Using Frontpage 12 min read August 11, 2026 Updated August 20, 2026

Google Reviews for your small-business website

Google Reviews are often the first proof a stranger trusts. Frontpage now pulls your real Google reviews onto the site, keeps them fresh, lets you choose which ones show, and makes it easy to ask for the next one.

The loop in one picture

Happy customers leave reviews on Google. Frontpage shows the live proof and makes it easy to leave the next one.

When someone finds you on Google, they often look at two things before they call or book: your stars, and a few real sentences from people like them. Those Google Reviews travel with your listing on Maps and Search. Your website should use that same proof, not ignore it.

In our trust and credibility study of 100 small-business sites, customer proof was one of the weakest spots. On sites where named reviews applied, 71% had no properly credited reviews on the page. Many only linked out, with no quotes where a visitor actually lands.

This guide is the practical path: connect your Google listing once, let Frontpage put real reviews on the page, choose which ones visitors see, and ask happy customers for the next review.

Why Google Reviews matter

They answer “can I trust these people?” before anyone talks to you.
They show up where people already search, next to your Maps pin and local results.
Fresh reviews keep the listing alive. A strong rating with recent dates feels current.
Your site can borrow that proof. Quotes plus a clear “See all on Google” link beat anonymous blurbs.

Simple rule

Ask Frontpage to show your Google reviews. Pick the listing once. Always give people a one-tap way to leave the next one.

Before you start

Claim or create your listing at business.google.com.
Finish Google’s verification (postcard, phone, or email) so the listing is yours.
Know the business name and address the way they appear on Google Maps.
Have Frontpage open so you can ask for reviews in chat.

You do not need a Google Cloud project, an API key, or a Place ID. Stuck on the Google side? Email support@frontpage.host.

What Frontpage does

Google reviews are a built-in module, like forms or payments. You ask for the outcome. Frontpage builds the section, you pick the listing once, and the platform keeps the reviews current.

First connect: we store up to 100 of your newest Google reviews.
Every day: we pull up to 10 newer reviews and add them. If you had fewer than 10 new ones, we only take what Google returned.
The cache grows. We never delete a review Frontpage stored. You can feature something from any pull, even months later.
The listing totals stay honest. The star average and review count on a badge are Google’s totals for the business, not a score we invent from the few reviews on the page.
Write-a-review is automatic. After you connect, Frontpage already has the correct Google compose URL. Do not paste a guessed Maps link.

Simple rule

Ask Frontpage to show your Google reviews. Pick the listing when the amber bar asks. Then ask Frontpage to hide weak reviews, keep the strong ones, and put a Leave a review button where customers already feel good.

Step 1: Ask for reviews on your site

You do not paste quotes. Tell Frontpage what you want, in plain English.

Show my Google reviews on the homepage, under the main offer. Add a star rating badge in the header, and a Leave a Google review button in the footer.

Other useful asks:

“Add a reviews section on the services page.”
“Put a Google star badge next to my phone number.”
“On the thank-you page, ask how likely they are to recommend us.”
“Only show 4- and 5-star reviews, and hide the one-star ones.”
“Put Maya’s review first.”

Frontpage builds the section into your design. Until you pick the listing, visitors do not see an empty or broken widget — it stays hidden, with a calm amber bar asking you to finish setup.

Good places for reviews:

Homepage, near the offer or right after it
A star badge in the header or footer
Thank-you page after a form, booking, or order (ask + write-a-review)
A short Reviews page if you want a longer feed

Step 2: Pick your Google listing

Click Start setup in the bar above the canvas.
Search for your business the way it appears on Google, or paste a Maps link.
Confirm the name and address, then choose This is my business.

That is the only owner step. Frontpage then pulls reviews into your cache and the section appears. If you later disconnect, the stored reviews stay. Reconnecting is picking the listing again — we do not wipe history.

Step 3: What visitors can see

Same module, three layouts. Ask for the one you want; Frontpage writes the platform widget, not fake quote cards.

Reviews feed

The full list: stars, the reviewer’s words, name, date, optional photo, and a link back to that review on Google. Google attribution stays on the block.

Star badge

Stars plus the listing’s average rating and total review count. Compact enough for a header, footer, or hero.

Write a review

One button that opens Google’s compose form for your business. Frontpage supplies the URL after you connect. Phones often open Maps; desktop opens the browser. The visitor must be signed into Google.

Keep it honest

Do not invent reviews. Do not rewrite someone’s words, rating, or name. Frontpage will not build fake stars or quote cards when this module is available. If a review is outdated, hide it or feature a newer one — do not rewrite history.

Step 4: Choose which reviews show

Frontpage stores every review it pulls. Showing a review and storing a review are different. Hiding one only changes the site. The row stays in your cache, and it still exists on Google.

When you ask to add, show, or improve Google reviews, the agent curates the list for you. You should not have to open a settings panel. The usual starting point:

Show 4- and 5-star reviews
Hide 1-star reviews
Sort highest rating first
Tell you what changed

Honor an explicit ask the other way: “show all ratings,” “keep the critical ones,” or “feature this review at the top.” Featuring uses a weight, like a z-index: higher numbers float first, and there is room to slide another review between two you already featured. Reset weights only when you want nothing specially featured.

In Modules you can also see every stored review (first 20, then Show more), hide or show one, change the star filter, change sort, set a weight, or copy that review’s Google link. The public page still follows the same rules either way.

