If you’ve been in business for a while, chances are you’ve already encountered Google reviews.
These reviews can be both helpful and hurtful, depending on their content.
And whether the reviews are positive or negative, responding to Google reviews in a timely manner is very important.
But how do you go about review responses?
That’s what we’re going to tackle here today!
Jump to section
- Proven Tactics on How to Respond to Google Reviews
- Simple Ways to Reply to Reviews via Google My Business and Google Maps
- How to Increase Google Reviews from Good to Great
- Free Templates on How to Respond to Google Reviews for Positive Customer Feedback
- Free Templates on How to Respond to Google Reviews for Negative Customer Feedback
- Free Templates on How to Respond to Google Reviews for Neutral Customer Feedback
- 1) Read the Review Carefully
The first step is always the same—read the review carefully.
Make sure you understand exactly what they said before you start typing out a response and hit that post reply button.
The last thing you want to do is misread a review and end up responding inappropriately.
- 2) Show Your Appreciation
It doesn’t matter if the online review is positive or negative, your response should always show appreciation for their feedback.
Be very attentive to the feedback that the customer mentions. Thank them for taking the time to leave a review and let them know that their opinion matters to you.
This will help build trust with other potential clients who may be reading your responses as well.
- 3) Respond Quickly and Courteously
Responding to Google reviews quickly and courteously is an important part of providing excellent customer service.
It can improve how customers perceive your business and how favorable their reviews may be.
When responding to any online review, it’s important to be timely by addressing the review within 24 to 48 hours for your initial response and being polite regardless of how positive or negative the reviewer’s experience was.
If you’re looking for a little inspiration, why not download our Review Responses Toolkit – all completely FREE!
Whether it’s ideas on how to respond to good reviews, poor reviews, or constructive criticism, we’ve got some real gems up our sleeve!
Letting customers know that you’re open to feedback and that their opinion matters shows how much you value them, which goes a long way in creating loyalty among current and prospective customers.
- 4) Take Ownership of Mistakes
If you receive a negative review, then it’s important that you take ownership of any mistakes that may have been made on your part.
Admitting when things don’t go as planned goes a long way towards building trust with your customers and potential customers alike.
Don’t be afraid to apologize for any missteps and let them know what steps you’re taking to ensure it doesn’t happen again in the future.
- 5) Offer Solutions Where Possible
If the customer has raised an issue or concern in their review, try and offer solutions where possible—even if those solutions won’t necessarily solve their problem directly.
This shows that not only did you read their review carefully but also took action accordingly by providing them with resources or information they can use going forward.
- 6) Ask for Follow-up Information
By requesting more details on what has gone wrong or how the customer experienced their time with you – regardless if positive and negative, you can listen and learn from their feedback and apply that knowledge moving forward.
Asking specific questions in a casual, friendly tone of voice helps create an environment where customers will feel comfortable responding and sharing more information with you and potentially result in repeat business if handled correctly or sometimes updating their original review to a much favorable one!
Still don’t know how to craft the perfect response to positive reviews and negative Google reviews? Read our guide Check our Ultimate List of Positive and Negative Review Examples.
Conclusion
Responding to Google reviews can seem intimidating at first glance, but it doesn’t have to be!
As long as you read each review carefully before crafting your response and show appreciation for their feedback while still taking ownership of any mistakes made on your part, then responding with a more detailed review will get easier over time!
With practice comes perfection, so don’t be afraid to make mistakes along the way—just remember these six steps next time someone leaves one of your business’ reviews!
Don’t let negative reviews damage your business – sign up for ReplyToReviews and respond with professionalism and empathy. >>>
Taking the time and effort to respond to customer reviews is essential for any business owner that wants to maintain a good reputation online.
With this guide, you’ll learn how to respond to Google My Business reviews in no time!
How to Reply to Reviews via Google My Business on Desktop
Log in to your Google My Business Dashboard (https://business.google.com).
Select the correct location from multiple locations, if applicable.
Click “Menu”.
Select “Reviews”.
Reply directly underneath the review you wish to tackle.
Write response. Click “Post Reply” once completed. How to Reply to Reviews via Google My Business on Mobile
Download and open the Google My Business app – it’s available for both Android & iOS users.
Go into the “Customer” section.
Tap the “Reviews” tab.
Pick a specific user review that needs attention.
Send when finished.
How to Reply to Reviews via Google Maps Desktop
Improve your brand’s credibility and show your customers you care by signing up for ReplyToReviews and engaging with their feedback. >>>
Open up Google Maps on desktop browser of choice.
