Word of mouth, for people you haven't met yet
When someone searches for a church nearby, Google shows star ratings and review counts right next to each church's name. Before they visit your website, a newcomer has often already read what others say about you.
Google's own help pages say that more reviews and positive ratings can help a business's local ranking. But the bigger reason is simpler. A review is an honest word from someone who sits in your pews, written for a neighbor who is wondering whether they would be welcome.
A review can't replace a personal invitation. But it gives your members a way to extend a welcome to people they will never meet in person.
Some pastors hesitate to ask for reviews because it feels like self-promotion. It helps to see it the other way around: you are not writing your own praise. You are giving the people who know your church a simple way to tell the truth about it.
Know Google's rules first
Google takes fake or biased reviews seriously and can remove reviews or restrict a profile that breaks its rules. Here is what its policies allow and what they don't.
- Asking anyone with a real experience of your church to share it.
- Asking everyone, whether you expect a glowing review or not.
- Sharing your review link or QR code in print, by email, and online.
- Displaying your QR code at church, such as in the bulletin or on a sign.
- Offering anything in return, even a coffee card or a raffle entry.
- Asking only the people you expect to be happy.
- Telling people what to write, such as naming the pastor or a phrase.
- Pressuring people to write a review on the spot while at church.
- Setting a quota, such as asking a volunteer to "get 20 reviews."
Google doesn't allow reviews based on a conflict of interest, which includes current or former employees and family relationships. That means pastors, paid staff, and their immediate families should not review your church, however well meant. Let members, attendees, and visitors speak.
Get your review link and QR code
Google gives every verified profile a short link that takes people straight to the review form. The QR code can only be made on a computer.
- Sign in and open your Business Profile (search Google for my business).
- Select Read reviews, then Get more reviews.
- To copy the link, select Copy. Paste it somewhere safe, such as your church's shared documents.
- To save the QR code, right-click it and select Save image as.
Decide who to ask
Anyone who has a genuine experience with your church can leave a review. Good people to ask include:
- Members and regular attendees. They know your church best. Include long-time members and newer families. Newer families often write the most helpful reviews, because they remember what it was like to visit for the first time.
- Visitors who have come more than once. A short, friendly note after their second or third visit is a natural time to ask.
- People who attended an outreach event, such as a Vacation Bible School, an ESL class, a concert, or a community meal.
Ask everyone the same way. You don't need to hand-pick people, and Google's rules say you shouldn't. A few honest, mixed reviews are more believable to a visitor than a wall of identical praise.
Ask in the right places
| Where | How |
|---|---|
| Announcement | A brief mention during announcements, pointing people to the QR code in the bulletin so they can leave a review later at home. |
| Bulletin or insert | Print the QR code with one or two sentences of explanation. |
| Church email | Include the review link in your newsletter once or twice a year, and in your welcome email to new members. |
| Visitor follow-up | Add a gentle, optional line to the note you send after someone has visited a few times. |
| A personal word | When a member tells you how much the church has meant to them, it's natural to say, "Would you be willing to share that on Google?" |
Plan a steady rhythm rather than one big push. A few new reviews each month keep your profile current and show visitors that people are still coming.
Words you can borrow
Many of our neighbors look for a church on Google before they ever visit. If Grace Presbyterian has been a blessing to you, would you consider sharing your honest experience in a Google review? Scan the code on the back of this bulletin when you're home this week. Thank you for helping us welcome the people God is bringing our way.
Dear church family,
When people in our town search for a church, one of the first things they see is our Google profile, including reviews from people who worship here. Would you take two minutes to share your own experience of our church in your own words? You can do so here: [your review link].
There is no need to write much. A few honest sentences help a visitor know what to expect.
With gratitude,
Pastor [Name]
Help members who aren't comfortable with technology
Some of your most faithful members may want to help but not know how. Print these steps on a half sheet, or have a helpful volunteer walk them through it at home or by phone:
- Open the review link or scan the QR code with your phone's camera.
- Sign in to your Google account. If you don't have one, you can create one with any email address, not just Gmail.
- Tap the stars to choose a rating.
- Write a few sentences about your experience, in your own words.
- Tap Post.
Let people know that reviews appear publicly under the name on their Google account. Some members will prefer not to, and that is fine. Never press anyone who hesitates.
Common mistakes to avoid
| Mistake | Why it causes trouble |
|---|---|
| Thanking reviewers with a gift or a drawing | Google treats any incentive as fake engagement and can remove the reviews. |
| Asking the pastor's family or staff to review | These are conflict-of-interest reviews, which Google doesn't allow. |
| Passing a tablet around at fellowship hour | Pressuring people to review on the premises is against Google's rules. |
| Suggesting words or keywords to include | Google doesn't allow requests for specific content, and it makes reviews sound less genuine. |
| Asking once and never again | Old reviews age. Visitors notice when the newest review is years old. |
| Asking and then not replying | Every review deserves a reply. That's the next step in this series. |
Google checks every review against its policies, which can take a few days. Reviews removed for breaking the rules won't be restored. If a member has trouble posting a review from an older phone, updating the Google Maps app usually helps. Keep asking steadily, and never try to work around Google's checks.