Review link and QR code
A direct route to leaving a review, in emails, on invoices or on a counter display.
Local SEO
Reviews: building trust before the customer calls
Win customer reviews on Google and answer them properly: review link, request wording, handling criticism. Legitimate and policy-compliant. Der-H Medien.
Local SEO
Reviews: what exactly are they?
Online reviews are customers' opinions on Google, on sector-specific portals and on social media pages. They influence whom people call, and for Google they are an important signal for local search results: number, recency and average all count.
The most important principle: reviews must be genuine. Bought reviews, or reviews collected selectively, are not permitted and put your profile at risk. The legitimate route is to ask satisfied customers simply and politely for a review, and to reply professionally to all feedback.
Background
Reviews: why they matter.
Many customers read reviews before they decide. Recent, honest feedback often seems more credible than a business's own advertising.
What matters is the legitimate route: reviews must be neither bought nor filtered, and Google prohibits offering anything in return for reviews.
Overview
Reviews: building blocks and variants.
Request wording
Short, friendly messages, sent at the right moment after a job well done.
Replies to positive reviews
A thank-you and a brief personal touch. It shows appreciation.
Handling criticism
Factual and solution-oriented, without justifying yourself. The public reads the reply too.
Reporting reviews that are not permitted
Checking whether a review breaches the platform's policies.
Evaluation
How the number and average develop, and the themes that emerge from the feedback.
Our work
Reviews: what we do for you.
An easy route to reviewing
A link or QR code that lets customers leave a review in a few seconds.
Request wording
Short, friendly messages or counter displays that ask for a review at the right moment.
Replies to reviews
Thanking people for positive feedback and answering criticism in a factual, solution-oriented way.
Unjustified reviews
Checking whether a report to the platform is possible.
Evaluation
Keeping an eye on how the number and average develop.
Quality
Reviews: how to recognise good work.
- There is a simple way to leave a review
- You ask all satisfied customers, not just selected ones
- You offer nothing in return for reviews
- All reviews are answered promptly and politely
- Criticism is used as an opportunity, not ignored
- New reviews come in regularly
Costs
Reviews: what they cost.
The effort consists of the one-off setup of the review route and ongoing support. If you write the replies yourself, what you mainly need is routine.
The calculation behind this: How we calculate our prices.
What determines the price
- Setting up the review route
- Wording and templates for requests
- Number of locations and portals
- ongoing support and replies
What you can prepare
- Access to your review profiles
- A list of typical customer situations in which a request fits
- Your attitude to criticism and follow-up questions
Pitfalls
Reviews: common mistakes.
- buying reviews or asking only positive customers
- offering discounts or gifts for reviews
- ignoring negative reviews or answering them aggressively
- not building the process into everyday routine
Frequently asked questions
Questions about reviews.
May I ask customers for a review?
Yes, as long as you offer nothing in return and do not ask only selected customers.
What should I do about an unfair review?
First, reply factually. If it breaches the platform's policies, we can report it.
How many reviews do I need?
There is no fixed number. What matters is recency, authenticity and a credible mix.
Guides
Further reading.
Local SEO Step by Step: How to Be Found LocallyLocal SEO explained: Google Business Profile, regional content, consistent listings and reviews, in a clear order of steps.Read more →Optimising Your Google Business Profile: A ChecklistA checklist for a complete Google Business Profile: category, services, photos, opening hours, posts and reviews.Read more →NAP Consistency: Name, Address, Phone the Same EverywhereNAP consistency explained: why uniform details for name, address and telephone number matter for local SEO, and how to check and clean up your listings.Read more →Local Pack: How Google Chooses Local ResultsThe local pack explained: the three factors of relevance, distance and prominence, and what you can do to appear in the map results.Read more →Replying to reviews properly: examples and rulesReplying to Google reviews: rules and sample wording for positive and negative reviews, so that your business comes across as professional.Read more →
More topics in Local SEO
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