How to Leave a Review on Google My Business

Leaving a review for a business on Google is one of the most direct ways to share your experience, whether you’re celebrating amazing service or sharing constructive feedback. It helps other customers make informed decisions and gives businesses invaluable insight into what they’re doing right. This guide will walk you through exactly how to leave a review on Google from any device, edit it if you need to, and offer some tips on writing reviews that are genuinely helpful.

Why Your Google Review Matters

Ever chosen a restaurant, coffee shop, or mechanic based on its star rating and a handful of glowing reviews? You’re not alone. Google reviews are the modern-day word-of-mouth, shaping both customer decisions and a business’s online reputation. When you leave a review, you're contributing to a community of information that helps everyone.

For businesses, especially local ones, these reviews are gold. They act as powerful social proof, build trust with potential customers, and even contribute to their local search engine ranking. A steady stream of positive, detailed reviews can put a small business on the map, literally. Your few minutes of thoughtful feedback can make a real difference.

How to Leave a Google Review on a Desktop Computer (Step-by-Step)

Leaving feedback from your laptop or desktop is a straightforward process. All you need is a Google account. If you have a Gmail address, you’re already set. If not, creating one is quick and free.

Here’s how to do it in a few simple steps:

Step 1: Sign in to Your Google Account

First things first, make sure you're logged into your Google account. Go to google.com and check the top-right corner. If you see your initial or profile picture, you're signed in. If not, click the "Sign in" button and enter your credentials.

Step 2: Find the Business

Next, search for the business you want to review. You can do this in two main ways:

• Using Google Search: Just type the business name and its location (e.g., "Main Street Coffee Boston") into the search bar. The business’s profile should appear in a box on the right-hand side of the search results.
• Using Google Maps: Go to maps.google.com and search for the business name. Click on its name from the list on the left or select its pin on the map.

Step 3: Locate the "Write a Review" Button

Once you’ve found the business profile, scroll down a bit. In the main information panel, you'll see a summary of their existing reviews and a button that says “Write a review.” It’s usually located right next to the "Reviews" summary. Click it.

Step 4: Rate, Write, and Add Details

A pop-up window will appear. This is where you’ll create your review.

1. Select a star rating: The first thing to do is choose a rating from one to five stars. This is the most crucial part of the quick-glance review.
2. Write about your experience: In the text box, describe your experience. What did you like? What could have been better? Be specific. Mention the product you bought, the service you received, or even the date of your visit. Specific details make your review more credible and useful.
3. Add photos (optional but recommended): If you have pictures of the food, the product, or the location, this is the place to add them. Photos add a powerful visual element that builds trust. Just click the camera icon to upload them.
4. Answer specific questions (optional): Sometimes, Google will prompt you with extra questions about the business, such as what services you used or if they have certain amenities. Answering these adds more structured data to the business profile.

Step 5: Post Your Review

Once you’re happy with your star rating, written feedback, and any photos, click the blue “Post” button. That's it! Your review will usually go live instantly or after a brief period of review by Google.

How to Leave a Google Review on a Mobile Device (iPhone or Android)

Most of us feel inspired to leave a review while we're on the go. Luckily, the process is just as easy on your phone using either the Google Maps app or your web browser.

Step 1: Open Google Maps or Your Browser

The Google Maps app is the most common way to do this. If you don't have it, you can simply use the Chrome, Safari, or another browser app and navigate to google.com.

Step 2: Search for the Business

Use the search bar at the top to type in the name of the business you want to review. Tap the correct result from the list to pull up its profile.

Step 3: Find the Reviews Section and Rate It

When the business profile appears, you’ll see the business name, photos, and other key details. You can do one of two things:

• Tap the "Reviews" tab. This will show you all existing reviews. Above them, you'll see a set of five empty stars under "Rate & review." Tap the number of stars you want to give.
• Alternatively, you can often just scroll down the main profile page until you see the "Rate & review" section with the five empty stars.

Step 4: Write Your Review and Post

After you’ve tapped the stars, you’ll be taken to a new screen where you can write about your experience. Just like on desktop, you can share details, add photos from your phone’s gallery, and then tap the “Post” button in the top-right corner to publish it.

What Makes a Great Google Review? Tips for Being a Helpful Customer

A good review does more than just give a rating. It tells a story and offers context that helps both future customers and the business owner. Here’s what makes for a truly standout review.

1. Be Specific and Provide Context

Instead of saying "the food was great," try "The Margherita pizza was fantastic, the crust was light and crispy, and the sauce tasted incredibly fresh." Instead of "bad service," try explaining what happened: "We waited 20 minutes before anyone came to our table to take our drink order." Specific details bring your experience to life.

2. Be Fair and Honest

Your review should be an accurate reflection of your personal experience. If something was fantastic, say so with enthusiasm. If you had a negative experience, keep it factual and unemotional. Stick to describing what happened rather than making broad accusations. The goal is constructive feedback, not venting online.

3. Use Photos to Tell the Story

Visuals are incredibly persuasive. A photo of your delicious meal, a well-organized store shelf, or a finished home renovation project adds a layer of authenticity that text alone can't match. It shows people exactly what to expect.

4. Consider the Vibe and Atmosphere

Was the cafe perfect for remote work with lots of outlets and quiet corners? Was the restaurant lively and great for a group celebration? Mentioning the atmosphere helps people decide if the place is the right fit for what they’re looking for.

5. Mention Standout Employees

If an employee gave you exceptional service, mention them by name. It’s a wonderful way to give a well-deserved shout-out and provides great feedback for the business manager. "Maria at the front desk was so helpful and friendly" goes a long way.

Oops: How to Edit or Delete a Review You Left

Changed your mind? Had a follow-up experience that changed your perspective? Or maybe you just noticed a typo. Editing or deleting a Google review is simple.

1. Open Google Maps on your desktop or mobile app.
2. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) or your profile picture, then select “Your contributions.”
3. Select the “Reviews” tab.
4. You'll see a list of all the reviews you’ve ever written. Find the one you want to change.
5. Click or tap the three dots next to the review. You'll see options to “Edit review” or “Delete review.”
6. Choose your option, make your changes, and save, or confirm the deletion. It's that easy.

Can a Google Review Be Anonymous?

This is a very common question. The short answer is no, you can't leave a truly anonymous Google review. Your review will always be publicly linked to the name and profile picture on your Google account. This system is designed to promote accountability and reduce the number of fake or spammy reviews. If you are concerned about your privacy, you can always edit your Google account's public name or profile picture before leaving a review, but any review you write will be tied to that public-facing profile.

Final Thoughts

Leaving a Google review is a simple yet powerful way to support businesses you love and help other consumers make smarter choices. Whether you’re using your desktop or mobile, writing a helpful review takes just a few minutes but leaves a lasting impact on a business’s reputation and success.

Of course, earning great reviews is just one part of building a strong brand organically. An equally important piece is managing your brand's voice and community across social media platforms. We built Postbase to solve this very problem, because the chaos of jumping between platforms is overwhelming. We designed it to be a clean, modern hub for planning and scheduling content, engaging with all your comments and DMs in one unified inbox, and analyzing what's actually working - all without the clunky interfaces and hidden fees of older tools.