hours, address, phone number, photos, and business description on your profile and in major local directories.
A well maintained Google page builds trust. It encourages customers to leave a review and attracts new visitors.
👉 [Optimize your Google My Business profile in fifteen simple steps]
Très bien, les deux premières étapes sont couvertes. Passons maintenant à la mise en œuvre concrète sur le terrain.
1. Choose the right moment
Timing makes all the difference when it comes to requesting a Google review.
Try to identify the moment when the customer is most satisfied and enthusiastic about your service or product.
This can be right after a purchase, after a successful customer interaction, or when a clear benefit has been perceived.
What we call the “key moment” varies by sector, but it is often the moment when your added value is the most obvious.
2. Make the process simple (short link, URL, QR code)
The simpler it is to leave a Google review, the more likely your customers will do it.
If the process is too long or too complicated, even satisfied customers may give up.
Provide clear and easy instructions.
For example, send an email with a direct link to your review page, or install a QR code in your shop that points to a verified review form.
The fewer steps required, the more likely you are to receive positive reviews.
3. Send well timed reminders, email or SMS
Your customers are busy, and even the most well intentioned ones may forget to leave a review.
A well written reminder by email or SMS can reignite their initial intention and help you collect reviews without sounding pushy.
Make sure you stay polite and avoid sending too many reminders, as this could irritate them.
A discreet message by SMS or email works very well, especially when it includes a personalised thank you.
This shows appreciation and strengthens their desire to share their experience.
4. Explain why every review matters
Convincing is not forcing. You must explain why leaving a positive review helps other decision makers.
Your customers need to understand that their feedback helps not only your business, but also other people who are looking for a reliable service.
Show them that every review helps you improve what you offer, and guides future customers.
When they understand the purpose, they are more motivated to take a few minutes to write a review.
5. Adapt your channels, print, digital, social media
Each type of customer reacts differently depending on the channel used.
Some respond better to email. Others prefer a message via social media, for example through your Facebook page or LinkedIn.
Test several formats to see what performs best and adjust to your customers’ behaviour.
6. Offer a fair incentive
Even though Google forbids paying for reviews, there are honest ways to encourage customers. For example, offer a small gift, a discount, or access to a prize draw as a thank you.
The important point is that the reward must be the same for everyone, whether they leave a positive review or not. Otherwise, you risk creating dissatisfaction.
The goal is not to buy reviews, but to thank customers for the time they spend giving you feedback.
7. Handle negative feedback before it becomes public
It is normal for some customers to feel disappointed.
What matters is giving them a chance to express themselves before they post a negative review online.
You can offer a survey or a private satisfaction questionnaire.
This allows you to solve issues early, protect your reputation, and avoid negative impact on sales.
8. Display your Google reviews
Showing the positive reviews from your customers on your website can influence the opinion of visitors right from the start.
This is called the confirmation bias, we tend to notice what confirms what we already believe.
For example, if you read many positive reviews about a phone, you will mainly pay attention to its strengths. But if you see many negative comments, you will focus more on its weaknesses.
Tip : add a widget such as Widgets for Google Reviews or a customer testimonial carousel at the bottom of your homepage.
9. Reply to all reviews, even negative ones
Responding to positive reviews shows appreciation and strengthens loyalty.
Responding to negative reviews in a calm and professional manner helps you turn a disappointing experience into a positive impression and demonstrates your reliability.
It proves that you listen and that you are committed to continuous improvement.
Every reply is also an opportunity to strengthen your online reputation.
👉 Learn more about our advice for responding to every type of review
10. Automate Google review collection
To save time and receive reviews regularly, consider automating your requests.
You can use emails or SMS sent after a purchase, QR codes in store, or automatic notifications.
Make sure the reviews are automatically collected in your CRM so you can centralise all feedback. This allows you to generate reviews effortlessly while staying visible on Google.
Do not forget to personalise your messages so they remain human and warm.
Each user can leave a rating from one to five stars, one meaning a very bad experience and five an excellent one.
Google then calculates an average of all the ratings received, but this average is not a simple mathematical division. Google also takes negative ratings into account.
Contrary to what one might think, the rating displayed on your Google Business Profile is not the exact arithmetic average of all ratings.
Google applies a weighted average, meaning it gives more or less importance to certain reviews.
For example, a recent or detailed review may carry more weight than an older, very short one. This explains why the displayed rating may look slightly different from the raw calculation.
1. The total number of reviews
The more reviews you have, the more stable and reliable your average rating becomes.
A small number of reviews can create an artificially high or low score.
A rating based on five reviews does not have the same value as one based on 150 reviews, and Google takes this into account in the display.
2. The freshness of reviews
Google values recent reviews because they better reflect the current customer experience.
A wave of recent positive reviews can improve your displayed rating, even if you received some older negative comments.
3. The distribution of ratings
A profile with fifty percent five star reviews and fifty percent one star reviews will be seen as less reliable than one with a more natural distribution.
Google may adjust visibility or prominence depending on the overall consistency of customer feedback.
4. Google Business Profile activity
A profile that is regularly updated with photos, review replies, and accurate business information is perceived as more trustworthy.
The algorithm may favour this type of profile in local search results, which also influences the exposure of your average rating.
If you want to reach a specific average rating, for example 4,5 stars, you can use a Google review average simulator.
It is an excellent tool for setting SMART goals for review collection and motivating your team to take action.
👉 [Test our Google review calculator for FREE]
What if collecting positive Google reviews became a game ?
In-store contests with a QR code make the process simple, fun, and extremely effective for boosting your online image.
A contest game makes the review request feel more natural and enjoyable. The customer scans a QR code after their purchase, leaves a Google review, then participates in a prize wheel or a scratch game.
How does it work ?
Result : more engagement, more reviews, more visibility, all fully automated !
These results are the ones achieved by Maison Ravenel, an artisan bakery located in the heart of the Alps. Before using Up Review, their store was stuck at 543 Google reviews.
By launching a 100 % winning Up Review contest game, everything changed : more reviews, a stronger reputation, more engaged customers… and above all, sustainable growth in their local visibility.
The result ? A significant boost in local visibility.
If they did it, why not you ?
👉 [Create your account for free and try Up Review now]
Yes. In the e commerce sector, the social proof displayed on Google reassures anonymous visitors and speeds up the purchase decision, especially when there is no prior physical contact.
Moderation refers to filtering, verifying, and, if necessary, reporting comments before or after publication. It prevents spam and maintains constructive communication with your customers.
Yes. Only users logged into their Google account can leave a review, which limits fake profiles and strengthens the perceived reliability of reviews.
Certified reviews are collected and verified by an independent third party. They guarantee the authenticity of feedback and add extra credibility to your online reputation.
Diversifying your channels (TripAdvisor, Yelp, etc.) extends your digital footprint and reaches audiences that Google may not cover.
Respond quickly, stay factual, apologize if necessary, and propose a solution. Transparent management often turns a negative review into a showcase of your customer service.
Yes. The volume, freshness, and overall sentiment of reviews influence local ranking, alongside distance and relevance.
Reaching a few dozen recent ratings is enough to create critical mass. Each new review then strengthens your average rating and your visibility.
Absolutely. Trusted Shops adds a European trust seal (buyer protection, verified reviews) that can significantly boost conversions, especially on your online store.
Indirectly yes. A well rated profile generates a higher click through rate, which can improve your Quality Score and reduce the cost per click of your Google Ads campaigns.
Nathanaël Butet, for the Up Review team ❤️
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