Local SEO
Local SEO Checklist: 20 Steps to Rank in Your Area
Local SEO has four parts: your Business Profile, your website, your citations and your reputation. This 20-step checklist covers all four in the order I work through them.
Read articleHow to Get More Google Reviews (Without Breaking the Rules)
Reviews help local rankings and, even more, they help people choose you. Here is a simple system to earn steady, genuine reviews and how to reply to them.
This guide shows how to get more Google reviews with a simple, rule-friendly system. It is part of my local SEO service.
Quick answer
Ask every satisfied customer for a review at the right moment, using your Google review link or QR code, and make it one click easy. Reply to every review politely. Never buy reviews, offer rewards for them, write fake ones or only ask happy customers through a filter, because these break Google’s policies and can lead to removed reviews or profile restrictions.
Why reviews matter
- Prominence is one of Google’s three local ranking factors, and review count and rating are part of it.
- Reviews strongly influence whether searchers call you or a competitor.
- Review text often mentions services and places, which adds relevance.
A simple review system
- Get your review link or QR code from your Business Profile.
- Ask at the happiest moment: right after a job is finished, a problem is solved or a product arrives.
- Ask personally first, then send the link by SMS, WhatsApp or email the same day.
- Make it easy: one link, short message, no login hurdles explained.
- Remind once after a few days if there is no review.
- Ask everyone, not just customers you expect to be happy.
Template
Hi [Name], thanks for choosing [Business] today. If you were happy with [service], would you mind leaving a quick Google review? It really helps a small business like ours: [review link]. Thank you, [Your name]
How to reply to reviews
| Review | Reply approach |
|---|---|
| 5 stars | Thank them by name, mention the service, keep it short and natural |
| Mixed | Thank them, address the specific concern, explain what you will do |
| Negative | Stay calm, apologise for the experience, offer to fix it offline with a contact |
| Fake or abusive | Reply briefly and professionally, then flag it to Google |
Google checks replies against its content policies, and replies appear publicly under your business name.
What not to do
- Buy reviews or swap reviews with other businesses.
- Offer discounts or gifts in exchange for reviews.
- Write reviews for yourself or ask staff to.
- “Review gating”: only sending the review link to customers who said they were happy.
- Ask for many reviews from one location or device at once.
Fake reviews can also break consumer protection laws in many countries.
Show reviews on your website
Display genuine testimonials on service and contact pages. Do not add self-serving review star markup for your own business; Google does not show review stars for LocalBusiness or Organization pages about themselves. See the schema markup guide.
Done for you
I optimise your Google Business Profile, build local citations and create location pages that bring calls, not just rankings.
Frequently asked questions
Do Google reviews help ranking?
Yes. Reviews are part of prominence, one of Google’s three local ranking factors, and they strongly affect clicks and calls.
Can I offer a discount for a review?
No. Incentivised reviews break Google’s policies.
Should I reply to every review?
Yes. Replies show you care, can win back unhappy customers and help future customers decide.
Can I remove a bad review?
Only reviews that break Google’s policies can be removed after you flag them. Otherwise, reply professionally.
How many reviews do I need?
Aim for steady new reviews and a count comparable to the top local competitors.
Sources
Facts checked against these official pages on 10 October 2026. Read my editorial policy.
Keep reading
Local SEO
Local Citations: What They Are and How to Build Them
Citations are listings of your business name, address and phone on other websites. They help Google trust that your business is real and where it is. Here is how to build and clean them up.
Read article
Local SEO
Google Business Profile Optimization: A Step-by-Step Guide
Your Google Business Profile is often the first thing local customers see. Here is how Google ranks local results and the 14 steps I use to optimise a profile.
Read articleWant help with your SEO?
Send your website and I will reply with a free audit.