By Think Creative Agency. Updated September 2026. A Sydney creative and digital agency helping local businesses grow since 2012.
To leave a Google review, sign in to your free Google account, search for the business on Google or Google Maps, open its profile, tap the star rating, write a short honest comment and press Post. It takes under a minute on a phone or computer.
Google reviews have become the modern equivalent of word-of-mouth recommendations. Every time you share your experience with a local coffee shop, your favourite hair salon, or that plumber who saved your home from flooding, you are not just expressing your thoughts, you are actively shaping that business’s digital reputation. In today’s connected world, your voice online carries real weight, influencing potential customers and directly impacting businesses. Taking a few minutes to leave a Google review is a powerful way to support organisations you love, offer constructive feedback where needed, and contribute to a more transparent and helpful online marketplace.
Why Google reviews matter for businesses
Reviews are powerful social proof that directly affect whether a business is chosen, and in 2026 increasingly whether it is found at all. Customer reviews on Google serve as social proof that can mean the difference between a business thriving and struggling. Positive feedback boosts visibility in local search results, with Google’s algorithm favouring highly rated companies.
The numbers make the case. In 2026, around 97 percent of consumers read reviews before choosing a local business, and the share who “always” read them jumped from 29 percent to 41 percent in a single year (BrightLocal Local Consumer Review Survey 2026). Google hosts roughly 71 percent of all online reviews, more than every other platform combined. Review signals are estimated to account for about 20 percent of Google’s local pack ranking, businesses in the top three local positions carry an average of 47 reviews, and those with 50 or more reviews can earn significantly more leads than those with few.
Beyond attracting new customers, reviews provide valuable insights that help a business understand its strengths and identify areas to improve. They create a dialogue between businesses and customers, showing that customer opinions are valued. For small businesses especially, a strong collection of authentic, positive reviews levels the playing field against larger competitors with bigger marketing budgets.
At Think Creative Agency, we guide clients through strategies to earn these all-important reviews, from direct review links in email signatures to simple SMS follow-ups for maximum impact. If you need help turning reviews into local visibility, our SEO team can build it into your local strategy, or get in touch with our team.
Step-by-step guide to leaving a Google review
Sign in to Google, find the business, choose a star rating, write your feedback and post it. Here is each step in detail.
Sign in to your Google account
Before you can share feedback, make sure you are signed in to your Google account. If you already use Gmail, YouTube or any other Google service, you are set. If not, creating an account is free and quick. On a computer, visit google.com and click “Sign In” in the top right. On mobile, sign in through the Google app or any Google service such as Maps. Remember that your feedback is not anonymous, it appears under your Google account name and profile photo, which helps maintain the integrity of the rating system.
Search for the business on Google
Once signed in, find the business you want to review. Open Google Search and type the business name along with its location for accuracy (for example, “Sunrise Cafe Sydney”). You can also use Google Maps: type the business name or address in the search bar and press Enter. For organisations with multiple locations, make sure you select the correct branch, as each location has its own listing and reviews.
Click the “Write a review” button
After locating the listing, open the reviews section. On a computer, look at the business panel on the right of Google Search or in Google Maps and scroll to “Reviews”, then click “Write a review”. On mobile, select the business in Google Maps, scroll to “Reviews” and tap “Write a review”.
Choose your star rating
The platform uses a five-star system, where one star is a poor experience and five stars is excellent. Take a moment to reflect on quality, service, value and how well the business met your expectations. As a guide: five stars for an exceptional experience, four for excellent with minor room to improve, three for average, two for below average, and one for a poor experience with major issues.
Write a detailed review
After choosing a rating, share the details. A helpful review explains why you felt the way you did. Mention what you used, when you visited and any notable interactions. Be specific and constructive: instead of “the food was bad”, say “the pasta was overcooked and the sauce lacked flavour”. Keep it honest, respectful and focused on your own experience, and avoid personal attacks on staff. Aim for a few sentences at minimum, though more detail is always appreciated.
Add photos to your review
A picture adds valuable context. Look for the camera or “Add photo” option and upload clear, relevant images, such as products, meals or the venue. Quality matters more than quantity, and avoid showing other customers’ faces without permission. Your photos will be publicly visible and linked to your Google profile.