From the terminal

If you already have a Place ID or a Google Maps link, you can connect and curate without opening the editor. Same listing, same reviews, same hide / stars / sort / weight as Modules.

frontpage modules google_reviews connect --place-id ChIJ…
frontpage modules google_reviews connect --maps-url "https://maps.google.com/…"
frontpage modules google_reviews list-reviews --stars 4,5
frontpage modules google_reviews hide --id author:123
frontpage modules google_reviews set-stars 4,5
frontpage modules google_reviews set-sort highest
frontpage modules google_reviews refresh
frontpage modules google_reviews disconnect --yes

Do not paste a Place ID through a generic settings JSON blob — that skips the real connect. Full command list: Google reviews CLI. If you do not have a Place ID or Maps link yet, keep using Start setup in the editor and search for your business.

Step 5: Ask for the next review

Proof on the page is half. The other half is asking at the right moment: after a good visit, a finished job, or a happy delivery.

On the site

A Leave a Google review button (the write-a-review layout) in the footer or on a thank-you page.
A recommend-us ask: “How likely are you to recommend us?” on a 1–10 scale. Scores of 7–10 thank them and offer the Google review link. Scores of 1–6 collect a private comment and still offer the same Google link — Frontpage does not hide Google from unhappy visitors. You get an email, and the score lands in your inbox.

Try: “On the thank-you page, ask how likely they are to recommend us.”

Off the site

Text or email the write-a-review link the same day, while the visit is fresh.
Keep the ask short: “Glad we could help. If you have 30 seconds, a Google review helps neighbors find us.”
Ask Frontpage for the write-a-review URL if you need it for a text, receipt, or printed card. Do not guess a Maps href.
Never offer money or free stuff in exchange for a five-star review. That breaks Google’s rules and backfires.

What customers should experience

They land on your Frontpage site and see real Google reviews near your offer.
They can open the full Google listing to read more.
After they become a customer, the thank-you page (or your text) asks for a review.
New reviews show up on Google. Frontpage stores the newest ones each day, and you can feature the best.

If something goes wrong

What you see	What to try
Amber bar asks you to pick a listing	Click Start setup, search for the business (or paste a Maps link), and confirm This is my business. Do not paste a Place ID in chat.
Reviews section is missing on the live site	The listing is not connected yet, or the module is turned off. Finish setup, or ask Frontpage to turn Google reviews back on.
Leave-a-review opens the wrong business	You confirmed the wrong listing. Disconnect in Modules and pick the correct one. Frontpage keeps stored reviews; it does not invent a Maps URL.
A review you hid is still on Google	That is expected. Hide only changes your Frontpage site. Reply on Google if you want the public listing updated.
Customers say they cannot leave a review	They need to be signed into a Google account. Send the write-a-review link again and ask them to open it on their phone.
You are not sure which reviews to show	Ask Frontpage to show 4- and 5-star reviews and hide 1-star ones. Or email support@frontpage.host with your listing link.

Quick checklist

Verify your Google Business Profile at business.google.com.
Ask Frontpage to show your Google reviews (and a Leave a review button if you want one).
Pick your listing from the amber bar — search or paste a Maps link.
Let Frontpage curate: 4- and 5-star on the page, weak ones hidden, unless you ask otherwise.
Add a recommend-us ask or write-a-review button on the thank-you page.
Send the write-a-review link after happy visits. New reviews land in the cache each day.

Related reading: Modules, How to use Modules, Trust and credibility, Editing your site by chatting. Need a hand? Email support@frontpage.host.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Google Business Profile first?

Yes. Google Reviews sit on your Google Business Profile (the listing that shows on Google Maps and in local search). If you do not have one yet, create or claim it at business.google.com, finish Google’s verification, then ask Frontpage to add reviews. You pick that listing once — no Place ID, no Google Cloud.

Can Frontpage pull my Google reviews automatically?

Yes. Ask for Google reviews on the page. After you confirm your listing, Frontpage stores your reviews and shows them on the site. The first pull can store up to 100 reviews. Every day we add up to 10 newer ones. We never delete a review we stored.

Do I have to paste quotes or a Place ID?

No. Tell Frontpage to show your Google reviews. It builds the section, then asks you to search for your business (or paste a Maps link) and confirm “This is my business.” Frontpage supplies the write-a-review URL. Never invent stars or quotes.

Can I hide a bad review on my site?

Yes. Ask Frontpage to hide it, or hide it in Modules. Hiding only changes what visitors see on your site. The review stays in your Frontpage cache and still exists on Google. We never delete stored reviews. Do not hide your Google listing itself.

Which reviews show by default?

When you ask to add or improve Google reviews, Frontpage curates the on-site list: 4- and 5-star reviews, 1-star reviews hidden, highest rating first. You can ask to show all ratings, keep a critical review, or feature a specific one.

Where should review buttons go on my site?

Put the reviews feed near the top of the homepage or right after your main offer. Add a star badge in the header or footer, and a Leave a review button or recommend-us ask on a thank-you page after checkout or booking.

What if I have bad reviews too?

Reply to fair criticism on Google, fix the real issue when you can, and keep asking happy customers for fresh reviews. On your site you can hide a review or filter stars, but keep a path to the full Google listing so the proof feels real. Frontpage never claims a hidden review was deleted from Google.