How to get more Google reviews

When someone searches "plumber near me", the businesses with more recent, detailed reviews win the call. Most happy customers will leave a review; they just need to be asked at the right moment, in a way that takes ten seconds. Here's how.

In short: make a direct review link, ask every customer by text on the day you finish the job, and follow up once. Reply to every review, good or bad. Don't offer rewards or ask only happy customers: Google's rules and UK law don't allow it.

1. Get your direct review link

Sending people to your Google profile and hoping they find the "Write a review" button loses most of them. Use a direct link that opens the review box straight away.

Make one with our Google review link generator: search for your business, copy the link, and download a printable QR code for your van, invoices and job sheets.

2. Ask at the right moment

The best time is right after the customer says something positive: when they thank you, when the job is signed off, or when they pay. Ask in person first ("Would you mind leaving us a quick review? I'll text you the link"), then send the link while they're still pleased.

3. Make the message short and personal

Use their name and mention the job. For example:

Hi Sarah, thanks again for having us fix the boiler today. If you've got a minute, a quick Google review would really help a small business like ours: [link]. Thanks, Dan.

Our review request templates have texts and emails you can copy.

4. Follow up once

If they haven't left one after a few days, send one friendly reminder. Don't send more than that.

5. Reply to every review

Thank people for good reviews, and mention the job so it reads as real. Reply to bad reviews calmly and publicly: say sorry for their experience, give your side in one or two sentences, and invite them to call you. Future customers read the reply as much as the review.

Our review reply generator gives you starting points to edit.

What not to do

• Don't pay or reward people for reviews, with discounts, prize draws or anything else. Google's policies don't allow it, and in the UK the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 bans fake reviews and concealed incentivised reviews.
• Don't only ask happy customers. Filtering out people you think will be unhappy ("review gating") is against Google's policies.
• Don't write reviews yourself or ask friends and family to. Google removes them, and they can lead to a warning on your profile.
• Don't ask for lots of reviews at once. A sudden spike looks unnatural. Ask every customer, steadily.

Keep it going

The businesses with the most reviews didn't get them in a week. They asked every customer, every time. Put the QR code on your invoice, the link in your job-complete text, and make it a habit.

FAQs

How many reviews do I need? There's no magic number. Recent reviews matter, so a steady few a month beats a burst once a year.

Can I remove a bad review? Only if it breaks Google's policies (for example, it's fake or offensive). You can flag it from your Business Profile. Otherwise, reply to it.

Can I ask for a 5-star review? Ask for an honest review. Asking only for 5 stars puts people off and can breach the rules on misleading reviews.