Search for your business name within Map view. Find listing associated with mentioned search result. Navigate over towards Review segment of listed outcome area.
Locate particular comment under analysis portion which requires an answer.
Type out your reply.
Hit “Submit”. Conclusion
Whether you run a restaurant, store, or other business, it’s important to understand how to respond to Google reviews.
Reviews on Google My Business can help your Google business profile stand out from the competition and draw potential customers in.
Take charge of your Google My Business reviews and if you’re overwhelmed by how to respond to your Google Reviews, ReplyToReviews is here to help!
With our team of experts, we’ll not only save you time and effort but provide a level of skill and customer care that you won’t be able to get anywhere else.
Boost your business’ online visibility and
improve your customer relationships with ReplytoReviews – sign up now!
Google reviews for business are an essential part of any company’s online presence.
After all, if potential customers can’t find your business on Google, then how will they know about you?
That’s why it’s so important to have a strong reviews strategy in place – and that means understanding the ins and outs of how to increase your Google reviews even on your initial response to any reviews.
Read on for the top 3 tips on how to get more positive feedback and boost your brand!
- 1. Ask for Reviews in Person
When customers come into your store or office, take the time to ask them if they wouldn’t mind leaving you a review on Google when they get home.
It takes just a few seconds, but those few seconds can go a long way toward increasing the number of positive reviews you receive. Plus, having employees ask in person leaves customers feeling valued and appreciated!
- 2. Respond Quickly and Thoughtfully
When someone leaves you a review—positive or negative—it’s important that you respond quickly and thoughtfully.
Acknowledge their feedback and thank them for taking the time to leave it.
If someone has had an issue with your product or service, try to address it as best you can while also showing empathy and understanding.
Doing so will show other potential customers that you care about their experience with your business!
- 3. Create a Link for Customers to Leave Reviews
The last step toward getting more reviews is making it easy for people to leave them.
This means providing customers with an easy-to-find link they can use to review your business.
You can create a link using the “share” button in your business listing on Google or by creating a short URL using a service like Bitly or Rebrandly.
You can then share this link in emails, on social media, or even printed materials like flyers or business cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Google Review Link?
Have you ever wondered why your friends seem to have reviews about Google posted on their social media accounts?
It’s because they know a nifty trick – they’re using Google Review Links!
These links are generated so that customers can easily leave reviews about a particular business.
Why Does Having a Google Review Link Important?
Not only do these reviews help other potential customers find out more about what’s up with the business, but it also boosts the search engine visibility of that business and a lot easier for you to respond to reviews
So if you’re looking to get the word out there and generate reviews for your business, then look no further than getting yourself a Google Review Link!
How to Generate a Google Review Link
- Here are 3 simple steps to follow:
Search for your Google My Business account, then click the Google reviews link as shown below: 
Click the “Get more reviews” button. 
Copy the URL, that’s your Google review link! 
Can you delete Google business reviews?
It can be a tricky business to decide how you want any inappropriate review, fake review and negative feedback associated with your business on Google.
After all, reviews are essential to boosting your search engine optimization and increasing your visibility on the web.
Though it might seem like a bad review and some fake reviews on Google cannot be taken down once they have been left, the good news is that you can actually delete reviews about your business from certain places within Google.
It’s a bit of a complicated process, but there are several resources available online to help guide you through deleting a negative review from any angry customer if needed.
Of course, getting your Google business reviews in the first place is just as important.
There are many ways to generate reviews and get people to talk about your product or service.
Leveraging customer loyalty programs, rewards points, and feedback forms are all excellent methods when it comes to driving more reviews on Google.
How do you incentivize Google reviews?
The best way to go about getting positive Google reviews is by rewarding your customers with gifts/incentives.
A great way to do this is by making use of loyalty programs and rewards such as exclusive discounts or gifts when reviews are submitted.
You could even expand outside of positive Google review and offer these kinds of rewards just for actions that your customers make like following you on social media – the possibilities are endless!
Allocating a budget for rewards will help ensure reviews come in and your business’s reputation is spread far and wide with the help of loyal customers.
Does the law prohibit paying for reviews?
If reviews on Google are anything to go by, it’s safe to assume that many people are interested in the opinion of others.
Some reviews, however, can be purchased, so the question arises: is it illegal to pay for reviews?
The simple answer is that yes, it is a crime in some cases.
Reviews about Google products should never be bought as they can open you up to financial penalty and even jail time!
A better way to generate reviews on Google is through lots of hard work.
