A brand new business profile with no reviews ranks poorly and converts worse. Customers see a zero-review listing and often skip it entirely. Getting to 10 or 20 reviews changes that dynamic significantly — it crosses the credibility threshold for most buyers.
Start with people who already trust you
Your first reviews should come from people who know your work: past colleagues, early customers, people you helped during soft-open or beta periods. These are not fake reviews — they are real experiences from real people. Ask them directly, by name, over the phone or in person. Do not mass email your entire contact list. Personal asks convert far better.
Do excellent work and ask in the moment
For your first real customers, the experience itself matters more than your marketing. Deliver something genuinely good, then ask for a review right when the customer expresses satisfaction. Do not wait. "I'm really glad you're happy — would you mind leaving us a quick Google review? It would mean a lot this early on." That sentence works.
Set up your review link before you launch
Claim your Google Business Profile, complete it fully (hours, photos, description, category), and get your direct review link before you ask anyone. A broken or incomplete profile kills conversion. When someone opens your link and sees a half-finished listing, they often close it without reviewing.
Create urgency without desperation
It is fine to tell customers that you are a new business trying to establish credibility. Most people want to help a business they like. "We just launched and reviews really help us get discovered" is honest and gives customers a concrete reason to act now rather than later.
What to avoid
- Do not pay for reviews or use services that promise reviews
- Do not ask from the business's IP address or devices (Google may filter these)
- Do not offer discounts or gifts in exchange for reviews — this violates Google's policies and can result in removal of your listing
Your milestone: Get to 10 reviews as fast as possible. That number turns your profile from invisible to viable in most local searches.