Google reviews are the single most visible trust signal a local business has. They show up in the map pack, on your Business Profile, and increasingly inside AI answers. Yet most people aren't quite sure how to leave one — so here's the plain version, plus why it matters if you run a business.
How to leave a Google review on your phone
- →Open Google Maps or search the business name in Google
- →Tap the business to open its profile
- →Scroll to "Reviews" and tap "Rate and review"
- →Pick a star rating, write a sentence or two, tap Post
- →You'll need to be signed into a Google account — that's the only requirement
How to leave one on a computer
- →Search the business name in Google
- →In the panel on the right, click "Write a review"
- →Choose your stars, add your comment, click Post
Why reviews matter so much for Essex businesses
Google's local algorithm weighs review count, review velocity (how regularly new ones come in) and keywords inside reviews. A business with 60 recent, detailed reviews will almost always outrank one with 5 — even if the second business is better.
Reviews also feed the AI answers now appearing above search results. When someone asks ChatGPT or Google's AI for "best [trade] near me", well-reviewed businesses are the ones that get named.
Getting more of them
The businesses that win at reviews ask, every single time, with a direct link. See our guide on getting more Google reviews for the exact system and script we give clients.