Develop a great product or service and get customers talking about your business– this is the safest and most reliable way to acquire positive reviews from genuine customers.
What are some tips for optimizing your Google Review Link?
You can create and share a link for customers to leave reviews. To get customers to use the link:
Tip #1: Consider adding your Google Review Link in thank you emails.
It’s a great way to generate more reviews, show customers that their opinions matter, and helps new customers quickly find out what others think of your product or service.
Plus, it’s also an easy task to add into your existing workflow.
Reach out to your past customers and ask them to leave reviews – they’ll be sure to appreciate the extra special effort!
Tip #2: Consider adding your Google Review Link at the end of a chat support interactions.
Adding a Google reviews link at the end of a chat support interaction on your business app can be a great way to get reviews about your product that can help you identify areas for improvement.
Not only will customers have an easy way of providing feedback, but it gives them control over how they provide reviews and can ultimately lead to more reviews and better reviews overall.
Best of all, it’s an effortless way to generate reviews with just one click!
Tip #3: Consider adding your Google Review Link on your receipts.
How about stirring up reviews during the sale process?
Adding a link to your Google reviews right on the receipt is an easy and effective way to generate reviews regardless of what the customer purchased.
Provide incentives and let your customers know you want an honest review.
A friendly reminder with each purchase adds a personal touch that will encourage customers to not only leave reviews, but also give positive ratings.
Make sure your how-to’s are clear and easy-to-follow; this will make it simple for everyone to add and manage reviews so you can trust that you’re getting authentic feedback from customers who appreciate you!
Benefits of Sharing a Google Review Link
By sharing a link, you can easily and quickly find other review responses to read and get more reviews yourself.
Not only will the reviews be helpful to others in the future but with the help of a link, collecting reviews has never been easier.
- Improved SEO ranking
Google loves it when you share your review link with your customers and respond to reviews!
In fact, they reward you for it by giving you a higher ranking in their local search results.
Boost your ranking even more when you add a few keywords like “thank you”, “reviews”, etc. on your responses to your Google business profiles.
- Build customer trust and credibility
Customers love it when you share your review link with them!
They feel appreciated and valued, and are more likely to leave a positive review as a result especially when you make it a habit to respond to reviews.
As a business owner, sharing your review link with your customers helps to build trust and credibility.
Customers are more likely to trust a business profile that is open and transparent about its online reviews.
- Gain insights from customer reviews
When you share your review link with your customers, you are giving them the opportunity to provide feedback that can help you improve your business.
Customers appreciate businesses that listen to either their positive or negative reviews and make changes accordingly.
Sharing your review link with your customers shows that you are confident in the quality of your product or service.
This confidence will inspire customers to leave a positive review.
- Better customer service
Sharing your review link with your customers is just good customer service!
It shows that you care about their opinion and value their feedback.
Showing that you value their feedback shows that you’re invested in providing the best possible experience for them – and who doesn’t like feeling appreciated?
- Streamlined review process
Whether you’re interested in reviews about Google products or services or collecting reviews of your own business, using a Google review link can make this process much more efficient and straightforward including when you respond to reviews.
Not only does it make the process more straightforward, but it also helps you respond faster to any reviews you may receive.
Plus, there’s something pretty cool about being able to handle customer feedback with just a few clicks – now that’s worth celebrating!
Google reviews are crucial for any businesses online presence – but getting more positive ones isn’t always easy!
Thankfully, there are some simple steps you can take that will help increase the number of positive reviews your business receives. So don’t wait – start boosting those Google business reviews today!
By creating links for customers to leave reviews, asking for them in person, and responding quickly and thoughtfully to any positive or negative review when people do leave them, you’ll be well on your way to boosting your reputation online!
Conclusion
You now have the tools and techniques to make your Google customer reviews skyrocket from good to great.
Experiment with different approaches, engage with customers, reward them for their efforts, and keep track of your metrics.
All of these tips are key to creating a successful positive and negative reviews strategy that helps put your business ahead of the game.
And as always, maintaining a positive attitude can help give you an edge when it comes to improving your online reputation.
What To Read Next…
Get ready to level up your customer service game with our free review response examples. Our handy positive response samples can help you craft any positive response that will make customers smile and keep them coming back for more!
Are you struggling to craft the perfect comeback for that less-than-stellar review? Don’t worry – we’ve got some free review response examples waiting right here!
Say goodbye to online reviews ruining your reputation. With Google Neutral Review Response, protect your brand and take back control of your online presence! Get started today and outsmart the negative reviewers – unleash the power of your business with us now!
