Reviews & reputation
Get more Google reviews, show them off on your site, and handle the occasional bad one like a pro.
Ask Customers for Google Reviews
Ask in person right after you finish the job, then send a text or email with a direct link to your Google review page within an hour. The link removes friction, and asking while the job is fresh is what actually gets reviews written.
ReadAsk for reviews by text
Send a short, friendly text the same day you finish the job, with a direct link straight to your Google review form. Two sentences, the customer's name if you can, and one tap to leave the review. Texts get read and acted on far more than emails, so this is the highest-converting way to collect reviews for a trade business. Just ask once, with one gentle reminder, and never demand five stars.
ReadGet more reviews without being pushy
Ask once, at the right moment, and make it effortless. The trick is timing the request for right after a happy result, keeping it short and personal, and handing over a direct link so the customer taps twice instead of hunting. Never nag, never bribe, and never demand five stars. A simple same-day text after a job well done feels like good service, not a sales pitch.
ReadHow many Google reviews you need
There is no magic number, but for most local trades the practical target is at least 10 reviews to look legitimate, 25 or more to compete in your town, and a steady trickle every month after that. What matters even more than the total is your star rating, how recent the reviews are, and how many you have versus the competitor ranking above you. Aim to stay slightly ahead of your top local rival.
ReadOffering discounts for reviews
No. Offering a discount, gift card, cash, or any incentive in exchange for a review violates Google's policy and can get your reviews deleted or your whole profile penalized. It is risky and it is not worth it. The good news is you do not need to pay for reviews, because asking happy customers at the right moment works better and stays fully compliant.
ReadRemove a fake or unfair review
You can only get a review removed if it violates Google's policies, such as spam, a review from someone who was never a customer, hate speech, or off-topic content. Flag it through your Google Business Profile, then escalate with the review removal tool if nothing happens. A genuinely negative but honest review will not be removed, so your best move there is a calm, professional public reply.
ReadRespond to a Bad Review
Reply calmly and publicly within a day or two: thank them, acknowledge the issue, briefly state your side without arguing, and offer to make it right offline. Future customers read your reply more than the review itself, so a professional response wins you jobs.
ReadRespond to positive reviews
Reply to every positive review, keep it short and genuine, use the customer's name, mention the specific job, and slip in a keyword like your trade and town naturally. A quick personal thank-you shows future customers you care and gives Google fresh, relevant text on your profile. Skip the copy-paste replies, because identical responses on every review look automated and waste a real chance to build trust.
ReadShow Google Reviews on Your Site
Pull your real Google reviews onto your site with a live widget connected to your Google Business Profile, so new ones appear automatically. Put them near your phone number and on your homepage, where they do the most to turn visitors into calls.
ReadTurn reviews into marketing
Your best reviews are free marketing copy written by your customers. Pull the strongest lines onto your website, turn them into simple social posts, pair them with before-and-after job photos, and weave the exact words customers use into your service pages and ads. One five-star review can become a homepage quote, a Facebook post, and a headline. Reuse the good ones everywhere your buyers look.
ReadWhere to collect reviews besides Google
Google should be your first priority, but a few other places matter for trades: Facebook for social proof, the Better Business Bureau and Yelp for buyers who check there, Angi or HomeAdvisor if you use them for leads, and trade-specific directories your customers trust. The smartest move, though, is to also collect reviews on your own website, where you control how they look and no algorithm can hide them.
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