How to Get Your Google Review Link (Step-by-Step Guide)

What Is a Google Review Link?

A Google review link is a direct URL that takes a customer straight to the review form for your business on Google. Instead of asking customers to search for your business on Google, find your listing, scroll down to the reviews section, and click "Write a review," you give them a single link that skips all of those steps and opens the review form immediately.

This link is the foundation of every effective Google review collection strategy. Whether you are sending it via email, text message, QR code, or social media, the direct review link removes the friction that prevents most customers from following through on their intention to leave a review.

Without a direct link, customers have to complete 4-5 steps to reach the review form. With a direct link, it takes one click. That difference accounts for a massive increase in review conversion rates.

Method 1: Google Business Profile Dashboard

This is the simplest and most reliable method. Google has built a direct feature into the Google Business Profile dashboard for generating your review link.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Go to your Google Business Profile. You can access it by searching for your business name on Google while signed into the Google account that manages your listing. You will see a panel with management options above or beside your listing.

Step 2: Look for the "Ask for reviews" button or card. Google may display this as "Get more reviews" depending on your dashboard version. In some layouts, you can find it under the "Home" tab of your Business Profile manager.

Step 3: Click the button and Google will display a shareable link. This link is already shortened and ready to use.

Step 4: Copy the link and save it somewhere accessible. You will use this link across all your review collection channels.

Advantages of This Method

• It is the official Google-provided method, so the link is always correctly formatted
• The link is already shortened for easy sharing
• No technical knowledge required
• Works for any verified Google Business Profile

Limitations

• You need to be signed into the Google account that manages the listing
• The feature location in the dashboard changes occasionally with Google updates
• If you manage multiple locations, you need to generate a separate link for each one

Method 2: Google Maps

If you cannot access your Google Business Profile dashboard, or if you want to find the review link for a business you do not manage, you can get it through Google Maps.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Open Google Maps in your web browser at maps.google.com.

Step 2: Search for your business by name. Click on your business listing when it appears in the results.

Step 3: When your business listing opens, look at the URL in your browser's address bar. Find the section that contains your Place ID. It is the long string of characters that appears after "place/" in the URL. Alternatively, look for the "Write a review" button on your listing and right-click it to copy the link.

Step 4: If you found your Place ID, construct your review link using this format:

https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=YOUR_PLACE_ID

Replace YOUR_PLACE_ID with the actual Place ID you found.

Step 5: Test the link by opening it in a browser where you are signed into a Google account. It should open directly to the review form for your business.

Advantages of This Method

• Works without access to the Business Profile dashboard
• Can find review links for any business, not just your own
• Useful for verifying that your link works correctly

Limitations

• Finding the Place ID in the URL can be confusing
• The URL format in Google Maps changes occasionally
• Requires an extra step to construct the review link manually

Method 3: Google Place ID Finder

For the most reliable and technical method, Google provides an official Place ID Finder tool that lets you look up the unique identifier for any business.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Go to the Google Place ID Finder. You can find it by searching for "Google Place ID Finder" or navigating to the Google Maps Platform documentation on Place IDs.

Step 2: Enter your business name and address in the search field. The tool will display a map with your business location and its associated Place ID.

Step 3: Copy the Place ID. It will be a string starting with "ChI" followed by additional characters, for example: ChIJN1t_tDeuEmsRUsoyG83frY4

Step 4: Construct your review link using this format:

https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=ChIJN1t_tDeuEmsRUsoyG83frY4

Replace the example Place ID with your actual Place ID.

Step 5: Test the link by opening it in a private or incognito browser window while signed into a Google account.

Advantages of This Method

• Most reliable way to find the correct Place ID
• Official Google tool, always up to date
• Works for any business location globally
• Gives you the raw Place ID for use in other applications

Limitations

• Slightly more technical than the dashboard method
• Requires constructing the URL manually
• The Place ID Finder tool is designed for developers and may feel unfamiliar

How to Shorten Your Google Review Link

The native review link using the Place ID format is functional but long and unattractive. For sharing via text message, printing on cards, or posting on social media, a shorter link is much more practical.

URL Shortening Options

Google's built-in short link: If you generated your link through the Google Business Profile dashboard (Method 1), the link is already shortened.

Bitly or TinyURL: Free URL shortening services that turn your long review link into something like bit.ly/yourreviewlink. These services also provide click tracking so you can see how many people are using the link.

Custom short domain: If you have your own domain, you can create a redirect like yourbusiness.com/review that forwards to your Google review link. This looks the most professional and keeps your branding consistent.

Opineko landing page: Instead of linking directly to Google, you can use a Opineko landing page as your review link destination. This adds the benefit of feedback gating (routing happy customers to Google and giving unhappy customers a private feedback channel) while still ultimately directing reviews to Google.

Best Practices for Short Links

• Test the shortened link before distributing it widely
• Use a descriptive slug when possible (bit.ly/joes-pizza-review is better than bit.ly/x7k9m2)
• Track clicks to measure how many people are engaging with your review requests
• Keep a backup of the original long URL in case the short link service has issues

Where to Share Your Google Review Link

Having the link is only half the battle. Using it effectively across the right channels is what actually generates reviews.