If your business account is getting noticed and receiving Google customer reviews, congratulations!
You’ve come a long way – and not just in terms of growing your customer base and making sales.
Now you need to think about how best to respond to Google reviews.
Don’t worry though – with the right approach, navigating reviews can be a breeze.
We have some free templates for you to use on how to respond to positive and negative reviews plus templates for neutral reviews that will help ensure these conversations are engaging, professional and successful.
So let’s dive in…
Google Positive Customer Review Response Example #1
“Hi, [Customer Name],
We’re so pleased to hear that you had such a great experience with our product! We work hard every day to ensure that all of our customers have the best time possible. Thank you for taking the time to share your positive review!
Google Positive Review Response Example #2
“Hi, [Customer Name],
Wow, we couldn’t be more thrilled that you enjoyed our product so much! We strive to provide the highest quality products and services and are glad you noticed. Thank you for leaving us such a kind review!
Google Positive Review Response Example #3
“Hi, [Customer Name],
We can’t thank you enough for your wonderful review of our product! Our goal is always for satisfied customers to have exceptional experiences when using our products, so we’re overjoyed that yours was one of them. Your feedback means the world to us, thank you!
Google Positive Review Response Example #4
“Hi, [Customer Name],
Your kind words about our product really mean a lot to us – thank you for taking the time to write out such for such a great customer experience! It was an absolute pleasure having you as a happy customer, and we look forward to seeing what else we can do in the future to make your experience even better.
Google Positive Review Response Example #5
“Hi, [Customer Name],
What an incredible review! We’re delighted that your experience with us exceeded all expectations and truly appreciate your generous feedback. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s ever anything else we can do for you – thanks again for reviewing us so positively!”
Google Positive Review Response Example #6
“Hi, [Customer Name],
It makes us so happy when customers like yourself love our products as much as we do – thank you for letting us know how much you liked it through this awesome review! Knowing that others enjoy what we’ve created is one of the greatest rewards imaginable and greatest positive response, and we sincerely appreciate your kind sentiments and good reviews.”
Google Positive Review Response Example #7
“Hi, [Customer Name],
What fantastic news that you had such a positive experience with our product – thank you for leaving us this glowing review! It’s always nice to hear our customer’s experience who not only appreciate but also actively enjoy what they receive from us – please don’t hesitate to let us know if there’s anything else we can do in the future!”
Google Positive Review Response Example #8
“Hi, [Customer Name],
Wow, thanks so much for writing this amazing review about your recent purchase from us – it makes us beam with pride knowing how happy customers like you made you feel when using it! All of our team here at [Company Name] greatly appreciates the time taken out of your day in order to leave this thoughtful comment, many thanks again from all of us here at [ Business Name ].”
Google Positive Reviews Response Example #9
“Hi, [Customer Name],
So glad that everything went well during your purchase process with us – thank you kindly for sharing such an insightful and heartfelt review about it on Google Reviews! We take immense pride in providing exceptional services and products here at [ Business Name ], and hearing good reviews from happy customers like yourself is truly rewarding in itself – many thanks again from everyone here at [Company Name]!”
Google Positive Reviews Response Example #10
“Hi, [Customer Name],
Thanks ever so much for taking the time out of your day in order to leave such a positive review about our product/service on Google Reviews; knowing that customers like yourself have taken their own initiative shows just how highly valued they are by people like yourselves around the world; many thanks again from all of us here at [Company Name] – looking forward to seeing what else we can do together in the future.”
Google Negative Reviews Response Example #1
“Hi, [Customer Name],
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We’re sorry to hear that you didn’t have a positive experience with our product/service and we apologize for any inconvenience this caused.
We take your feedback very seriously and are always looking for ways to improve. If there is anything else we can do to make things right, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.”
Google Negative Reviews Response Example #2
“Hi, [Customer Name],
We appreciate the feedback that you’ve provided and are sorry that you had a negative experience with our product/service. Your input is important to us as it helps us make sure we continually provide quality products/services.
We value your opinion and will use your negative review as an opportunity to improve in the future. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to make things right!”
Google Negative Reviews Response Example #3
“Hi, [Customer Name],
Thank you for informing us about your recent purchase with us – it’s through negative Google review like yours that enables us to continuously strive towards better performance standards in providing excellent products/services and satisfying customer needs every day! We sincerely apologize for any trouble or inconvenience this may have caused and invite you contact our customer service team so they may work on finding an appropriate solution.
