How to Get 5 Star Google Reviews Without Asking Awkwardly

Google reviews can double your business.

A study by BrightLocal found that 98% of people read online reviews before hiring a local service business. And 87% say a business needs at least a 4 star rating before they will even consider calling.

So reviews matter. A lot.

But most trades business owners hate asking for them. It feels awkward. Like begging.

Here is the good news. You do not have to ask awkwardly. You just have to ask at the right moment, the right way.

When to ask

The best time to ask for a review is the moment the customer is happiest. That is right after the job is done and they can see the finished work.

Not a week later when they have moved on. Not in an email they will ignore. Right there, in the moment.

What to say

Keep it simple. Try this:

"Really glad you are happy with how it turned out. If you get a chance to leave us a Google review it would mean a lot. Takes about 30 seconds and it helps us out more than you know."

That is it. No script. No pressure. Just honest.

How to make it even easier

Send a text after the job with a direct link to your Google review page. When someone has to search for where to leave a review they give up. When you send them straight to the box they actually do it.

A study by Podium found that 77% of customers are willing to leave a review when asked. Most businesses just never ask.

What to do with bad reviews

Respond to every one. Calmly. Thank them for the feedback. Explain what happened. Offer to make it right. Future customers read your response more than the review itself. How you handle a bad review says more about your business than five good ones.

The simple version

Ask at the right moment. Make it easy with a direct link. Do it every single time. Most trades businesses get reviews by accident. The ones with 200 reviews got them on purpose.