Submit your review
When you are done, click “Post” or “Submit” to publish. Google processes the submission, usually in seconds, though it can take longer if the content is being checked against the platform’s policies. Once live, your review appears publicly on the business listing and the owner can respond. If it does not appear straight away, it may just need a little time to process.
Edit or delete your review
You can update or remove a review at any time. Return to the listing on Google Maps or Search, find your review under “Reviews”, and use the three dots or pencil icon to edit or delete. You might edit a review because the business addressed your concerns, you had a follow-up experience, or you spotted a factual error. Keeping reviews accurate and up to date helps both businesses and other customers.
Share your review
After posting, you can share your review to amplify it. On desktop, look for the share icon near your review; on mobile, tap your review to see sharing options. You can share to social platforms, send it by email or copy a direct link, which is handy when friends or family are looking for a recommendation.
Search for the Business on Google
Once you’re signed in to your Google account, the next step is finding the business you want to rate. Open Google Search and type the name of the company along with its location for more accurate results (e.g., “Sunrise Cafe Sydney”).
If you know the exact address, you can also use Google Maps. Open the Maps application, type the business name or address in the search bar, and press Enter. The business should appear on the map, possibly with a red pin marking its location.
For organisations with multiple locations, make sure you’ve selected the correct branch you visited. Each location has its own separate Google listing and evaluation section, so your feedback goes to the right place.
If you’re having trouble finding the listing, try adding more specific details to your search, such as the neighbourhood or nearby landmarks.
Click on the “Write a Review” Button
After locating the listing, you’ll need to access the feedback section. On a computer, look for the business information panel on the right side of Google Search results or directly on Google Maps. Scroll down until you see the “Reviews” section.
Within this section, you’ll find a button labelled “Write a review.” It usually appears as text or sometimes as a blue button with a pencil icon. Click on this to begin the evaluation process.
On mobile devices, after selecting the business in Google Maps, scroll down the business information card until you see “Reviews.” Tap on the “Write a review” option, which might be located under a section that shows the overall rating.
If you’re using the Google Maps app, you might also see the option to rate and share your experience in the bottom panel after selecting a business.
Choose Your Star Rating
Now comes the moment of truth—assigning a star rating to your experience. The platform uses a 5-star rating system, where 1 star represents a poor experience, and 5 stars indicates excellence.
Take a moment to reflect on your overall experience with the business. Consider factors like quality, service, value, atmosphere, and how well they met your expectations. Try to be fair and objective, remembering that your rating significantly impacts the business’s reputation.
Here’s a general guideline for star ratings:
- 5 stars: Exceptional experience, exceeded expectations
- 4 stars: Excellent experience with minor room for improvement
- 3 stars: Average experience, met basic expectations
- 2 stars: Below average, disappointed with significant aspects
- 1 star: Poor experience with major issues
Remember, a thoughtful rating helps other consumers make informed decisions and provides valuable feedback to the business.
Write a Detailed Review
After selecting your star rating, it’s time to share the details of your experience. A helpful assessment goes beyond just saying “great service” or “terrible experience”—it explains why you felt that way.
- Start by mentioning what specific products or services you used. Include details about your visit: when you went, what you ordered or purchased, who helped you, and any notable interactions. Highlight what stood out positively or negatively.
- Be specific and constructive in your feedback. Instead of saying, “The food was bad,” explain, “The pasta was overcooked, and the sauce lacked flavour. This specific detail helps the business understand how to improve and other customers know what to expect.
- Keep your comments honest, respectful, and focused on your personal experience.
- Avoid exaggerations, assumptions about business practices you didn’t directly observe, or personal attacks on staff members.
Aim for 3-5 sentences at minimum for helpful feedback, though businesses and potential customers always appreciate sharing more details.
A picture is worth a thousand words, especially in customer testimonials. Adding relevant photos can significantly enhance the helpfulness of your evaluation by providing visual context to your written feedback.
Look for the camera icon or “Add photo” option in the review interface. You can upload photos directly from your device. Consider sharing images of:
- Products you purchased
- Meals you enjoyed (or didn’t)
- The interior or exterior of the establishment
- Particular features you mentioned in your assessment
Before uploading, ensure your photos are clear, well-lit, and relevant to your experience. Avoid uploading images with other customers’ faces clearly visible without their permission, as this could infringe on their privacy.
