Get Your Google Review Link and Short URL the Right Way

Every time a happy customer walks out of your restaurant, clinic, or shop, they intend to leave a review. Most never do — not because they changed their mind, but because finding your Google Business Profile and clicking the right button takes more steps than they expect. A direct Google review link cuts those steps down to one tap, opening the review box instantly on whatever device they are using.

This guide walks you through finding that exact link inside your Google Business Profile, turning it into a clean short URL you can actually say out loud or print on a receipt, and placing it everywhere your customers are — email, SMS, your website, and a QR code on your counter. No reputation agency required. Ten minutes of setup today can keep that link working for years.

What a direct Google review link does

When someone searches your business on Google, they can leave a review — but the path involves multiple clicks through your Business Profile. A direct review link bypasses all of that. It takes the customer straight to the review submission panel, with the star-rating screen open and ready.

The practical impact is significant. Fewer steps mean fewer drop-offs. Sharing a direct link by text message, in a follow-up email, or on a table card removes every obstacle between the customer's good intention and the published review. You ask all of your customers — happy experiences, neutral ones, everyone — and the ones who want to share their feedback can do it in seconds.

There are two formats you will work with: the raw URL Google generates (long, looks like a string of random characters) and a short URL you create yourself. Both go to exactly the same place. The short version is simply easier to type, print, and remember.

Finding your review link in Google Business Profile

Google surfaces your review link in two places. Use whichever method your browser shows you first.

Method 1: From the Business Profile manager

• Sign in to the Google account that manages your Business Profile.
• In Google Search, search for your business name (or go to business.google.com and open your profile).
• In the profile panel, click "Ask for reviews" — this button appears directly in the Business Profile card when you are signed in as the owner.
• A dialog opens showing your review link. Copy the URL displayed there — this is your raw review link.

Method 2: From the Business Profile dashboard

• Go to business.google.com and log in.
• Open your location.
• In the left menu, click "Home."
• Find the "Get more reviews" card and click "Share review form." The full URL appears in the sharing dialog.

The raw URL looks something like this: https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=ChIJ… followed by a long alphanumeric string. Copy and paste it into a text file or note app right now — you will need it in the next step.

Confirming you have the right link

Paste the URL into an incognito browser window (so you are not signed in as the owner). It should load a page showing your business name and asking you to rate and review it. If it does, you have the correct link. If it opens your general Business Profile instead of the review form, try Method 2 above and copy the URL from the "Share review form" dialog rather than from the address bar.

Creating a short, memorable review URL

Google provides its own shortening tool inside the Business Profile dashboard. Use it — it is free, tied directly to your profile, and does not expire.

Using Google's built-in short name

• In your Business Profile dashboard, go to "Edit profile" then "Business information."
• Scroll to the "Profile short name" field (sometimes labeled "Short name").
• Enter a short name — Google recommends your business name or a close variation (example: @rivieracacafe). It can be 5 to 32 characters, letters and numbers only.
• Save. Google will tell you if the name is taken.

Once your short name is set, your review link becomes: g.page/YourShortName/review. That is a URL you can say out loud, write on a chalkboard, or print on a business card. For the cafe example it would be g.page/rivieracacafe/review.

Using a redirect on your own domain

If you want even more control — or if your preferred short name is already taken — you can set up a redirect on your own website. On WordPress, a plugin like Redirection (free, by John Godley) lets you map /review to your raw Google review URL in about 60 seconds. The result is something like yourbusinessname.com/review, which is easy to remember and keeps the link under your own brand.

Adding the link to email, SMS, and your site

A review link is only as effective as the places you put it. Here are the highest-converting placements for local businesses.

Post-visit follow-up email

Send a short, plain-text follow-up email 24 to 48 hours after the visit or appointment. One sentence of thanks, one sentence asking for a review, and the link — that is all. Keep the subject line under 50 characters ("How was your visit, [First Name]?" works well). Hyperlink the review URL under anchor text like "Leave a Google review" so the link does not break the layout on mobile.

SMS

Text messages have open rates well above email — some studies cite figures around 90 percent. Keep your SMS to two sentences maximum. The short URL (g.page/yourshortname/review or yourdomain.com/review) is essential here because the raw Google URL is too long and looks untrustworthy. Always comply with local SMS marketing regulations and only text customers who have opted in.

Your website

Add a clear "Leave us a Google review" button or text link to your homepage footer, your contact page, and your booking confirmation page. On WordPress, a simple button block with your review URL takes under a minute to add. Customers who find your site and are already satisfied may review you without any further prompting — the link just needs to be visible.

Email signature

Add a one-line review request to your personal and business email signatures. Something like: "Happy with your visit? Leave us a review on Google." Hyperlink the text to your review URL. Every email you send becomes a passive review touchpoint.

Putting the link behind a QR code

A QR code makes your review link physical — printable on receipts, table tents, window clings, appointment reminder cards, and packaging. If you serve walk-in customers or operate a physical space, a QR code is often the most natural review prompt you can offer.

To generate a QR code for your review link, use any reputable free QR generator (QR Code Generator, Adobe Express, or qr.io all work well). Paste your short URL into the tool and download the image as a high-resolution PNG or SVG. Always download the vector version (SVG) if you are printing at large sizes — a pixelated QR code will not scan.

A few design rules that matter in practice:

• Print the QR code at least 2.5 cm by 2.5 cm (1 inch by 1 inch) for reliable scanning.
• Add a one-line call to action above or below the code: "Scan to review us on Google" removes any guesswork.
• Keep at least 4 mm of quiet zone (blank space) around the code so camera apps can detect the edges.
• Test the printed version with three different phones before ordering a large print run.

