Why asking is the whole game
Customers who had a bad experience often leave a review without being asked. Satisfied customers usually mean to and forget. If you never ask, your rating gets built mostly from your hardest days. Google recommends reminding customers to leave reviews, and a consistent ask after every job means your Google reviews reflect your typical work, not just the outliers.
Timing: ask while the job is fresh
The best moment to ask is right after the work is done, while the customer can still see the new water heater or the clean gutters. Our requests fire automatically when you mark a job complete. If there’s no review a few days later, one gentle reminder goes out, and then it stops. That’s enough to jog a busy person’s memory without ever feeling like nagging.
What a good review request text says
Short, personal and easy. Use their name, thank them for the specific job, and include the direct link, for example: “Hi Sarah, thanks for choosing Hiram Plumbing today! If you have a minute, a quick Google review would mean a lot: [link].” A text that fits in one message gets read, and the matching email gives customers who prefer email the same one-tap path. We write both in your voice.
Your Google review link and QR code
Google gives every Business Profile a direct review link and a QR code that open the review form for your business. We put that link in every request, so customers never have to search for you. The same link and QR code also work on invoices, receipts, business cards and truck magnets, so every touchpoint can ask too. Our Google Business Profile management keeps the profile itself in shape.
Ask every customer: the rules
Google’s policies prohibit offering incentives, like discounts or free services, in exchange for reviews, and prohibit selectively asking only the customers you expect to be happy. So every customer gets the same invitation. Since October 2024, an FTC rule has also banned buying or faking reviews. Yelp goes further and discourages businesses from asking for reviews at all, so requests are best pointed at Google and the other sites that welcome them.
The math of a strong rating
Your star rating is an average, so every review counts in proportion to how many you have. With 10 five-star reviews, a single 1-star review drops you to about 4.6. With 50 five-star reviews, the same 1-star review only takes you to about 4.9. A steady flow of reviews from real customers is the best protection against the one bad day every business eventually has.
Fresh reviews, not just more reviews
A rating built on reviews from two years ago tells customers less than one with reviews from last week. Automated requests keep new reviews arriving month after month, so your profile always shows recent, specific feedback about the work you’re doing now. Recent reviews that mention the service and the town also give future customers a clearer picture of what to expect.
What it costs
Automated Review Requests is included in every plan, starting with Starter at $297 a month. Review request texts and emails carry small usage fees. Pair it with Reputation Management so every review you earn gets a thoughtful reply. See all plans on our pricing page.
Common questions about getting more reviews
How do I ask customers for a Google review?
Send every customer a short, friendly message right after the job with a direct link to your Google review page, so leaving a review takes one tap. Google itself suggests asking customers to visit a Google link or scan a QR code. Automated review requests send that message for you every time.
What should a review request text say?
Keep it short and personal: use their name, thank them for the job, and include the link. For example: "Hi Sarah, thanks for choosing Hiram Plumbing today! If you have a minute, a quick Google review would mean a lot: [link]". Never offer anything in exchange for the review.
Is it legal to buy Google reviews?
No. Google prohibits paid and incentivized reviews and removes fake engagement, and since October 2024 an FTC rule bans buying or selling reviews, with civil penalties for knowing violations. The only lasting way to grow reviews is to ask real customers.
How many 5-star reviews does it take to offset a 1-star review?
Your rating is an average, so it depends how many reviews you already have. With 10 five-star reviews, one 1-star review drops you to about 4.6. With 50 five-star reviews, the same 1-star review only takes you to about 4.9. The more reviews you have, the less any single one can move your rating.
How much do automated review requests cost?
Automated Review Requests is included in every plan, including Starter at $297 a month. Review request texts and emails carry small usage fees.