How to Get More Google Reviews for Your Contracting Business
Stop losing customers to competitors with more reviews. This guide covers everything: when to ask, what to say, how to automate it, and how to handle negative reviews.
of consumers read reviews before hiring a local business
star rating is the minimum most people consider acceptable
reviews needed to appear trustworthy to most customers
more clicks for businesses with more reviews than competitors
Why Google Reviews Matter (More Than You Think)
Let's be direct: if you don't have reviews, you're losing business. Here's what happens when someone searches for a contractor:
Google Rankings
Google's algorithm heavily favors businesses with more (and more recent) reviews. More reviews = higher ranking in local search = more visibility = more leads.
Customer Trust
93% of consumers read reviews before hiring. They compare you to competitors. Fewer reviews or lower ratings = they call someone else.
Social Proof
Reviews are word-of-mouth at scale. One hundred positive reviews is like a hundred neighbors recommending you.
Conversion Rate
Businesses with 50+ reviews convert website visitors to leads at 2-3x the rate of businesses with fewer reviews.
The bottom line: Reviews aren't optional anymore. Your competitors are collecting them, and customers are comparing. Every month without a review strategy is lost business.
How Many Reviews Do You Actually Need?
Here's the honest breakdown of where you stand based on review count:
You look new or untrustworthy. Customers will choose competitors.
Better, but still losing business to competitors with more reviews.
Now you're in the game. Keep building momentum.
You stand out in most markets. Focus on maintaining freshness.
You're the obvious choice. Reviews become a competitive moat.
The Freshness Factor
It's not just about total reviews. Recency matters too. A business with 100 reviews but none in the last 6 months looks stagnant. Aim for at least 2-4 new reviews per month to maintain momentum and show you're actively serving customers.
When to Ask for Reviews
Timing is everything. Ask at the right moment and you'll get reviews. Wait too long and you'll hear crickets.
| Timing | Effectiveness | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Immediately after job completion | Best | Customer satisfaction is at its peak. They're still thinking about you. |
| Within 1-2 hours | Great | Still fresh in their mind. High response rate. |
| Same day (evening) | Good | Works if you can't send immediately. Still relevant. |
| Next day | Okay | They've moved on mentally. Response rate drops significantly. |
| Week later | Poor | Most customers have forgotten the experience. Very low response rate. |
Pro tip: The best approach is to text/email the review request as soon as you leave the job site. If you can't do it manually, automate it to trigger when you mark a job as complete in your system.
How to Ask (Copy These Scripts)
Here are proven scripts you can copy and customize. The key: keep it short, personal, and include the direct link.
Text Message Scripts
Simple & Direct
Hi [Name], this is [Your Name] from [Company]. Thanks again for choosing us today! If you have a moment, a Google review would really help our small business. Here's the link: [LINK]
Why it works: Short, personal, includes the link. Gets to the point.
Grateful Approach
Hi [Name]! [Your Name] here from [Company]. It was great working on your [project type] today. Small businesses like ours grow through word-of-mouth. If you were happy with our work, would you mind leaving us a quick Google review? [LINK] - Thanks so much!
Why it works: Emphasizes that you're a small business. Appeals to customers who want to support local.
Quality Check + Ask
Hi [Name], this is [Your Name] from [Company]. Just checking in - is everything working well after today's service? If you're happy with the work, we'd really appreciate a Google review: [LINK]. If anything's not right, just reply and we'll make it right!
Why it works: Shows you care about quality. Catches issues before they become bad reviews.
Email Script
Subject: Quick favor?
Hi [Name], Thank you for choosing [Company] for your [service type]! We hope everything is working perfectly. We're a local business, and online reviews make a huge difference for us. If you have 30 seconds, would you mind sharing your experience on Google? [BUTTON: Leave a Review] Your feedback helps other homeowners find reliable service - and it means the world to our team. Thanks again, [Your Name] [Company]
Why it works: Professional, explains why it matters, includes clear CTA.
