Why Google Reviews Matter for Florists
93% of consumers read online reviews before choosing a local business. For florists, this matters even more because customers are often buying for someone else — they cannot see the arrangement before it arrives, so they rely on the experiences of previous buyers. A steady stream of recent, positive reviews builds the trust needed to convert a browser into a buyer.
Google reviews are also one of the strongest ranking signals for the local map pack — the box of three businesses that appears when someone searches "florist near me." More reviews, better ratings, and regular new reviews push your shop higher in that list.
Claim and Optimise Your Google Business Profile
Claim, verify, and complete your profile with accurate name, address, phone number, opening hours, category set to "Florist", a description mentioning your town, and your website URL. Upload quality photos of your shop and work — Google prioritises profiles with fresh images.
Asking for Reviews: Timing Is Everything
Ask when the customer is happiest — when the flowers arrive, not when they order.
Methods That Work
- QR code on your delivery card — include a line like "Loved your flowers? We would be grateful for a quick review" with a QR code linking directly to your Google review page
- Follow-up text message — a brief, friendly text the day after delivery with a direct link
- Follow-up email — an automated email 24-48 hours after delivery for online orders
- QR code at the counter — a small framed sign next to the till for walk-in customers
- Link on receipts and invoices — add your Google review URL to the footer of every receipt
- Social media reminders — a monthly post thanking recent reviewers and encouraging others
Getting Your Direct Review Link
In your Google Business Profile dashboard, look for the "Get more reviews" option. This generates a short URL that takes customers directly to the review form. Shorten it with our URL Shortener for printed materials.
Responding to Every Review
Responding is not optional. It shows prospective customers you are engaged and professional. Google also factors response rate into its ranking algorithm.
Positive Reviews
Keep responses warm, specific, and brief. Reference something from their review to show you have read it. Avoid the same generic reply every time. For example: "Thank you, Sarah! We are glad Emma loved the peonies — they were gorgeous this week."
Our Review Response Generator helps you craft professional, personalised responses in seconds.
Handling Negative Reviews
How you respond matters far more than the review itself. Prospective customers are watching.
- Pause before responding — never reply when defensive. Wait at least an hour.
- Acknowledge their experience — "We are sorry to hear your experience did not meet expectations."
- Take it offline — offer to resolve privately: "Please contact us so we can put this right."
- Follow through — many customers will update their review after a genuine resolution.
- Learn from patterns — repeated issues are business intelligence you cannot ignore.
Never argue publicly, never make excuses, and never ask someone to remove their review.
The Impact on Local SEO
Google's local search algorithm weighs relevance, distance, and prominence. Reviews directly influence prominence — your star rating, total review count, and how recently reviews were posted all matter. A shop with 85 reviews averaging 4.8 stars will outrank a competitor with 12 reviews averaging 5.0 stars.
Encourage customers to mention specifics in their reviews — "wedding bouquets," "same-day delivery," "funeral flowers" — as these keywords help Google match you to relevant searches.
Building a Consistent Review Habit
Set aside ten minutes each week to check and respond to new reviews. Aim for two to three new reviews per month. Over a year, that builds 25-35 reviews signalling to Google and customers that your business is active and trusted.
Start Today
Print a QR code for your delivery cards this week, send a follow-up message to your last few customers, and commit to responding to every review.
