How to ask for a review in person
Ask at the moment the job lands well, not later. Say what you did, ask if they were happy, then ask plainly: "Would you mind leaving us a Google review? It takes a minute and it really helps." Then send the link by text before you leave. The words matter less than the timing and the link. Asking without sending the link is why most of these go nowhere.
Why asking in person beats every other method
A text asking for a review can be ignored with no awkwardness at all. A person standing in front of you cannot be. That is not a trick, it is just how people work, and it is why the face to face ask converts better than anything else you will try.
The catch is that most owners never make it. They finish the job, feel the moment pass, and tell themselves they will send something later. Later is a worse ask to a colder customer, which is why review request templates exist as the backup rather than the main plan.
The moment to ask
- Right after the customer says something positive, unprompted. That sentence is your cue and it will not come twice
- When you have just shown them the finished work and they are looking at it
- At the point of paying, if the payment goes through smoothly
- Not while you are still packing up, because you are busy and it reads as an afterthought
- Not in front of a queue of other customers, because nobody wants an audience for a favour
The three sentence ask
Keep it to three sentences. A long run up sounds like you are apologising for asking, and the customer starts wondering why it matters so much.
"Glad you are happy with it. Can I ask a favour? If you would leave us a quick Google review it makes a real difference to a business our size, and I will text you the link now so you have it."
"Before I shoot off, would you mind leaving us a review on Google? Most of our work comes from people finding us there. I will send the link to your phone so it is one tap."
"Really pleased with how that has turned out. If you get a spare minute, a Google review would genuinely help us. I will pop the link in a text before you leave."
"It has been good working with you. If you felt looked after today, a short Google review helps other people decide whether to come in. No pressure either way, and I will send you the link."
"Sam mentioned you were happy with Tuesday. Would you leave him a Google review? He would never ask himself and it means a lot to the team. I will text you the link."
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Send me the free BlueprintThe bit everyone skips: send the link there and then
The ask and the link have to arrive together. A customer who says yes in the driveway and gets the link two days later has already forgotten what they were agreeing to, and searching for your business on Google is more effort than most people will spend on a favour.
So have the link saved in your phone before you need it. If you have not got it yet, how to get your Google review link walks through finding it in about two minutes. Save it as a text shortcut so it is one tap while you are still standing there.
What to say when they hesitate
- "I do not really do Google": "No problem at all, forget I asked." Then drop it. Pushing costs you more than the review is worth
- "I would not know what to write": "Honestly a line is plenty. What we did and whether you would use us again."
- "Send it over and I will try": send it before you drive away, then leave it. One reminder in three days, never two
- "Can I do it on Facebook instead?": yes, take it. A review anywhere beats a Google review that never gets written
Never offer a discount, a freebie or a prize draw for a review. It breaks Google's rules, and a customer who mentions the discount in the review does you real damage.
Making it happen when you are not there
The in person ask only covers the customers you meet. Phone quotes, deliveries and anything handled by a member of staff still need a follow up, and that is where a system earns its keep. GoHighLevel can send the review request text automatically once a job is marked complete, so the ones you never got to ask still get asked.
The sensible setup is both: ask in person when you can, and let review request automation catch the rest. For the wider routine, including what to do when a reply is needed, see small business review management and how to respond to a bad review.
Want to see it running?
GoHighLevel is the tool we use for all of this in our own business. You can try everything on the 14-day free trial and judge it on results.
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Common questions
Is it rude to ask a customer for a review?
No, as long as you ask once and take no for an answer. Most customers are happy to help a small business and simply never think of it unprompted. What feels rude is asking twice, or asking before the job is finished.
Should I ask before or after they pay?
After. Asking before payment can read as a condition of the price, which makes people uncomfortable and produces a lukewarm review even when they were pleased.
Can I offer a discount for a review?
No. Google's policy bans incentives for reviews, and reviews that mention a discount can be removed along with the goodwill they were meant to buy. Ask because the work was good, not because you paid for it.
What if they say yes and never leave one?
That is normal, and it is why the text with the link matters. Send one polite reminder a few days later if they agreed, then let it go. The people who meant it will get there.
How many reviews should I be asking for?
Ask every customer you finish a job for, in person where you can. A steady trickle looks far more honest to a reader than twenty reviews that all landed in the same week.