Google Reviews are an important part of any coffee shop business.
They tell prospective customers what to expect, they help you know what’s working (and what isn’t), and they can even help boost your Google Business Profile online.
But figuring out how to get those Google reviews? That isn’t as easy.
Are there ways to encourage reviews without actually asking? Are you allowed to reward people for leaving a review? And are there any red flags to avoid with Google reviews in particular?
In this blog, we’re talking about why Google reviews matter, how to get more Google reviews for your coffee shop, and how not to approach Google reviews if you want to keep things authentic.
Let’s get into it.
Why getting more Google reviews matters
The number one reason your coffee shop should be strategizing how to get more Google reviews?
Because your customers care about Google reviews.
A recent survey by SEO company BrightLocal found that Google is customers’ 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%).
What’s more, Google reviews can help boost the visibility of your coffee shop’s Google Business Profile (GBP).
According to Google support, three things can determine a business’s local ranking, one of which is prominence. Prominence is how well-known a business’s GBP is, which is based on factors like the number of times other websites link to your business, how well-known your business is… and how many Google reviews you have.
So, the more Google reviews your business has, the better your prominence is — and the better your prominence is, the better your visibility is.
How to get more Google reviews (authentically!)
1 — Link to Google reviews with a QR code
The easier you make it for customers to leave you Google reviews, the better — which is where QR codes come into play.
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’re enjoying their coffee in-store or to go.
Pro tip → You can generate a QR code for free with tools like QR Code Creator or Canva.
2 — Reward customers as a thank you
Customers love to be rewarded for their loyalty, and writing a Google review is no exception.
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.
Remember: this only works as a “thank you” to customers who wrote reviews because they wanted to. Offering rewards in exchange for Google Reviews is unethical, misleading, and goes against Google’s merchant policies.
3 — Set up in-app nudges
Mobile apps offer your customers more than just convenience and loyalty. They’ve got Google review-encouraging features, too!
Certain mobile app providers (like Craver!) 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).
Pro tip → If you want customers to write a Google review, make sure your nudges and notifications specifically say “Google review.” Don’t leave room for interpretation!
4 — Send a post-visit email or SMS
If you don’t have a mobile app — or if you want to supplement your in-app push notifications — you can also send a Google review request email or SMS.
There are tons of different ways to approach Google review requests, but the general consensus among small business owners is that short, sweet, and to the point is the best strategy. Don’t forget to make leaving the review as easy as possible with in-email (or in-SMS) links straight to your GBP.
Pro tip → Make sure your subject lines are engaging and exciting without being clickbait-y or misleading. Our Ultimate Email Subject Line Playbookis a great resource for this!
5 — Highlight your best reviews
Google reviews work well as social proof, showing prospective customers what your current customers love the best about your coffee shop.
There are tons of different ways you can highlight your best Google reviews. For example, you might create a social media post featuring your top reviews or feature them on your menu next to the item the review is about. You could even create a “wall of fame” where you display your best-of-the-best Google reviews on a wall or digital screen.
Showing off your top reviews not only helps “prove” that your coffee shop is top-shelf, but it can encourage other customers to leave a Google review, too.
6 — Just ask!
The last (and arguably the easiest) way to get more Google reviews is by asking for them!
You could integrate Google reviews into your baristas’ customer service “script,” asking customers to leave a review as they’re picking up their order or leaving the store. It doesn’t have to be overly sales-y or pushy, either. Something as simple as “If you like your coffee, let us know on Google!” works great.
Or, if you don’t 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.
How not to get more Google reviews
So, now that you know the best ways to get more Google reviews, what about the worst ways?
Here are three things you should never do to get new and positive Google reviews.
Don’t ever pay for Google reviews
When a customer leaves a positive Google review, and you respond with a discount or reward for their next visit, that’s a kind gesture.
But if you offer a customer a reward, a discount, or even money in exchange for leaving a positive Google review?
That’s not only unethical, but it’s considered “fake engagement” by Google — and it goes against their “prohibited & restricted content” policy.
Don’t ask only happy customers for Google reviews
If you only ask satisfied customers to leave a Google review of your coffee shop, that’s called “review gating,” and it’s:
- Unethical and misleading,
- Against Google’s “prohibited & restricted content” policy, and
- Against the Federal Trade Commission’s best practices for online customer reviews.
…a triple whammy lesson in “what not to do to get Google reviews.”
Don’t post fake Google Reviews (or review your own business)
Posting fake Google reviews — or reviewing your own business under fake accounts — also goes directly against Google’s “prohibited & restricted content.”
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, any business found to be posting fake or false consumer reviews can be hit with a civil penalty of up to $51,744 per violation and taken to court.
Wrap up
Now that you know how to get more Google reviews for your coffee shop, it’s time to put some things into action. Here are a few things you can do today to kick-start the Google review process:
- Create a QR code to share on social media or print out in-store
- Make sure your Google Business Profile is up-to-date and ready for reviews
- Go through your latest Google reviews and make sure you’ve responded to them all
- See if your mobile app offers in-app notifications for reviews (and set them up if you can!)
- Double-check any existing links to your Google Business Profile to make sure they’re working
Download our Review Response Template for fast, easy responses to every kind of Google review — good, bad, and everything in between.
