How to Get More Customers with Google Reviews

Why Reviews Matter More Than Your Website Copy

I’m going to be blunt: you can spend thousands of dollars on a fancy website, but if you have three stars on Google and your competitor across the road has 150 five-star reviews, you are losing money every single day.

In Brisbane, we’re a loyal bunch, but we’re also skeptical. Whether someone needs a plumber in Coorparoo or a lawyer in the CBD, the first thing they do is check the reviews. It’s the digital version of asking a mate over the back fence for a recommendation.

At Local Marketing Group, we’ve seen that reviews are the single most powerful way to get Google to show your business to more people. It isn't just about looking good; it’s about making sure your phone actually rings. If you want to understand the bigger picture of how this fits into your overall plan, check out our guide for Australian businesses to see why Google prioritises certain shops over others.

The Case Study: How a Morningside Tradie Doubled His Enquiries

Let’s talk about a real-world example. We worked with a local electrician—let’s call him Dave—who ran a great business in Morningside. Dave was frustrated. He’d been in business for ten years, had hundreds of happy customers, but only had four reviews on Google.

Meanwhile, a new franchise had moved into the area. They’d been around for six months and already had 80 reviews. Even though Dave was the better sparky, Google was sending all the new leads to the franchise because, on paper, they looked more reliable.

Dave thought he needed a new website. He didn’t. He needed a system to get his happy customers to actually say something online.

Within three months of following the steps I’m about to show you, Dave went from 4 reviews to 62. His phone calls from Google Maps doubled. He didn't change his prices, and he didn't spend more on ads. He just started winning the "trust game."

The "Ask" – Why Most Businesses Fail Before They Start

Most business owners tell me, "I don't want to nag my customers."

Here is the reality: your customers are busy. They aren't thinking about your Google profile. They’re thinking about their fixed toilet or their new kitchen cabinets. If you don't ask, they won't post.

But there is a right way and a wrong way to ask.

The Wrong Way: Sending a generic email three weeks after the job is done saying, "Please leave us a review." The Right Way: Asking in person when the customer is at their happiest, then following up immediately with a direct link.

The Golden Window

If you wait 48 hours, your chances of getting that review drop by 50%. If you wait a week, forget it. You've become a distant memory.

Step 1: Make it Dead Simple (The QR Code Trick)

If you make a customer search for your business on Google, click the "Reviews" tab, and then click "Write a review," you’ve already lost them. That’s too much work.

I tell my mates who run local shops to do this: 1. Go to your Google Business Profile. 2. Find the "Get more reviews" button and copy that specific link. 3. Turn that link into a QR code (there are heaps of free sites that do this). 4. Put that QR code on your business card, your invoices, or even a sticker on the back of your laptop or tablet.

When Dave finished a job, he’d say: "Hey, I’m trying to grow my local business. If you’re happy with the work, would you mind scanning this and giving me a quick thumbs up? It takes 20 seconds."

Because he made it easy, people did it.

Step 2: Stop Wasting Time on "Tricks"

I see a lot of people trying to game the system. They buy fake reviews from overseas or have their brother-in-law post ten reviews from the same computer.

Google is smarter than you think. They know when reviews are fake. If they catch you, they won't just delete the reviews; they might hide your business from search results entirely. This is one of those tricks that no longer work and can actually end up costing you your entire online presence.

Instead of looking for a shortcut, focus on the customers you already have. A single real review from a local person in Brisbane is worth fifty fake ones from a bot.

Step 3: The Power of the Reply

Did you know that Google likes it when you reply to reviews? It shows them you’re an active, real business. But more importantly, it shows potential customers that you care.

When someone leaves a 5-star review, don't just say "Thanks." Say: "Thanks, Mrs. Smith! Glad we could get your aircon back up and running in Carindale before the heatwave hit."

Notice what I did there? I mentioned the service (aircon) and the suburb (Carindale). This helps you get found in more suburbs because it tells Google exactly where you work and what you do, without you having to write a 2,000-word essay on your website.

Handling the Dreaded 1-Star Review

It’s going to happen. Someone will have a bad day, or there will be a genuine misunderstanding, and they’ll leave a nasty review.

Most business owners get defensive. They want to argue. Don't do it.

When you reply to a bad review, you aren't talking to the angry person. You are talking to every future customer who reads that review. If you come across as professional, calm, and willing to fix the mistake, you actually build more trust than if you only had perfect reviews. People know nobody is perfect; they just want to know you’ll make it right if something goes wrong.

Step 4: Automate the Follow-Up

If you’re a busy business owner, you will forget to ask for reviews. It’s just a fact. You’re onto the next job, the next meeting, the next crisis.

This is where a little bit of tech helps. If you use an invoicing system like Xero or a booking system, you can often set up an automatic email or SMS that goes out an hour after the job is marked as "complete."

It should say something like: "Hi [Name], thanks for choosing [Business Name] today! We'd love to hear what you thought of our service. If you have 30 seconds, you can leave us a review here: [Link]"

It’s short, it’s direct, and it works while you’re asleep.

What is This Going to Cost Me?

Setting up a review system costs almost nothing. - Time: Maybe 2 hours to get your link, create a QR code, and talk to your staff. - Money: $0 if you do it manually, or maybe $30–$100 a month if you use a tool to automate the messages.

Compare that to the cost of Google Ads, which can run you hundreds or thousands a month. Reviews are the highest ROI (return on investment) activity you can do for your marketing.

How Long Until the Phone Starts Ringing?

This isn't an overnight fix. You won't get 5 reviews today and see 10 calls tomorrow.

However, usually, once a business hits a "threshold"—often around 20 to 30 recent, high-quality reviews—Google starts to take notice. In Brisbane, for most industries, if you can get 2-3 reviews every week consistently, you will start seeing a noticeable increase in enquiries within 60 to 90 days.

Consistency is the key. Google prefers a business that gets 1 review a week for a year over a business that gets 50 reviews in one day and then nothing for six months.

Your Action Plan for Monday Morning

Don't overcomplicate this. Here is exactly what I want you to do on Monday:

1. Find your link: Go to your Google Business Profile and copy your review link. 2. Make it a QR code: Print it out and stick it to your dashboard, your counter, or your clipboard. 3. The 5-Job Challenge: For the next 5 customers you deal with, ask them face-to-face for a review. Just say: "We're a local family business and your feedback really helps us beat the big franchises." 4. Reply to your old reviews: Go back through the last 5 reviews you received (even the old ones) and write a short, friendly reply.

Summary

Reviews are not a "nice to have." They are the engine that drives your business on Google. They make you look like the expert you are, they help you show up in more suburbs, and they turn casual browsers into paying customers.

If you’re too busy running the tools or managing the shop to handle all this, that’s where we come in. At Local Marketing Group, we help Brisbane businesses build systems that bring in reviews and customers on autopilot.

Stop letting your competitors take the leads that should be yours. Start asking for those reviews today.

Ready to grow your business without the headache? Contact Local Marketing Group and let’s get your phone ringing.