Guide
How to get more Google reviews
Ask every customer immediately after the work is finished, using a direct review link sent by text or email. Never incentivise reviews, never filter out unhappy customers, and reply to every review you receive.
By The DigitalTiger team, Digital marketing for Devon trades · Published · Updated
Ask at the right moment
Satisfaction peaks the moment a job is completed and drops steadily afterwards. A request sent that same day performs far better than one sent a fortnight later.
Build the request into an existing step — invoicing, job completion, handover — so it happens without anyone having to remember.
Make it a single tap
Send a direct review link rather than asking people to search for you. Every extra step loses a meaningful share of responses.
Keep the message short, personal and specific to the work you just did.
What is against Google's rules
Offering discounts, entries into prize draws or any other incentive for a review is prohibited, as is writing reviews for your own business or asking staff to.
So is review gating — screening customers first and only sending the review link to the happy ones.
Responding well
Reply to positive reviews briefly and specifically. Generic thanks add nothing.
For negative reviews, acknowledge the issue, correct any factual inaccuracy calmly, and offer to resolve it directly. Future customers are the real audience.
Related questions
Can I ask customers to remove a bad review?
You can ask, once, politely, after resolving their complaint. You cannot pressure them, and Google will only remove a review that breaches its policies.
How many reviews should I aim for?
Enough to be credible against the businesses you compete with locally, added steadily rather than in bursts.