Guide

How to get more Google reviews

Reviews are the closest thing to word of mouth that Google can read. They influence whether you appear in the map results and they absolutely influence whether somebody rings you instead of the fella above you.

Ask at the right moment

The best moment is the minute the customer says they are happy, usually as you are packing up. A week later the feeling has faded and your message feels like admin.

Say it plainly. You are delighted they are happy, reviews are how people find you, would they mind leaving one.

Make it one tap

Nobody is going to search for your business and navigate to the review box. Get your short review link from your profile, save it in your phone, and text it before you drive off.

One message, one link, no instructions needed.

Build it into the job

The trades who get reviews are the ones who ask every single time, not the ones who remember occasionally. Make it the last step of the job the same way tidying up is.

A steady trickle beats a burst. Ten reviews spread over months looks natural and keeps the profile active.

Reply to all of them

Answer every review, good or bad. A short thanks is plenty for a good one, and it shows anyone reading that you are still around and paying attention.

Mentioning the work and the area in a reply is a small, honest way to reinforce what you do and where.

Handling a bad one

Do not argue. Reply once, calmly, acknowledge the issue, say what you would like to do about it and offer to take it to a phone call. Everyone reading is judging the reply, not the complaint.

One poor review among a set of good ones does very little harm. A defensive reply does a lot.

What not to do

A few things that cause real damage.

  • Never buy reviews or write them yourself
  • Do not offer a discount in exchange for a review
  • Do not ask everyone on the same day from the same device
  • Do not ignore the negative ones and hope they sink

Common questions

How many Google reviews do I need?

There is no target number. What matters is that you keep getting them steadily and that they are genuine.

Can I offer a discount for a review?

No. Incentivised reviews break Google guidelines and can get your reviews removed or your profile penalised.

Should I reply to bad reviews?

Yes, once and calmly. Acknowledge it, offer to sort it on a call, and leave it there. Future customers read the reply more closely than the complaint.

Where to go next

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