How to leave a review on Google: a step-by-step guide

Why Google reviews matter more than ever

Whether you've just had an amazing meal at a local restaurant or found the best plumber in town, sharing your experience online helps others make smarter decisions — and it genuinely supports small businesses. Knowing how to leave a review on Google is one of the most impactful things you can do as a customer. Every time you leave a review on google, you contribute to a vast ecosystem of social proof that shapes how local businesses rank and how customers make decisions.

Google reviews directly influence a business's local search ranking, its reputation, and ultimately its revenue. A single honest review can tip the scales for a potential customer who's on the fence. So let's walk through exactly how to write a Google review, step by step.

What you need before you write a Google review

Before you can write a review on Google, there's one essential requirement: a Google account. If you use Gmail, Google Maps, or YouTube, you already have one. If not, creating an account is free and takes less than two minutes at accounts.google.com.

Once you're signed in, you're ready to go. Google doesn't require you to have visited the business in person — but honest, first-hand reviews are always more helpful to other readers (and to Google's algorithm).

How to leave a Google review on desktop

Leaving a review from your computer is straightforward. Here's how to do it:

• Open your browser and go to google.com.

• Type the name of the business you want to review in the search bar.

• On the right side of the search results, you'll see the business's Knowledge Panel — a box with the business name, address, hours, and photos.

• Scroll down until you see the "Reviews" section, then click on "Write a review".

• A pop-up window will appear. Select your star rating (1 to 5 stars), write your review in the text box, and optionally add photos. Knowing how to add photo to google review properly — including choosing clear, relevant images — can significantly increase the helpfulness score of your submission.

• When you're happy with what you've written, click "Post".

That's it! Your review will appear publicly within a few minutes, linked to your Google profile name.

How to leave a review on Google using your phone

Via the Google Maps app

The Google Maps app is the easiest way to leave a Google review on mobile. Follow these steps:

• Open the Google Maps app on your iOS or Android device.

• Search for the business name in the search bar at the top.

• Tap on the business listing to open its profile.

• Scroll down to the "Reviews" section and tap "Write a review".

• Choose your star rating, type your comment, and add photos if you'd like.

• Tap "Post" to publish your review.

Via Google Search on mobile

You don't even need the Maps app to leave a review on Google from your phone. Simply open your mobile browser, search for the business name, and tap "Reviews" in the business panel. Then tap "Write a review" — the process is identical to the desktop version. Some users wonder how to leave an anonymous google review, but it's worth knowing that Google ties all reviews to a public profile name, which cannot be hidden.

How to edit or delete a Google review you've already written

Made a typo? Changed your mind? You can easily update a review you've already posted. Here's how:

• Open Google Maps (app or browser) and tap your profile picture in the top right.

• Go to "Your contributions", then select "Reviews".

• Find the review you want to change, then tap the three-dot menu next to it.

• Choose "Edit review" to update your text or star rating, or "Delete review" to remove it entirely.

Google gives you full control over your reviews at any time — there's no deadline for making changes.

Tips for writing a genuinely helpful Google review

Anyone can leave a star rating, but a well-written review is far more valuable — both for other customers and for the business. Here are a few tips to make your review stand out:

• Be honest and balanced. Highlight what went well and, if relevant, what could be improved.

• Give context. Mention when you visited, what you ordered or purchased, and any specific details that make your review useful.

• Keep it respectful. Even if you had a bad experience, constructive feedback is always more effective than venting. A google map review submitted through the Maps app carries the same weight as one written via desktop search, and both feed directly into a business's local SEO signals.

• Add photos. Images make reviews far more engaging and credible — a photo of a dish, a product, or the premises adds real value.

• Stay on topic. Google reviews should be about the business itself, not unrelated personal opinions.

How businesses can make it easier for customers to leave a Google review

If you're a business owner reading this, you know how important it is to collect Google reviews consistently. The challenge is that most satisfied customers simply forget to leave one — not because they don't want to, but because the process feels like one more thing to do.

That's exactly where our platform, Reputacion, comes in. We make the review collection process effortless for both businesses and their customers. With our solution, you can send personalised review requests via email or SMS, display a QR code or NFC tap point at your counter or on receipts, and let customers land directly on a smart collection page that guides them smoothly toward leaving a Google review.

Our intelligent filtering system ensures only genuinely satisfied customers are redirected to Google, protecting your overall rating. And when reviews do come in — positive or negative — our AI-powered response feature helps you reply quickly and professionally without spending hours crafting each message. You can also track your local search visibility through our 25-point geo-grid and monitor performance across all your locations from a single dashboard.

Whether you manage one venue or a hundred, our plans start at just 19€/month for a single location, with our Pro plan covering up to 10 establishments at 49€/month, and unlimited locations on our Business plan at 99€/month.

Wrapping up

Now you know exactly how to leave a review on Google — whether you're on a desktop browser, the Google Maps app, or a mobile search. It takes less than two minutes, and it genuinely makes a difference for the businesses you love (and for the people who rely on your recommendation).

If you're a business owner looking to make it easier for your customers to go through this process, we'd love to show you what Reputacion can do for your reputation online.