Review-request methods and timing statistics

Which review-request methods do consumers say make them most likely to leave a review?

BrightLocal reported email as the leading request method in its survey, followed by asking in person.¹

BrightLocal separates an in-person request from making the customer write the review immediately. The 27% figure describes what respondents said would make them most likely to write, not a requirement to ask for the review on the spot.¹

When do consumers expect a review request?

BrightLocal's panel expected review requests sooner for food-and-drink businesses and around three days to one week after the experience for several other sectors.¹

BrightLocal says it presented consumers with different industries and asked how soon they thought a business should get in touch with a review request. The article publishes that question framing, but it does not publish the verbatim questionnaire wording or a fieldwork period. January 29, 2025 is the article's publication date.¹

What these numbers do not tell you

The survey identifies stated preferences and expectations, not a universally best channel or send time.

• The 40% email figure and 27% in-person figure are stated-likelihood findings, not review-conversion rates. The report does not give a count of completed reviews after each request method.¹
• The food-and-drink timing figures describe when respondents expected a prompt, not the send time that produces the most reviews.¹
• The three-days-to-one-week findings describe a general expectation for the named sectors. They are not a precise rule for every healthcare, service, beauty or real-estate business.¹
• The panel represents US adults. The findings do not automatically describe consumers in another country or every customer group.¹

The broader Google review statistics page covers review-reading, review-count and rating findings. Review recency statistics covers what consumers say about the age of reviews, which is a different question from when a business asks for one.

How can a business send a Google review request?

Google Business Profile Help says a business can ask customers to visit a Google link or scan a QR code. Google's review-management guidance repeats that businesses can share a review-request link or QR code. The Google review link and QR code guide explains that method.^2,3

Google says reviews and other user contributions must reflect a genuine experience. Google considers offering free or discounted goods or services in exchange for customers posting reviews, changing reviews or removing negative reviews fake and misleading content, and strictly prohibits it.²

FAQ

Does email guarantee more reviews than asking in person?

No. BrightLocal reports that 40% of respondents said email would make them most likely to leave a review, compared with 27% for an in-person request. The survey reports stated likelihood, not the number of reviews each method produced.

What is the best time to send a review request?

BrightLocal does not establish one universal best time. Its panel expected a prompt by the following day for food-and-drink businesses and around three days to one week for entertainment and beauty, healthcare, trades and service, and real estate. Those are stated expectations, not measured response rates.

Can a business use a Google review link or QR code?

Yes. Google Business Profile Help says businesses can share a review-request link or QR code with customers. The method must support genuine experiences, and Google strictly prohibits offering free or discounted goods or services in exchange for customers posting reviews, changing reviews or removing negative reviews.