Growth · 2026-06-08

How to get your first Google reviews (from zero)

A brand-new profile with no reviews is the hardest place to be — people hesitate to be the first, and an empty rating looks risky. But the climb from zero is also the most rewarding: going from 0 to 10 reviews changes how your business looks more than any later milestone. Here's how to get those first ones.

01First, set the stage

Before you ask anyone, make sure the path is ready:

• Claim and complete your Google Business Profile. You can't collect reviews without one. Fill in hours, photos, services, and category — a complete profile converts better and ranks better.
• Get your direct review link. In your profile, use "Ask for reviews" / "Get more reviews" to grab the short link that opens the review box in one tap. (Details: how to find your review link.)
• Have a way to ask. A short text or email template ready to go, plus a QR code for in person.

02Who to ask first

With zero reviews, start with the people most likely to say yes — the ones who already like you:

• Your happiest recent customers. The ones who thanked you, came back, or referred a friend.
• Loyal regulars who'd be glad to help a business they care about.
• People you served before you opened the profile — it's fine to ask past customers to review a genuine experience they had.

Resist the urge to ask friends and family who weren't real customers. Reviews from people who never used you read as fake, can be removed, and don't help once a real customer notices.

03How to ask (so they actually do it)

• Ask soon after a good experience, while the goodwill is fresh. (More on timing.)
• Make it one tap — always send your direct review link, never "search for us on Google."
• Be personal and brief — "thanks so much for your support — we just opened and a quick Google review would really help us get found." New businesses can be honest about being new; people like helping.
• Ask a handful at a time. You don't need a campaign — ten good asks in a week gets you off zero.

04What not to do

• Don't buy reviews or use fake-review services to "kickstart" — they get detected and removed, and the damage outlasts the boost.
• Don't offer discounts for reviews. Incentivized reviews violate Google's policy.
• Don't filter — asking only the people you're sure will rave (review gating) is prohibited. Ask every genuine customer the same way.

05Then make it a habit, not a push

Getting the first ten is a sprint; staying ahead is a habit. Once you're off zero, the goal shifts to a steady trickle — a few new reviews every month so your profile always looks active. (How many you need, and why recency matters: how many Google reviews do you need.)

The reliable way to keep that trickle going without remembering is to automate the ask. ReviewHub sends a friendly request after each visit, so once you've broken the ice, the reviews keep coming on their own. For the full method, see how to get more Google reviews.

Related posts: How to get more Google reviews · How many do you need? · Review request templates