How to Leave a Google Review on Mobile

When is the best time to ask for a review? A few days after an interaction with a customer, within a week or perhaps immediately after the business transaction is completed? We say it’s the latter; right after doing business with a client. The trouble is, people are not usually in front of their computers right after they interact with a small business and leaving a Google review on mobile has been a bit cumbersome in recent years. Today it requires the reviewer to download and use the Google Maps app, if it’s not already on their phone.

Well, did you know you can still leave a review in a mobile browser? For years we thought it wasn’t possible, but when researching for this post we found a way that works, and we have added the instructions to our Review Handout Generator to make it super easy to request reviews from mobile users.

A Brief History of Google Reviews on Mobile

Google has had a rocky history when it comes to mobile reviews. The routes permitting a mobile user to leave a review over the past six years have been a little confusing. Take a look at the timeline below:

• July 2008 –  Reviews from Mobile Phones now possible via mobile browser.
• November 2010 – Google launches Google Maps for Android users – “Now you can write and publish ratings and reviews from your mobile phone.” Google also advises that if you’re an iOS user not to worry as they will soon be launching a Places app but in the meantime, you can still use your browser to rate places.
• January 2011 – Google Places iPhone App launched – iOS users can now rate through the Places application.
• May 2012 – Review button is removed from Places Pages for mobile search (iPhone’s) and also for iPad’s. Users are no longer provided the option to write a review in their mobile browser.
• July 2012 – Google Plus Local App released (Google Places is integrated into the new G+ Local app). Jade Wang, Google Places Community Manager, posts “Google+ Local for iOS is in the App Store starting today, hurray! This is the most reliable way for iOS users to rate & review on iPhones/iPads/iPod touches, etc.”
• September 2012 – Google Local Wizard Mike Blumenthal creates a workaround to help enable iPhone & iPad users to continue writing reviews in their mobile browser.
• December 2012– Google launches the Google Maps app for iOS users
• July 2013 – Google Maps updates to Android and iOS are review enabled. Google announces that they will be retiring the iOS Google+ Local application in August, as many functions that are available in G+ Local App are now available in Maps (including writing reviews).
• August 2013 – Google retires Google+ Local App.
• May 2014 – We’re continuing to see updates to Google Maps Applications that seem to be encouraging more user reviews, offers, and local information.

Google Reviews on Mobile: The Here and Now

Leaving a Google review on mobile can be done in one of two ways.

1. Using the Google Maps Mobile Application (many people are already aware of this method)

2. Using Mike Blumenthal’s method to leave a review via your mobile browser. (Yes, it still works!)

1. How to leave a review using the Google Maps app1. If you don’t already have the app installed, go to your App Store and download and install the “Google Maps” app (Android users have this application by default).

2. Log in to your Google+ profile. If you don’t have a Google+ page, you will have to sign up!3. Open the Google Maps App on your iPhone, Android phone, iPad or tablet.A) Type in the [business name][city]. You can also use your current location to find a business listing if you are at the place of business while leaving the review.B) Select the Business listing C) Scroll down and click on the “Rate and Review” sectionD) Write a review about your experience, service, and so on.E) Finally, click on the “Publish” button.Here’s a 48 second video showing you how easy it is to leave a review with the app (assuming the user has it installed and is logged in to their Google account).=2. How to leave a Google review using your mobile browser

Although Google disabled the review option in the mobile browser back in May of 2012, Mike Blumenthal left a comment on this post that still works today. In order for the reviewer to write a review via their mobile browser they’ll need a direct link to Google+ Local search results for the specific business (ie. business name “phone number + “city, state/province). You can’t just link to their specific G+ listing because this page will not have the review option available, but the search results have the little pencil icon that works on a mobile device.

To get the link you will have to perform the Google+Local search on your desktop/laptop. It is not currently possible to get these results via your mobile browser.

1. Go to https://plus.google.com/local
2. Search for the business
3. Copy the link

Copy the link from your browser bar. This is the link you’ll send to people to leave you a review on mobile. You might want to use a URL shortener for this link. Our Review Handout Generator will automatically create a short URL.Here’s what the reviewer will need to do:A) Go into your mobile browser and log into your Google account (If the user signs in after clicking the link to the G+ Local search results, they will be redirected to the G+ App or page).

B) Go to the G+ Local Link that the business has provided, in our example it’s this.But let’s get real, a lot of business owners feel apprehensive to ask for reviews to begin with, imagine trying to explain this mobile review process to a customer?

Whitespark’s Review Handout Generator: Now With Mobile Versions!

’s free Review Handout Generator tool provides you with mobile Google review instructions using the Google Maps App and wait for it, the Mobile Browser option too! The time has come to capture reviews from an untapped review market that you have been missing out on.

Why is this great you ask?

• It’s free.
• The instructions are easy to read and understand.
• This is one more medium you can use as a small business to encourage customer feedback.
• A reviewer doesn’t have to go home and log on to their desktop or laptop to leave you a review.
• We live in an “on the go” kind of world. Having the ability to write a review instantly after an experience and when it’s top of mind is convenient and awesome.
• We think that the success rate of asking for mobile reviews will be higher.
• Many Smartphone users can’t live without their phone and use it for everything; which means leaving a review on their phone will be easy peasy for them.
• At the end of the day logging back on to your desktop or firing up your laptop isn’t very appealing when asked to leave a review this route. Most people have their Smartphone’s in hands reach and multitask while watching TV or out and about.
• Did we mention it’s totally free?

How it works:

1. Select your platform of choice2. Enter your business information3. Save. Print. Share.It’s that easy!

Do the mobile review handouts get reviews?

We decided that there was no better way to know if the handouts worked than testing them, so we printed 20 and gave them to the good people at Edmonton’s best hair salon, Fuss Art of Hair. In the past two weeks Fuss Art of Hair has received 4 Google reviews; that’s an amazing response rate for a company that hasn’t received a single Google review in the past 16 years of business.For a great breakdown on the pros and cons of mobile versus desktop reviews, check out Phil’s post on the topic.

Ready to get more Google reviews?

Your Turn

So, why do you think Google doesn’t let you leave a review on a mobile browser directly from a Google+ Local listing or from within the Google+ app? Especially when Google mobile products dominate the Smartphone market. Perhaps it’s because they already have a large user base and reach within their Google Maps app, and they still don’t have strong user interaction within the G+ application. But when they love reviews so much, it’s strange that they don’t permit reviews through all available channels. We’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback in the comments, and if you like this post it would be great if you gave it some social lovin’.