Google Negative Reviews Response Example #4
“Hi, [Customer Name],
We regret hearing such a frustrating experience with our services was not satisfactory. We are committed to providing our customers with quality products/services and would like the opportunity to try and make things right. If there is anything else we can help with, please don’t hesitate to reach out directly so that a real person can address your concerns properly. Thank you again for bringing this up!”
Google Negative Reviews Response Example #5
“Hi, [Customer Name],
We understand your disappointment about the service you received from us and apologize for any disappointment this may have caused. Customer satisfaction is at the heart of everything we do, so hearing your feedback helps us ensure that all our customers receive an exceptional level of service. We would be more than happy to look into this further for you; please contact us if there is anything more we can do.”
Google Negative Review Response Example #6
“Hi, [Customer Name],
We apologize that your experience did not meet expectations, as customer satisfaction is of utmost importance here at [business name]. Your comments will certainly be taken into careful consideration in order for us to continue improving our services in the future and ensuring all customers have a positive experience.”
Google Negative Reviews Response Example #7
“Hi, [Customer Name],
We’re sorry about your negative experience with [business name] – it’s certainly not what we want any of our customer mentions when they think of us! We’d love an opportunity to make things right; please contact our support team if there’s any way they could help out.”
Google Negative Review Response Example #8
“Hi, [Customer Name],
It sounds like something went wrong during your purchase process, which definitely wasn’t what was intended! Please accept our apologies; if there’s anything else we can do please contact us directly.”
Google Negative Review Response Example #9
“Hi, [Customer Name],
Your honest review has been heard loud and clear; thank you for taking the time to share it with us! We strive for 100% customer satisfaction here at [business name], so hearing about unhappy customers experiences like yours gives us valuable insight on areas where improvement could be made.”
Google Negative Review Response Example #10
“Hi, [Customer Name],
We’re disappointed that [product/service] didn’t live up its usual standards – please accept our sincere apologies! Your feedback has been invaluable in helping shape our business’s core values and how we deliver true value each day, so thank you once again!”
Neutral Google Review Response Example #1
“Hi, [Customer],
Thank you for taking the time to leave us your valuable feedback. We appreciate all customer reviews, and we thank you for your thoughts. Our goal is to provide an enjoyable experience for all of our customers, so we take your constructive criticism very seriously.”
Neutral Google Review Response Example #2
“Hi, [Customer],
We value your feedback! It helps us identify areas where we can improve and ensure our customers have the best possible experience when using our services. We appreciate you taking the time to let us know what you think about our service.”
Neutral Google Review Response Example #3
“Hi, [Customer],
Your opinion matters to us! We strive to offer exceptional customer service and a great product, so we are grateful that you shared your thoughts with us. Your review helps guide our efforts in providing quality products and services.”
Neutral Google Review Response Example #4
“Hi, [Customer],
Your comments are important to us! We take every customer opinion seriously and use it as an opportunity to improve. Thank you for taking the time to leave us your honest review; it has been helpful in evaluating our services.”
Google Neutral Review Response Example #5
“Hi, [Customer],
Your feedback is greatly appreciated! Hearing directly from customers like yourself gives us valuable insight into how we can serve our customers better and make sure they have a positive experience with us. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!”
Neutral Google Review Response Example #6
Hi, [Customer],
Customer satisfaction is our top priority here at [company name] and hearing from customers like yourself helps drive our efforts in meeting that goal. We appreciate the time taken to leave this review and value that input as it helps keeps us focused on providing excellent service for our clients.”
Neutral Google Review Response Example #7
“Hi, [Customer],
At [company name], we aim to meet or exceed every customer’s expectations each and every time they visit or interact with our company. Your comments help guide those efforts in providing consistently outstanding service, so thank you for taking the time to share them with us!”
Neutral Google Review Response Example #8
“Hi, [Customer],
Thank you for being a loyal customer at [company name]. We truly appreciate the feedback that allows us to continue improving on the services offered here at [company name]. Your input is valuable in helping ensure excellent experiences each time someone interacts with [company name].”
Neutral Google Review Response Example #9
“Hi, [Customer],
Every piece of feedback counts toward making sure we are doing everything possible to create a great experience while using our services. We take pride in striving continuously towards excellence by listening closely when people share their experiences with us, so thank you for taking part in this process by leaving a review!”
Neutral Google Review Response Example #10
“Hi, [Customer],
As part of ensuring high-quality products and services, we highly value any feedback given by customers like yourself who took the time out of their day just to give their opinion about what could be improved upon at [company name]. All suggestions made are taken into serious consideration as part of maintaining excellent service at all times – thank you again!”
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