How to Get More Google Reviews and Boost Your Google Rankings (Step-by-Step Guide for Home Service Businesses)
If you’re a home service business owner looking to climb the Google rankings, one of the simplest and most effective strategies is to focus on Google Reviews. In this post, I’ll walk you through how reviews impact your visibility, and then I’ll share a simple, actionable hack to start collecting more of them today.
Why Google Reviews Matter for Rankings
If you want your business to show up in the Google Map Pack (also known as the “3-Pack”), reviews are a key factor. They’re not the only thing that affects rankings—there are dozens of others—but consistent, high-quality reviews absolutely help.
Just Starting Out? Get to 10 Reviews ASAP
If you’re a new business, aim to get at least 10 Google reviews as quickly as possible. That’s a strong starting point and often enough to trigger some initial movement in local rankings.
Already Have 10+? Don’t Stop!
It’s not just about quantity—Google also values recency. So if you got a bunch of reviews last year and haven’t gotten any since, that could hurt your ranking momentum. Keep the flow going. New, steady reviews are a signal to Google that you’re still active, engaged, and trusted by your customers.
The Hard Part: Getting People to Leave Reviews
Here’s the problem: even happy customers often forget to leave a review. You ask… they say “sure”… and then nothing happens.
That’s why making it incredibly easy is the secret to actually getting those reviews.
The Hack: Use a QR Code to Get More Google Reviews
Here’s a simple, low-tech way to encourage reviews on the spot:
Step 1: Get Your Google Review Link
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Go to Google and search for your business.
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Click “Ask for Reviews” (you must be logged into your business account).
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Google will show you a QR code linked to your review page.
Step 2: Save and Print the QR Code
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Right-click the QR code and choose “Save image as…”
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Save it to your desktop and print it out on a regular sheet of paper.
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No printer? Use a friend’s, go to Staples, or visit a print shop.
Step 3: Laminate the QR Code
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Pick up a pack of thermal laminating pouches (around $7–$8 for 25 at most office supply stores).
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Trim the paper to fit and slide it inside the pouch.
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Use a household iron (medium setting, 10 seconds per side) to activate the lamination.
Now you’ve got a sturdy, waterproof, professional-looking Google Review Card you can carry with you or give to your team.
How to Use It in the Field
Whenever you finish a job and the client is happy:
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Ask for a review in person.
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Hand them the laminated card and ask them to scan it with their phone.
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They’ll be taken directly to your review page (they’ll need to log into a Gmail account—there’s no way around that).
Pro Tip: Add Photos for Stronger Reviews
Want to make your reviews even more powerful?
After a job:
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Take 3–4 high-quality photos of the work you completed.
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Text those photos to the client.
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When they scan your QR code to leave a review, encourage them to upload the photos too.
Google favors reviews with images—they tend to rank higher, stick to the top, and bury negative reviews.
If you want help optimizing your local rankings or need a website that actually converts, head over to Big West Marketing for a free consultation.
Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the next post!
– Joe Burnich, Big West Marketing
