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Posted on Sep 16 Originally published at gtstu.com

How to Get a Short Google Review Link in 2026

#webdev

If you searched for how to claim a Google Business Profile short name so you could hand out a tidy g.page link, here’s the update: Google discontinued the ability to create or edit short names. Businesses that already had one keep the URL working, but it’s no longer shown on the public profile, and there’s no way to set up a new one.

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The good news is you don’t need a short name to get an easy, shareable link for review requests. This guide walks through the two methods that still work in 2026 — Google’s built-in “Ask for reviews” link and a Place ID-based link you can build yourself — plus tips for actually getting more reviews once you have it.

Quick Answer

You can no longer create a new Google Business Profile short name — Google removed that option for everyone. To get a short, shareable link for review requests instead, sign into the Google account that manages your profile, search your business name, click “Ask for reviews,” and copy the short URL Google generates. If that option isn’t available, you can build a review link using your Google Place ID — just don’t treat it as permanent, since Google’s own documentation says Place IDs can change and recommends refreshing any that are more than 12 months old.

How to Get Your Google Review Link Today

Sign in to Google using the account that manages your Business Profile, then search your business name on Google (or open your listing in Google Maps). Look for the panel that includes an “Ask for reviews” or “Get more reviews” option on your profile in the search results. Click it, and Google shows a pop-up with a ready-to-share URL, along with buttons to send it directly by email, WhatsApp, or Facebook. Copy that link and drop it into texts, emails, receipts, or a QR code.

If that panel doesn’t appear for your listing, you can build the same kind of link yourself using your Place ID. Search for your business with Google’s Place ID Finder tool (part of the Google Maps Platform documentation) to find your unique identifier, then add it to the end of this URL: https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=YOUR_PLACE_ID. This opens straight to the review box for your listing. One important caveat: Place IDs are not permanent. Google’s own developer documentation states that a Place ID can change over time — for example, if a business moves, closes, or Google’s map data otherwise gets updated — and it explicitly recommends refreshing any Place ID that’s more than 12 months old. For most small businesses that means treating a Place ID link as something to periodically re-verify, not a one-time setup you can forget about.

What Happened to Short Names (and Why It Matters)

Google announced in early 2026 that it was removing short names as part of an effort to simplify the Business Profile product. Any short name you set up before the change still resolves and still works as a link, but it no longer displays on your public profile, and Google has said you can’t create, edit, or reclaim one once it’s gone. In other words: don’t build new marketing materials around setting up a short name, since the feature is closed to new requests.

This is a good moment to standardize on the “Ask for reviews” link instead of a Place ID link where possible. The “Ask for reviews” link is generated fresh from your live profile each time, so it doesn’t carry the same staleness risk as a hardcoded Place ID link, which Google itself says should be refreshed periodically since the underlying ID isn’t guaranteed to stay the same indefinitely. Both options are free and point directly to your verified profile’s review box, but if you go the Place ID route, build in a periodic check rather than assuming it’ll work forever.

Tips / Common Mistakes

Test any review link in an incognito or private browser window before sharing it widely, to confirm it opens the review box for the correct, verified location rather than a duplicate or nearby listing. If you already have an old short name saved in email signatures or print materials, check that it still redirects correctly rather than assuming it does. Turn your review link into a QR code for receipts, table tents, or business cards so customers can leave feedback without typing anything. If you’re using a Place ID link, don’t treat it as a permanent, set-it-and-forget-it asset: Google’s documentation recommends refreshing Place IDs older than 12 months, since they can change when map data is updated, a business moves, or a listing is edited. Timing matters more than the link itself — asking right after a positive interaction, rather than days later, gets far better response rates. Finally, be wary of third-party “Google review link generators” that don’t actually pull from your verified Place ID; always confirm the destination before rolling a link out to customers.

Explore more: More Digital Strategy guides.

Google Business Profile review link FAQs

Can I still create a Google Business Profile short name?

No. Google removed the ability to create or edit short names in 2026. Any short name and URL you set up before the change keeps working as a redirect, but it’s no longer shown on your public profile and can’t be recreated if deleted.

What’s the fastest way to get a shareable Google review link?

Search your business name on Google while signed into the account that manages your profile, click “Ask for reviews,” and copy the short URL Google generates in the pop-up.

Is a Google Place ID review link permanent?

No. Google’s developer documentation states that Place IDs can change over time — for example if a business moves, closes, or map data is otherwise updated — and it recommends refreshing any Place ID that’s more than 12 months old. Re-test Place ID-based review links periodically rather than assuming they’ll work indefinitely.

What if “Ask for reviews” isn’t available for my listing?

Look up your business’s Place ID using Google’s Place ID Finder tool, then add it to the end of https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid= to create a working review link. Test it in an incognito window before sharing, and re-check it periodically since Google recommends refreshing Place IDs older than 12 months.

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Originally published at gtstu.com.

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