How to get more Google reviews.

Ask every customer, at the right moment

The best time to ask is when the customer can see the result: the furnace is running, the windows are clean, the leak is gone. Gratitude fades fast. A request that arrives a week later competes with everything else on their phone.

• Every customer, every job. Not just the ones who seemed thrilled. That's both the rule and the strategy, because steady volume beats a handful of glowing reviews.
• Same day. Within a few hours of finishing, while they're still home and still happy the problem is solved.
• One reminder, then stop. A single follow-up a few days later is reasonable. More than that starts to annoy people.

Recency matters too. Customers notice when your newest review is from two years ago, and steady reviews keep your profile looking active. Google's own help page on local ranking says review count and score factor into how businesses rank. More on that in how to rank in the map pack.

Use your direct review link

Asking someone to "find us on Google and leave a review" loses most of them. Your Google Business Profile has a share link that opens the review form directly. Look for the option to ask for reviews in your profile when you're signed in, copy the link, and use it everywhere: texts, emails, invoices, and a QR code on the leave-behind card.

Test the link on a phone that isn't signed in to your business account, so you see what a customer sees.

Text, email, or in person

The strongest combination: the tech asks in person at the end of the job, and the text with the link arrives within the hour. Your crew asking is worth training. A short, sincere "If we did a good job, a Google review really helps a small company like ours" is enough.

About texting. Carriers require businesses sending texts from regular 10-digit numbers to register for A2P 10DLC through their texting provider, and texting customers needs their consent. Your provider (Jobber, Housecall Pro, and most business texting tools) handles registration. Ask your attorney about consent requirements for your situation.

Three scripts for asking

Short, personal, and specific beats polished. Use the customer's name and the tech's name.

Text, right after the job. "Hi Dana, it's Example Heating & Air. Thanks for having Marco out today. If you have a minute, a Google review helps other folks in Sandy find us: [link]. Thank you."

Email, same day. Subject: "How did we do today?" Body: "Hi Dana, thanks for choosing us for your furnace tune-up. Reviews are how most of our new customers find us. If you have two minutes, you can leave one here: [link]. And if anything wasn't right, reply to this email and I'll fix it."

One reminder, three days later. "Hi Dana, one quick follow-up from Example Heating & Air. If you have a moment, we'd appreciate a Google review: [link]. Either way, thanks again."

Notice the email invites problems directly to you. That's fine, as long as you send the same review link to everyone and don't screen who gets it.

Reply to every review

Replies are public. You're writing for the next customer as much as the reviewer. Keep them short, specific, and human.

A positive review

Example reply. "Thanks, Dana. Glad the furnace is running quietly again before the cold sets in. Marco will be happy to hear it. See you for the spring AC check."

A negative review

Wait until you're calm. Thank them, own what's fair, skip the argument, and take it offline. Never share job details, prices, or anything personal about the customer.

Example reply. "Hi Chris, thank you for telling us. You're right that we missed the arrival window, and I'm sorry for the wasted afternoon. I'd like to make this right. Please call me directly at [number]. – [Owner name], Owner"

If a review is fake or breaks Google's policies, report it from your Business Profile instead of arguing in public. Reviews you simply disagree with stay up, so a calm reply is your best tool.

What's not allowed

Two sets of rules apply: Google's policies for its platform, and federal law. This is a summary, not legal advice.

Google's policies

• No incentives. Google prohibits offering money, discounts, free services, or entries into a drawing in exchange for reviews. That's true even if you don't ask for a positive one.
• No review gating. Google prohibits discouraging negative reviews or selectively soliciting positive ones. Asking "Were you happy? Yes goes to Google, no goes to a private form" is gating.
• No conflicts of interest. No reviews of your own business from you, your staff, or your family, and none of competitors.
• No fake or bought reviews. Google removes them and can restrict your profile.

The FTC's rule on consumer reviews

The FTC's Trade Regulation Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials was finalized in August 2024 and took effect October 21, 2024. Among other things, it bans:

• Fake reviews, including ones attributed to people who don't exist or who never used the business.
• Buying reviews, and offering incentives conditioned on the review expressing a particular sentiment, positive or negative.
• Reviews by company insiders, like owners, managers, or employees, without clear disclosure of the relationship, in many situations.
• Review suppression: using threats, intimidation, or false accusations to stop or remove negative reviews.

The FTC can seek civil penalties for violations. If you're unsure whether something you're doing crosses a line, ask your attorney.

Make it a system

Review programs fail when they depend on someone remembering. Tie the ask to something that already happens on every job, like marking it complete in Jobber or Housecall Pro or sending the invoice. Set the text to go out automatically, put the reply on someone's daily list, and check the count weekly.

That's the whole of what Almanac Office's review management does: a review request after every job to every customer, and a reply to every review within a day, with replies to negative reviews held for your approval. It's included in the Found plan. If you want to see where your reviews stand against competitors first, request a free audit.