Quality matters more than quantity—a few good photos illustrating your points are more valuable than many poor-quality images. Remember that your photos will be publicly visible and associated with your Google profile.
Submit Your Review
After writing your assessment and adding any photos, it’s time to publish your feedback. Look for the “Post” or “Submit” button, at the bottom of the review form. Click this button to finalize and publish your evaluation.
Google will briefly process your submission. This usually takes just a few seconds, but it occasionally might take longer if the system needs to review your content to ensure compliance with the platform’s feedback policies.
Once submitted, your comments appear publicly on the business’ Google listing. The business owner will likely receive a notification about your new input, allowing them to read and respond to your feedback.
If you don’t see your contribution appear immediately, don’t worry—it may take a short while to be processed and published. You can check if your assessment is live by revisiting the business listing or checking your contributions in your Google account.
Edit or Delete Your Review
Sometimes, you may want to update your feedback based on new experiences with the business or correct information. The platform allows you to edit or remove your assessments at any time.
To modify a review you’ve submitted, return to the listing on Google Maps or Search. Find the “Reviews” section and look for your contribution, which should be labelled as “Your review.” Next to your comments, you’ll see three dots (⋮) or an edit icon (pencil). Click this to access options for editing or deleting your feedback.
You can edit any aspect of your evaluation—change the star rating, modify your written comments, or add/remove photos. After making your changes, click “Post” or “Update” to save them.
Common reasons to edit your assessment include:
- The business addressed the issues you mentioned previously
- You had a follow-up experience that changed your perspective
- You noticed factual errors in your original comments
- The business has new ownership or management
Remember that maintaining accurate, up-to-date evaluations helps both businesses and other consumers.
Share Your Review
After posting your assessment, consider sharing it with others to amplify its impact. Google makes it easy to share your feedback across various platforms.
On desktop, look for the share icon (usually represented by an arrow or three connected dots) near your published comments. On mobile, you may need to tap on your feedback first to see sharing options.
You can share your evaluation directly to social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, send it via email, or copy a direct link to your contribution. This is especially helpful when friends or family are looking for recommendations for the type of business you’ve rated.
Sharing positive assessments helps promote businesses you love while sharing constructive criticism can warn others about potential issues. Either way, sharing extends the reach of your feedback beyond Google’s platform.
Some organisations also appreciate when customers share positive testimonials with them directly, as they might feature them on their website or social media channels.
Common issues when leaving a Google review and how to fix them
If your review will not post or the business will not appear, it is usually a short delay, a search problem or an account restriction, and each has a quick fix.
Reviews not appearing usually comes down to Google’s filtering of suspicious activity or content that breaches guidelines. Wait 24 hours in case of a processing delay, then try editing and resubmitting without links, promotional wording or extreme language, focusing on your personal experience.
The business not appearing in search often happens with vague search terms or when a business has not claimed its Google Business Profile. Add the specific location, use the exact business name or search by address, and try the Google Maps app if Search is not showing it.
Account restrictions can affect new accounts, accounts that have left many reviews quickly, or ones flagged for suspicious activity. Wait a few days, make sure your account has some history from using other Google services, and avoid leaving a review while connected to the business’s Wi-Fi. Most technical issues resolve themselves within 24 to 48 hours.
How to get more reviews
The most reliable way to get more reviews is to make it effortless, ask at the right moment, and respond to every review you receive. Accumulating authentic Google reviews is essential for growth. Here are effective, ethical ways to increase your review count.
Create a simple review process
Make leaving feedback as effortless as possible. Create a direct link to your Google review form to share by email, text or printed material. Removing steps significantly increases how many people follow through.
Ask at the right moment
Timing matters. The best moment is straight after a positive experience, when a customer expresses satisfaction or completes a purchase they are excited about. Their enthusiasm produces more detailed, authentic reviews.
Train your team
Make sure customer-facing staff understand why reviews matter and know how to ask naturally and appropriately. Simple, genuine scripts help them identify happy customers and invite feedback without being pushy.
