Review request templates

Nine ways to ask that do not sound like a form letter. Copy one, put your own words in the brackets, and send it the same day.

The difference between a business with 12 reviews and one with 120 is almost never the quality of the work. It is whether anybody asked, and when. Every template here is short enough to read without scrolling on a phone, because that is where it will be read. Replace the bits in curly brackets, and if you do not have a review link yet, the generator makes one from your Place ID.

The same day

Send within an hour of leaving. This is the one that gets answered.

Hi {name}, thanks for having us out today. If you have a minute, a quick Google review helps a small business like ours more than you would think: {link}

No pressure at all, and thanks again for the work.

When they already said thanks

They texted something nice first. Reply to that message, not a new one.

That means a lot, thank you. If you are willing, would you mind putting that in a Google review? Takes about a minute: {link}

A week later, no answer

One follow up only. Anyone who has not done it after two asks is not going to.

Hi {name}, hope the {job} is holding up well. Just a small nudge: if you have a moment for a Google review it would really help us out. {link}

Either way, thanks for choosing us.

A repeat customer

Somebody who has used you more than once. They will say yes at a much higher rate, so ask plainly.

Hi {name}, you have had us out a few times now and I appreciate it. I am trying to get a few more reviews up and yours would carry weight because you have seen the work more than once. Here is the link if you are up for it: {link}

On the invoice

One line under the total. Works best next to the QR code from the generator.

Happy with the work? A quick Google review helps us more than an ad ever could. Scan the code or go to {link}. Thank you.

By email

For customers who booked by email in the first place. Keep the subject boring; anything clever reads as marketing.

Subject: Thanks from {business}

Hi {name},

Thanks again for the work at {address}. I hope everything is exactly as you wanted it.

If you have a minute, a Google review would help us a lot. Most of our new customers find us that way, and it takes about sixty seconds: {link}

If anything is not right, reply to this email and I will sort it out.

{your name}
{business}

When the job had a hiccup

You fixed it, but it was not smooth. Ask anyway. A review that says "there was a problem and they came straight back" converts better than five stars with no story.

Hi {name}, thanks for your patience with the {problem} this week. It should be fully sorted now. If you were happy with how we handled it, I would be grateful for a Google review, and honest is better than kind: {link}

Asking for a photo

For trades where the result is visible. A review with a photo gets read; one without gets skimmed.

Hi {name}, the {job} came out great and I would love to show it. If you are willing to leave a Google review, adding a photo of the finished result makes a big difference for us: {link}

For the customer's own website review

If you use a tool that collects testimonials for your own site, send that link in the same message. One ask, two places.

Hi {name}, thanks again for today. Two quick favours if you have a minute: a Google review here {link}, and a couple of lines for our own website here {testimonial link}. Either or both, and thank you.

Two rules that matter more than the wording

Ask on the day. The customer’s goodwill is highest in the hour after you leave and it fades fast; a request the following week competes with everything else in their life. And never offer anything for a review. Google removes reviews it thinks were bought and can suspend the profile of the business that bought them. Ask everyone, ask plainly, offer nothing.

The place a Google review never reaches

All of these put words on Google. That helps the person comparing you with three other listings on a map. It does nothing for the person who is already on your website reading “quality service you can trust” in your own words. I built Exalted for that. One link, the customer writes a couple of lines on their phone, you approve it, and it shows up on your own site. $9 a month after a free two weeks, and the last template above is how to send both links in one text.