Ben here, from Little Mountain Printing.
As a marketing director, I’ve spoken with many business owners who’ve struggled to get more reviews on their Google Business Profile and win new customers.
We’ve put together this short guide to end that struggle. After reading through, you’ll know exactly how to get more Google reviews using a proven method we’ve piloted over and over again.
Key Takeaways
- Printed review cards with QR codes make it simple for customers to leave Google reviews and strengthen your Google Business Profile, winning you more website visits plus customer validation. It’s one of the simplest marketing strategies you can use.
- Businesses with 20–50 Google reviews gain the most trust, show up higher in local search results, and attract more new customers.
- Combining review cards with follow-up messages is one of the most effective ways to get more Google reviews fast. A follow-up review request strategy (email or text) boosts the impact of printed cards and helps get more Google reviews consistently.
Why You Should Care About Google Reviews In The First Place
Before we get into the “how-to”, let’s talk about why reviews matter so much in the first place.
If you’re running a local business and wondering why your phone isn’t ringing more or why people are skipping past your name in Google search, there’s a good chance your review count (or lack of) is the reason.
When potential customers search for your services, they don’t just look at your website, they look at your reputation.
More specifically, they check out your Google reviews.
These reviews influence local search rankings (SEO, or Search Engine Optimization), shape customer trust, and ultimately sway buying decisions. If you don’t have many reviews — or worse, if you’ve got old existing Google reviews or negative ones — it can be a silent dealbreaker.
Online reviews are an integral part of the foundation of your business’s online presence…and winning more customers. Here’s how Google reviews help you win more visibility and more work, and then how to score more of them.
Google Reviews Help You Be Found Online With SEO Gains
The world goes to Google to find products or services they need.
How can you show up when your best customers are searching? One way is by having enough reviews on your Google Business Profile.
Studies by Sterling Sky have demonstrated most businesses need at least 10 reviews on thier Google Profile to get more visibility in search results. (Source) As Google recognizes that you have a real business with real customers – via reviews – Google begins to elevate your business and website in the results for local searches.
Think of it as one social signal to the robots and algorithms that make Google tick.
Reviews Help You Win More Business With Social Proof
Google reviews are proof to the world that your business follows through. When someone sees 50 or 100 people vouching for you, that’s powerful social proof.
That’s trust you don’t have to buy with expensive ads.
And if your competitors already have that trust built up, you’re playing catch-up. So the sooner you make reviews part of your everyday workflow, the faster you’ll start closing that trust gap and winning more of the customers you want.
Did you know 75% of people ‘always’ or ‘regularly’ read reviews before making a purchase from a local business? (Source) According to that same study, when consumers run to a review site before purchasing from your business, 81% of them run to Google customer reviews for your work.
How many reviews do consumers expect to see on your Google Profile when they land there? Most consumers (59%) expect a business to have between 20-99 reviews. (Source)
Needless to say, if you don’t have a properly filled-out Google Business Profile with at least 20-50 positive reviews, you may be losing sales.
Case Study: How We Helped Sunny Slope Tree Service Gain 36 New Google Reviews in Just a Few Months
Sunny Slope Tree Service came to us around March of 2023. They were working with another marketing company out of state and felt their current marketing strategy wasn’t working. They switched to Little Mountain Printing where we built a new website and began implementing a more robust local marketing plan.
One glaring problem we noticed was that Sunny Slope only had 51 reviews whereas some of their biggest competitors had over 100.
If you’re a consumer and trying to decide between two tree removal competitors, you’ll almost always choose the company that has far more reviews if their star ratings are about the same. You instinctively trust the company that appears to have more satisfied customers.
To change the tide, we printed a bunch of “review cards.” Review cards look exactly like business cards, but instead of providing contact information, they kindly ask for a review. Here’s what Sunny Slope’s looked like:
You’ll notice the QR code to the right. When customers scan that code, they’re immediately taken to Sunny Slope’s Google Business Profile.
We asked Sunny Slope to hand these to every customer after a job well done.
The result?
After just a few months, they were able to add 36 new reviews to their Google Business Profile – a number that previously took them years to achieve without this strategy. And as of the writing of this guide, Sunny Slope Tree Service has over 130 reviews and has maintained almost a perfect rating!