Make It Easy: Get Your Direct Review Link
Every extra step you add loses customers. Send them directly to the review form, no searching required.
How to Get Your Direct Google Review Link
- 1 Search for your business on Google (make sure you're signed into your Google Business account)
- 2 Click on your business listing, then click "Get more reviews"
- 3 Copy the short link Google provides (it looks like: g.page/yourbusiness/review)
- 4 Use this link in all your review requests
Where to Use Your Review Link
- Text messages after jobs
- Email follow-ups
- Printed invoices/receipts
- Business cards
- Email signature
- Your website
QR Code Tip
Turn your review link into a QR code. Print it on:
- • Thank you cards you leave after jobs
- • Stickers on your equipment
- • Your truck/van
- • Job site signs
Free QR generators: qr-code-generator.com, canva.com
Automate the Process (Get 5x More Reviews)
Here's the truth: if you rely on remembering to ask, you won't do it consistently. The contractors who get the most reviews automate the process.
Manual Asking
- You forget 50%+ of the time
- Inconsistent timing
- Takes time away from work
- No follow-up
Result: 1-2 reviews per month
Automated System
- 100% of customers get asked
- Perfect timing every time
- Zero time investment
- Automatic follow-up
Result: 5-10+ reviews per month
What Good Review Automation Looks Like
- 1 You mark a job as complete in your system
- 2 Customer automatically receives a text asking about their experience
- 3 If they indicate they're happy, they get the direct Google review link
- 4 If they're unhappy, you get an alert to make it right (before it becomes a public review)
- 5 Follow-up automatically sent to non-responders after 3-5 days
The Do's and Don'ts of Review Requests
Do This
- Ask every satisfied customer (without exception)
- Make it easy with a direct Google review link
- Send the request within hours, not days
- Personalize the message with their name and service
- Follow up once if they don't respond (but only once)
- Respond to every review you receive
- Thank customers who leave reviews
Don't Do This
- Offer incentives or discounts for reviews (against Google TOS)
- Ask for '5-star' reviews specifically (feels manipulative)
- Harass customers with multiple follow-ups
- Copy/paste identical responses to reviews
- Ignore negative reviews
- Buy fake reviews (you will get caught)
- Only ask customers you think will leave good reviews
Responding to Reviews (Templates Included)
Responding to reviews shows you care. Here are templates for every situation:
Positive Reviews
5-Star Review
Thank you so much, [Name]! We really enjoyed working on your [project/service] and it's great to hear everything turned out well. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. Looking forward to helping you again in the future!
Tips: Personalize with project details. Keep it genuine, not generic.
4-Star Review
Thanks for the review, [Name]! We're glad you had a good experience with us. If there's anything we could have done to earn that 5th star, we'd love to know - we're always looking to improve. Thanks again for choosing us!
Tips: Acknowledge there's room to improve. Invite feedback.
Negative Reviews
Service Issue
[Name], thank you for bringing this to our attention. This isn't the experience we want for any customer. I'd like to make this right - please call or text me directly at [phone] so we can discuss how to fix this. - [Your Name], Owner
Tips: Take it offline immediately. Show you take ownership. Provide direct contact.
Pricing Complaint
[Name], I'm sorry you felt our pricing wasn't clear. We always try to provide detailed estimates upfront. I'd like to understand where the communication broke down - please reach out to me directly at [phone]. We value your feedback and want to learn from this.
Tips: Don't be defensive. Acknowledge their perception. Offer to discuss.
Remember: Your response to negative reviews isn't just for that customer. It's for every potential customer who reads it. Stay professional, take ownership, and show you care about making things right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it okay to ask customers for reviews?
How do I get the direct link to my Google review page?
What if I get a fake or unfair negative review?
Should I respond to every review?
How often should I follow up if someone doesn't leave a review?
Want to Automate Your Review Collection?
Our 5-star review funnel automatically requests reviews after every job, follows up with non-responders, and routes unhappy customers to you before they leave public reviews. Get your personalized video. No sales call required.
See exactly how this works for your business. No sales call required.