For a deeper look at physical placements, the guide QR Code Review Cards: Get Reviews From Walk-In Customers covers card formats, print specs, and where to place codes for maximum scan rates.

Testing the link on mobile before you share it

Most of your customers will tap your review link on a phone. Test it there before it goes live anywhere.

Mobile testing checklist

• Open the link in a private/incognito tab on your phone while signed out of your Google account.
• Confirm it lands on the review form — star rating visible, your business name correct, correct address shown.
• Tap a star to confirm the form is interactive (do not submit a test review).
• Test on both iOS (Safari) and Android (Chrome) if possible. Behavior can differ.
• Scan the QR code version with the device camera app — confirm it resolves to the same form, not a generic Business Profile page.

If the form does not open correctly on mobile, the most common fix is to use the short g.page URL rather than the raw placeid URL — some older browsers handle the short version more reliably.

Fixing a review link that opens the wrong page

A few issues come up regularly when owners set up their review links. Here is how to resolve each one.

The link opens the general Business Profile, not the review form

Go back to the Business Profile dashboard and copy the URL from the "Share review form" dialog (not from the browser address bar after navigating manually). The dialog gives you the exact direct-to-review URL. The address bar URL often points to your general profile.

The short name field is missing or greyed out

Short names are available to Business Profiles that are verified and have been active for a period of time. If the field is not accessible, use the raw review URL with a domain redirect (the WordPress Redirection plugin approach described above) while you wait for the feature to unlock.

The link shows a different business

This usually means you are signed in to the wrong Google account. Sign out, sign into the account that owns the correct Business Profile, and regenerate the link from that account's dashboard.

The link works on desktop but not on mobile

Some mobile browsers redirect the URL in unexpected ways. Switching from the raw placeid URL to the g.page short URL resolves this in most cases. If you are using a domain redirect, make sure the redirect rule in WordPress (or your .htaccess file) uses a 301 permanent redirect, not a 302 temporary one — some mobile browsers do not follow 302s reliably.

The QR code does not scan

Low contrast, insufficient quiet zone, or a URL that is too long for the QR density level are the usual culprits. Regenerate the code using your short URL (not the raw long URL), increase the error correction level to "H" in the generator settings, and make sure the background behind the code is white with no texture.

Turning your review link into a system

A review link on its own gets sporadic results. Paired with a consistent follow-up workflow — a timed email or SMS that goes out automatically after every visit or purchase — it becomes a reliable, compounding asset. The guide How to Get More Google Reviews for Your Local Business: 12 Policy-Safe Ways (2026) covers the full range of request methods you can layer on top of your direct link, all within Google's guidelines.

Before building out those workflows, make sure your Business Profile is configured to make the review experience as frictionless as possible. The guide Set Up Your Google Business Profile to Win Reviews walks through the profile completeness checklist that helps customers trust and engage with your listing before they even tap your review link.

If you run WordPress and want to automate the follow-up entirely — sending review requests to every customer without manual copy-paste work — Reviews Wall handles that inside your existing WooCommerce setup for a flat $59 per year. No per-location fees, no SaaS subscription. You control the timing, the message, and the data stays on your own server.

Whatever tools you use, the foundation is the same: get the right link, put it in the right places, send it to every customer, and make leaving a review as easy as one tap.

Key takeaways

• A direct Google review link opens the star-rating form in one tap, removing every friction point between a customer's intention and a published review.
• Find your raw review link by clicking 'Ask for reviews' in your Business Profile card on Google Search, or via the 'Share review form' dialog at business.google.com.
• Set a Google Business Profile short name to get a clean g.page/YourShortName/review URL you can say aloud, print, and share anywhere.
• Place the link in post-visit email, SMS follow-ups, your website footer, your email signature, and behind a QR code on physical materials.
• Always test the link in a private/incognito browser tab on both iOS and Android before publishing it anywhere.
• Send review requests to every customer — Google's policies require it, and it is the only way to build a rating that holds up over time.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I find my Google review link?

Sign in to the Google account that manages your Business Profile, search your business name in Google, and click the 'Ask for reviews' button in the Business Profile card. The review link appears in the dialog that opens. You can also find it at business.google.com under Home > Get more reviews > Share review form.

What is a Google Business Profile short name and how do I create one?

A short name is a custom handle you set in your Business Profile dashboard under Edit profile > Business information. Once set, your review link becomes g.page/YourShortName/review — a short, memorable URL you can print and share. Short names are 5 to 32 characters, letters and numbers only.

Why does my Google review link open the general profile instead of the review form?

This usually happens when you copy the URL from your browser address bar after navigating to your profile manually. Instead, copy the link directly from the 'Share review form' dialog inside your Business Profile dashboard — that version points specifically to the review submission form.

Can I use my own domain for a review link?

Yes. On WordPress, you can set up a redirect (for example, yourdomain.com/review pointing to your raw Google review URL) using a free plugin like Redirection. This gives you a branded, easy-to-remember URL that you control.

How do I put my review link on a QR code?

Paste your short review URL into a free QR generator such as QR Code Generator or Adobe Express, download the image as a high-resolution PNG or SVG, and print it at least 2.5 cm by 2.5 cm with a clear call to action like 'Scan to review us on Google.' Always test the printed code with multiple phones before distributing.

Should I only send the review link to customers I think are happy?

No. Send your review link to all customers — that is what Google's review policies require, and it is also the only approach that builds a credible, trustworthy rating over time. If a customer had a negative experience, the right response is to follow up professionally and focus on service recovery, not to withhold a review request from them.