Follow up after service
Set up a personalised follow-up that reaches customers one to three days after their interaction, with a thank you and a direct link to your review form. This gentle reminder captures feedback from satisfied customers who simply forgot.
Respond to existing reviews
Engage with every review, positive and negative, promptly and professionally. When potential reviewers see that you respond, they are more likely to contribute, knowing their voice will be heard. (There is more on how to respond well in the next section.)
Showcase reviews across channels
Feature your best reviews on your website, social media and marketing materials. This provides social proof and reminds customers that leaving a review is a normal, appreciated action.
Create a review-centric culture
Build reviews into your standard process. Mention them at checkout, include requests on receipts, and make asking for feedback a natural part of how your team works.
Leverage QR codes
Place QR codes that link directly to your review form on receipts, packaging, business cards and in-store signage. This gives customers an instant way to leave feedback while your business is fresh in their mind.
How to respond to reviews, good and bad
Reply to every review, quickly and professionally, because prospects read your responses as closely as the reviews themselves. Getting reviews is only half the job. How you respond shapes what future customers think, and it feeds your local ranking too. For positive reviews, a short, genuine thank you that mentions a specific detail shows you are paying attention. For negative reviews, stay calm and professional, acknowledge the issue, and take the conversation offline with a way to make it right. Never argue in public.
Speed matters more than it used to. Consumers increasingly expect a reply within a day or two, and a business that visibly engages with feedback looks more trustworthy than one with a wall of unanswered reviews. Aim for a mix of ratings that reads as authentic, since a run of nothing but five-star reviews can look staged. A steady stream of honest reviews, answered promptly, is what builds long-term trust.
Why reviews now matter for AI and voice search
AI assistants and voice search now use review signals to recommend local businesses, so your reviews shape whether you appear in AI answers, not just in Google’s map pack. Reviews used to influence people who had already found you. In 2026 they increasingly decide whether you are found at all. AI Overviews, ChatGPT and voice assistants pull from business information, ratings and review signals when they recommend a local business. In Australia, about 5.2 million people open an AI tool every day, and many use it to shortlist local services.
The practical takeaway is that a strong, recent and well-managed set of Google reviews does double duty. It builds trust with the humans reading them, and it signals credibility to the AI systems that now sit between your business and a growing share of customers. Fresh reviews count for more here, since many consumers and AI systems weight recent feedback more heavily than older reviews.
From ratings to results: make reviews work for you
Managed well, reviews become one of the most cost-effective marketing assets a business has. Google Business Profiles are now essential tools for online visibility and reputation. These profiles are digital storefronts where potential customers form their first impressions, so review management is a core part of modern marketing. A well-optimised profile with a strong review section improves local search rankings, builds trust and provides valuable customer insights.
Let’s turn positive feedback into business growth
In a digital-first world, Google reviews are more than ratings, they are trust signals that influence buying decisions and boost your visibility online. Managed effectively, they become one of the most valuable and cost-effective marketing tools your business can use.
At Think Creative Agency, we help brands turn reviews into reputation-building assets, from setting up an optimised Google Business Profile to developing review-generation strategies and professional responses. Want more reviews, better responses to negative feedback and stronger local rankings? Get a free audit and we will show you how to build your reputation and rank higher locally, or get in touch with our Sydney team.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Google account to leave a review?
Yes. You need a free Google account to post a review. If you do not have one, you can create it in a couple of minutes with any email address, then leave your review from a phone or computer.
Can I leave a Google review on my phone?
Yes. Open the Google or Google Maps app, search for the business, scroll to the reviews section, tap the star rating, write your review and post it. The steps are the same as on a computer.
Can I edit or delete a review after posting?
Yes. Open Google Maps, go to your profile and your reviews, find the review, and choose to edit or delete it. Changes take effect shortly after you save them.
Why does my review not show up?
Reviews can take a short time to appear, and Google filters content that may breach its policies. Google removed or blocked hundreds of millions of policy-violating reviews recently, so genuine, specific reviews from a real account are most likely to stay live.
How do businesses get a Google review link?
From your Google Business Profile you can generate a direct review link or QR code to share with customers by email, receipt or signage. This makes leaving a review much easier and increases how many you receive.