Complete Guide to Submitting Your First Google Review

Complete Guide to Submitting Your First Google Review

Google Reviews are a powerful tool, influencing purchasing decisions for millions of users every day. Whether you’ve had an incredible experience you want to share or a disappointing one you want to warn others about, leaving a Google Review is simple and impactful. This guide will walk you through every step of the process, from finding the business to crafting a helpful and effective review.

1. Finding the Business on Google

You have two primary ways to find the business you want to review:

• Google Search:

  • Open your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.) and go to Google.com.
  • Type the name of the business into the search bar. Be as specific as possible. For example, instead of “coffee shop,” try “Starbucks downtown Austin.” Include the city and state (or region) if you know it, especially for common business names.
  • Press Enter or click the Google Search button.
  • The business’s “Google Business Profile” (formerly Google My Business) should appear, usually on the right-hand side of the search results (on desktop) or near the top (on mobile). This profile contains information like address, phone number, hours, and, crucially, reviews.

• Google Maps:

  • Open the Google Maps app on your smartphone or tablet (or go to maps.google.com in your web browser).
  • Type the name of the business into the search bar at the top of the screen. Again, be specific with the location if necessary.
  • Tap the correct business from the search results.
  • This will open the business’s profile within Google Maps, which includes the same information as the Google Business Profile found through search.

2. Locating the Review Section

Once you’ve found the business’s profile (either through Search or Maps), you need to find the review section:

• Desktop (Google Search or Maps):

  • Look for a section labeled “Reviews” or “Google Reviews.” It’s usually prominently displayed, often with a star rating summary.
  • Click on the “Reviews” link or the star rating itself. Alternatively, you might see a button that says “Write a review” or “Leave a review.” Click that.

• Mobile (Google Search or Maps):

  • You’ll likely need to scroll down a bit on the business’s profile page.
  • Look for a section labeled “Reviews,” often with a star rating summary and the number of reviews.
  • Tap on the “Reviews” section or the star rating. You may see a “Write a review” button; tap that if it’s visible.

3. Signing In to Your Google Account

• Crucial Step: You must be signed in to your Google account to leave a review. If you’re not already signed in, you’ll be prompted to do so.
• If you see a “Sign in” button, click or tap it.
• Enter your Google account email address (usually a Gmail address) and password.
• If you don’t have a Google account, you’ll need to create one. Follow the on-screen prompts to create a new account. It’s free and relatively quick.

4. Choosing Your Star Rating

• Once you’re signed in and in the review section, you’ll see a row of five stars.

• Click or tap on the star that corresponds to your overall experience:

  • 1 star: Terrible
  • 2 stars: Poor
  • 3 stars: Average/Okay
  • 4 stars: Good
  • 5 stars: Excellent

• Important Note: Your star rating is the most visible part of your review, so choose carefully. It’s the first thing people see, and it heavily influences the business’s overall rating.

5. Writing Your Review (The Most Important Part!)

This is where you provide the details that make your review helpful to others. Here’s a breakdown of what to include and how to write an effective review:

• Be Specific and Descriptive:

  • Don’t just say “It was great!” or “It was awful!” Explain why.
  • Mention specific details about your experience. For example:
    • Restaurant: “The pasta carbonara was perfectly cooked, and the service was attentive without being intrusive. Our server, Sarah, was particularly helpful.”
    • Retail Store: “The store was clean and well-organized. I found exactly what I was looking for, and the checkout process was quick and easy.”
    • Service Provider (e.g., plumber, mechanic): “The plumber arrived on time, diagnosed the problem quickly, and explained the repair clearly. The price was fair, and the work was done professionally.”
  • Avoid vague statements like “good food” or “bad service.”

• Be Honest and Fair:

  • Present your experience accurately, even if it’s negative.
  • Avoid personal attacks or inflammatory language.
  • If you had a mixed experience (some good, some bad), mention both.

• Be Constructive (Especially for Negative Reviews):

  • If you had a negative experience, offer constructive criticism. This is more helpful to the business and other users than simply complaining.
  • Suggest specific ways the business could improve. For example, instead of “The service was terrible,” try “The service was slow, and our server seemed overwhelmed. Perhaps more staff are needed during peak hours.”

• Consider the Context:

  • Think about what other potential customers would want to know.
  • For example, if you’re reviewing a restaurant, consider mentioning things like:
    • Price range
    • Ambiance (noisy, romantic, family-friendly)
    • Dietary options (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free)
    • Parking availability
  • If you’re reviewing a store, consider:
    • Selection of products
    • Customer service
    • Return policy

• Proofread Your Review:

  • Before submitting, take a moment to check for typos and grammatical errors. A well-written review is more credible.

• Length:

  • There’s no strict length requirement, but aim for a review that’s detailed enough to be helpful without being overly long. A few sentences to a couple of paragraphs is usually sufficient.

• Photos (Optional but Recommended):

  • You can often add photos to your review. This is a great way to visually support your comments.
  • For restaurants, photos of the food are helpful.
  • For stores, photos of the interior or specific products can be useful.
  • For service providers, photos of the completed work (e.g., a repaired plumbing fixture) can be compelling.
  • Make sure your photos are clear, well-lit, and relevant to your review.

6. Submitting Your Review

• Once you’ve written your review and (optionally) added photos, look for a button that says “Post,” “Submit,” or something similar.
• Click or tap that button.
• Your review should now be published! It may take a few minutes to appear publicly.

7. Editing or Deleting Your Review

• You can edit or delete your review at any time.
• To do this, find the business’s profile again (as described in steps 1 and 2).
• Go to the “Reviews” section.
• Find your review (it should be listed with your name and profile picture).
• You should see options to edit (usually a pencil icon) or delete (usually a trash can icon) your review.

Tips for Writing Great Google Reviews:

• Be Timely: Write your review soon after your experience, while the details are fresh in your mind.
• Be Respectful: Even if you’re unhappy, maintain a respectful tone.
• Be Objective: Try to be as objective as possible, focusing on facts rather than emotions.
• Update Your Reviews: If you revisit a business and your experience changes, consider updating your review to reflect your new experience.

By following these steps, you can contribute valuable information to the Google community and help both businesses and other consumers. Your voice matters!