What to Include On Your Printed Review Cards
Great question.
A good printed review card starts with a clear and friendly review request. It should sound personal so customers feel comfortable taking that next step. Be sure to include a scannable QR code that links directly to your Google review page or Google Maps listing. This cuts out friction and gives your customer a one-tap way to leave a review right from their phone.
Make your Google Business Profile name or logo clearly visible on the card to reinforce brand trust. Follow that with a short thank-you message and a call to action, something simple like “Your feedback matters to us!” works well.
To earn more positive reviews, it’s helpful to remind customers that they can leave a review with a photo! Google rewards high-quality photos by giving them more visibility in relevant searches, and they help potential customers picture the result.
You can also reinforce your credibility by including your business name and showcasing your current average rating or a snippet of a recent positive Google review. The goal is to make the review process feel simple, fast, and worthwhile for them and for your business.
Other Smart Places to Share Your Google Review Link
Printed cards are step one; sprinkle your google review link or request reviews elsewhere to get even more google business reviews:
- Email signature
- Website footer and confirmation pages
- Text follow‑ups after service completion
- Paper invoices, thank‑you cards, or packaging inserts
- Social media DMs for customers who engage online
Advanced Tips To Get More Google Reviews
Depending on the type of clients you work with, you may need to implement a follow-up strategy.
After you’ve finished the job and have given out a review card, wait about a week. Have your office manager check your Google Business Profile. If your client has not left a review, have your office manager email the client something like the following (but adapt to your specific business):
“[Client Name], thank you so much for trusting us with your tree removal! I enjoyed working with you and hope you are beyond happy with the result. I’d like to ask you a favor: Will you take a few minutes and write a review of your experience with me? Here’s a link to leave a review: [Review Link]”
Add this follow-up strategy to your printed review cards and you’ll blow past your competitors in reviews soon enough.
Encourage Customers to Share Photos With Their Review
Google prioritizes high-quality photos in reviews because images help other customers visualize the result. Add a line on your card like, “Snap a quick pic and attach it to your review.” Photo reviews often surface in relevant searches, giving you an extra boost in local rankings.
Want Custom Review Cards Printed For Your Business?
Are Google reviews important? Absolutely!
We know the influence many positive reviews and good customer feedback can have on a local business first-hand. Review cards are an inexpensive and easy way to grow the number of reviews on your Google Business Profile. If you’re ready to get a few printed, call us today for a free quote and design guidance.
And if you need full-stack marketing services in Southeastern PA to grow your business, our team is here to help.
Reach out by phone or email and we’ll walk through a comprehensive strategy and marketing package perfect for any local business.
Review Card FAQs
What If A Customer Leaves a Bad Review?
Don’t panic. A fast, professional response can turn negative feedback into a trust‑builder:
- Reply within 24 hours, thanking them for their honesty.
- Acknowledge the hiccup and outline a solution. Most people who read bad reviews are just as interested in your response (courteous and transparent) than in just taking the review at face value.
- Move the dialogue offline, work to fix the problem when possible, then invite them to update the review.
Handled well, negative reviews can become powerful proof of excellent customer service.
Importantly, research shows that consumers trust online reviews more when they’re not “perfect.” According to data from Northwestern University and PowerReviews, prospects are influenced more by reviews that average 4.2 to 4.5 compared to 5-out-of-5. That’s the kind of “positive feedback” we can live with. (Source)
What Kinds of Businesses Benefit Most From Review Cards?
Any company that hands something to a customer in person can earn more positive reviews with printed cards, especially:
- Home‑service pros – roofers, painters, plumbers, landscapers
- Retail shops & cafés – every receipt becomes a review link
- Mobile services – junk removal, pet grooming, food trucks
- Professional services – accountants, attorneys, consultants
How Many Google Reviews Is Enough?
There’s no magic number, but research shows consumers trust a local business more once they see 20–50 positive Google reviews. (Source) An easy thought experiment is to track how many reviews your nearest competitor has, then aim to collect 10 percent more reviews so you stand out in local search results and the Google Maps listing.
Benchmarks
- 0–9 reviews – credibility gap; push for quick wins
- 10 –49 reviews – trusted baseline; maintain momentum!
- 50+ reviews – competitive edge; focus on recency & response time
