How to Ask Customers for Google Reviews (With Scripts)

Most Happy Customers Never Leave a Review

It is not that they do not want to. They simply do not think of it. The job is finished, they are pleased, and life moves on. Unhappy customers, on the other hand, are highly motivated. Left alone, your reviews will under-represent how good your work is.

The fix is simple and a little uncomfortable: ask everyone, every time. The businesses with the most reviews are almost never the best in their trade. They are the ones with a habit of asking.

When to Ask

Ask at the moment the customer is happiest, which is usually when you have just finished and they are looking at the result. Mention it in person first, then send the link by text within the hour. A request that arrives a fortnight later, by email, mostly gets ignored.

Get Your Review Link

Google gives every business a direct link that opens the review box. Sign in to your Google Business Profile, choose 'Ask for reviews' and copy the link. Save it in your phone's notes so it is always one tap away. Some tradies also print it as a QR code on invoices or a card they leave behind.

What to Say in Person

Keep it short and explain why it matters. Something like: 'Glad you're happy with it. If you get a minute, a Google review really helps a small business like ours. I'll text you the link so it's easy.' Most people say yes. Sending the link straight away is what turns the yes into a review.

A Text Message You Can Copy

Texts get read. Keep yours to two or three lines and use the customer's name.

• Hi [Name], it's [Your name] from [Business]. Thanks again for having us out today. If you're happy with the work, a quick Google review would mean a lot: [link]. Thanks!
• Hi [Name], [Your name] here. Hope the new [job] is going well. If you have a minute, we'd really appreciate a Google review. It helps other locals find us: [link]

An Email Version

Email suits larger jobs and commercial customers. Send it with the invoice or the day after.

• Subject: Thanks from [Business]
• Hi [Name], thank you for choosing us for your [job]. We hope you're happy with how it turned out. If you have a minute, we would be grateful for a review on Google. It makes a real difference to a small local business. Here is the link: [link]. If anything isn't right, please reply to this email or call me directly and I'll sort it out. Thanks again, [Your name]

The Rules You Need to Follow

Google's review policies are strict, and reviews that break them can be removed along with your good ones.

• Ask every customer, not only the ones you expect to be positive. Filtering who you ask is against Google's rules
• Do not offer discounts, gifts or prize draws in exchange for reviews
• Do not write reviews yourself, and do not ask staff, family or friends who were not customers
• Do not buy reviews. Fake reviews can also breach Australian consumer law
• Do not tell customers what to write. It is fine to say that mentioning the job and the suburb is helpful

Reply to Every Review

A short thank-you on a good review shows future customers there is a real person behind the business. One sentence is enough.

A bad review needs a calm reply. Thank them for the feedback, say what you have done or will do, and offer to talk it through by phone. Do not argue. You are writing for the next person who reads it, not for the reviewer. A fair, level-headed response to a complaint often does more for your reputation than another five-star review.

Make It a Habit

Tie the request to something you already do at the end of every job, like sending the invoice. Two or three new reviews a month, every month, will do more for you than twenty in one week followed by nothing.

Review requests are part of the Google Business Profile management we do for trade businesses. If you want to know how your profile compares with the businesses ranking above you, our free audit will show you.