Email Signatures and Follow-Ups

Add your Google review link to your email signature. Every email you send becomes a passive review request. For follow-up emails sent after a purchase or appointment, include the link prominently with a clear call to action.

Email signature example:

Enjoyed working with us? Leave us a Google review: [your link]

Follow-up email example:

Thank you for choosing [Business Name]. If you had a great experience, we would be grateful for a quick Google review: [your link]

SMS and Text Messages

Text messages have a 98% open rate, making SMS one of the most effective channels for review requests. Keep the message short and include your review link directly.

SMS template:

Hi [Name], thanks for visiting [Business Name] today. If you had a great experience, a Google review would mean a lot: [your link]. Thank you!

QR Codes

Turn your Google review link into a QR code for physical touchpoints. Customers scan the code with their phone camera and land directly on your review form.

Place QR codes on:

• Table tents and menu holders (restaurants)
• Checkout counters and shopping bags (retail)
• Business cards and invoices (service businesses)
• Waiting room displays (clinics and offices)
• Follow-up cards handed out after appointments

QR codes are particularly effective because they capture customers at the point of experience, when their satisfaction is highest. Opineko generates QR codes automatically and adds a feedback gating layer, so happy customers go to Google while unhappy customers share feedback privately.

Social Media

Share your review link periodically on your social media channels. Pin a post with your link or include it in your bio.

Social media post example:

Your reviews help our small business grow. If you have had a great experience with us, we would love to hear about it on Google: [your link]

Bio example:

Leave us a Google review: [your link]

Do not overdo it on social media. One review request post every few weeks is appropriate. More frequent posts feel spammy.

Your Website

Add a "Leave a Review" button or link to your website, ideally on the homepage, contact page, and any thank-you or confirmation pages. After a customer completes a purchase or booking on your website, the confirmation page is an excellent place for a review request.

Printed Materials

Include your review link (shortened) or QR code on:

• Business cards
• Flyers and brochures
• Receipts and invoices
• Packaging inserts
• Appointment reminder cards
• Direct mail pieces

For printed materials, a QR code is usually more effective than a typed URL because it eliminates the step of typing the link manually.

How Opineko Automates Google Review Collection

While sharing your Google review link directly is effective, Opineko adds a layer of intelligence to the process that increases both the volume and the quality of reviews you receive.

Here is what Opineko does with your Google review link:

Feedback gating: Instead of sending every customer directly to Google, Opineko first asks how their experience was. Customers who rate 4-5 stars see a button to leave a Google review (along with options for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Facebook, and Trustpilot). Customers who rate 1-3 stars see a private feedback form. This means more of your Google reviews are positive, and you get early warning about negative experiences.

Single QR code for everything: Instead of managing separate links for Google, Yelp, and other platforms, Opineko gives you one QR code and one landing page. The customer chooses their preferred platform, and the link is already configured for each one.

Tracking and analytics: Opineko's dashboard shows you how many people are scanning your code, how they are rating their experience, and where they are choosing to leave reviews. This data helps you optimize your review collection strategy over time.

Real-time notifications: On the Pro plan ($29/month), you receive dashboard and email notifications for new feedback. On the Premier plan ($49/month), you also get Telegram bot notifications so you know instantly when someone leaves feedback, positive or negative.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

The Link Opens Your Listing but Not the Review Form

Make sure you are using the writereview URL format with your Place ID, not just a link to your business listing. The correct format is:

https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=YOUR_PLACE_ID

The Link Shows the Wrong Business

Double-check your Place ID. If your business has multiple listings or if there are similar businesses nearby, you may have copied the wrong Place ID. Use the Place ID Finder tool to verify.

Customers Say They Cannot Leave a Review

The customer needs to be signed into a Google account to leave a review. If they do not have a Google account, they will need to create one first. This is a platform requirement that no tool can bypass. You can help by noting in your request that a Google account is needed.

The QR Code Does Not Scan

Make sure the QR code is printed at a sufficient size (at least 1x1 inch) with high contrast (dark code on light background). Test the QR code with your own phone before distributing it. If the QR code encodes a very long URL, consider using a shortened URL to generate a simpler, more reliable QR code.

Quick Start Checklist

Here is a simple checklist to get your Google review link set up and working today:

1. Generate your Google review link using any of the three methods above
2. Test the link in a private browser window to make sure it works
3. Shorten the link using Bitly, TinyURL, or your own domain redirect
4. Generate a QR code from the link (or use Opineko for automated QR code generation with feedback gating)
5. Add the link to your email signature
6. Print QR codes for your highest-traffic physical touchpoints
7. Share the link on social media with a genuine call to action
8. Set a reminder to track how many new reviews you receive over the next 30 days

The entire setup process takes less than 30 minutes, and the impact on your review volume can be immediate. Most businesses see their first new review within days of distributing their Google review link through even a single channel.